Downtown Los Angeles, California

The East Portal Gateway Plaza known at Patsouras Plaza is the transportation hub of Southern California. At its intersection sit Los Angeles County METRO, Metrolink and Amtrak. Working in collaboration with Morlin Asset Management and METRO, KornRandolph has designed a thoughtful pedestrian experience, while improving the function of the plaza’s landscape systems.

The design draws inspiration from the original landscape concept (Hanna/Olin, 1995) which envisioned the East Portal as a “Travelers’ Oasis,” including a main path imagined as an arroyo. The new design extends this concept throughout the East Portal, envisioning each landscape as a particular Southern California ecotype. The design thoughtfully addresses key landscape issues including ease of maintenance, reduced water use, safety and visibility, and activation of under-used spaces.

[Morlin Asset Management and Los Angeles County METRO]