George Wolfberg Park at Potrero
Three urban parks, including George Wolfberg Park in Potrero Canyon, were presented with the Chairman’s Award at Los Angeles Business Council’s 54th Architectural Awards held on October 18 at the Beverly Hilton.
“This year’s honorees reflect how architecture can build vibrant, inclusive spaces that serve the public good,” said Los Angeles Business Council (LABC) President Mary Leslie. “From reimagined parks like George Wolfberg Park to other projects across the city, these designs foster progress and enhance community life.”
The three parks to receive awards were: The Wishing Tree Park, The Port of Los Angeles Wilmington Waterfront Park and Wolfberg.
Wishing Tree Park
The Wishing Tree Park transformed a superfund site into an 8.5-acre park in the underserved neighborhood of West Carson: the landscape architect was MIG.
The Wilmington Waterfront Promenade offers an upland, bluff, tidal steps and a play area in a highly industrial area: the lead landscape architect was Sasaki.
Wilmington Waterfront Park
Wolfberg Park was recognized because it spans 46 acres of steep slopes along the coastline of Pacific Palisades and the unstable slopes of Potrero Canyon needed to be stabilized.
To accomplish that, the team buttressed infill at a 2:1 slope and simultaneously restored a natural habitat. A new drainage system was installed with natural tan colored terrace drains as well as a pump station and storm drain that control water in canyon. The landscape architect was the City of L.A. Architectural Division, which collaborated with Marrs Services to design the park.
“These exemplary projects,” said LABC Chair David Nahai, “reflect the bold vision and determined teamwork of residents, civic organizations, and government leaders to enhance their communities by creating vibrant greenspaces.”
Community Impact Awards went to the Culver Studios (architect: Gensler), Television City (architect: RIOS), Radford Studio City (architect: Som), Sunset Glenoaks Studios (architect Bastien and Associates), FOX Future (architect: RIOS), Echelon Studios (architect: RIOS) and Sylmar Studios (architect Ware Malcomb & CMS architects).
Other awards also included the categories of retail/restaurants, housing, mixed used and education projects, such as LAUSD Cleveland High School Modernization, architect PBWS. (To view the award winners, https://labusinesscouncil.org/54th-architectural-awards/)
The Grand Prize Award went to the Netflix Egyptian Theatre, with architect of record Studio 440 Architecture and architect Gensler.
Opened in 1922, the Egyptian hosted the world’s first movie premiere, introduced the red carpet, and became an icon of Hollywood’s Golden Age. Later declared a historical landmark, the venue fell into disrepair until the American Cinematheque renovated and reopened it in 1998.
In 2020, Netflix purchased the Egyptian and partnered with the American Cinematheque to restore the theater’s original design and grandeur, retrofit the building’s structure, and install state-of-the-art projection and audio technology. Studio 440 Architecture and Gensler led the design and contracted EverGreene Architectural Arts for the two-year project.
EverGreene investigated and did a microscopic analysis of the existing interior finishes in the Egyptian Theatre. Once that was done, the company started the actual conservation and restoration.
According to the L.A. Business Council, “Treatments included conserving, repairing, and/or recreating flat and decorative plaster elements; prepping surfaces for refinishing; painting flat surfaces and reinstating decorative stencils and patterns; restoration and/or refinishing of some doors and windows; restoring and/or replacing some exterior tiles; and restoring and/or replicating certain metal elements.
The Egyptian reopened in late 2023.
Thank David Card for George Wolfberg Park, would not happen without his work.
Yay! Our nearly 100 Million Dollar park got àn Award!
It’s so deserving and a beautiful place to walk.