June 27, 2019 by CallisonRTKL

Future of Los Angeles – Part Two

This is the second part of an Interview with Kelly M. Farrell AIA, President and CEO of international architecture practice CallisonRTKL.

Prior to participating in the Architecture and Design Summit on the future of Los Angeles, Kelly Farrell AIA, CRTKL’s new CEO, sat down with Bisnow’s Joe Pimentel for a discussion on her recent appointment and the company’s role in reshaping the city.

You mentioned during an earlier conversation that LA is entering a new phase of growth. What do you mean by that? What kind of role does architecture and design play in this new phase? How is CallisonRTKL upping their game during this period?

Consider what this city’s achieved over the past decade. From getting LA Live built and the first round of South Park high-rises, to the second cycle where we saw new approaches to urbanism and mixed-use towers begin to dot our skylines. We are truly building a downtown for its residents and we are creating new experiences. Our streets are being knit together, and the pedestrian experience is becoming much more enriched.

If you look at Downtown LA and neighborhoods like Silver Lake, the Arts District or even Bunker Hill; these places are changing fast because of development and urban infill. And as architects we have a responsibility to make that change for the better. To strengthen and enrich the neighborhoods with responsible development. To make sure they’re safe and viable throughout the day and night. Nothing does that better than a truly mixed-use approach, where housing is available at different price points alongside commercial uses, lively streetscape and other civic amenities.

A great example of this is Perla on Broadway, which is the first residential high-rise to be built in the historic area of Downtown LA in over a century. The development pays homage to the neighborhood’s historic identity in its visual design. It meets the street the way a building should. And, while everything in LA is about the car, Perla is within walking distance to theaters, restaurants and shops and, of course, downtown businesses. It offers a true urban experience.

CRTKL Perla Downtown LA — CallisonRTKL-designed Perla on Broadway is the first residential high-rise to be built in the historic area of Downtown LA in over a century.

More and more we are seeing mixed-use projects around LA. Why do you think that is? What role does architecture play in these mixed-use developments?

This is an encouraging trend, because it more resembles the organic growth of a city. Vibrant urban places are not single-use environments that go dark at six o’clock. They’re dynamic, ever-changing tableaux that combine living and working and playing and shopping. Life’s rich pageant. They are safe and easily accessible. They are diverse and unique. They have something for everyone. That’s why mixed-use is such a strong tool.

A successful mixed-use development often has less to do with architecture, which is still important, than with urbanism and getting the mix right. The urbanist understands issues of density, diversity and streetscape. The development mix speaks to the formula. How much commercial space versus residential versus office space? Are there shops and restaurants? Will these cannibalize a hotel? What type of hotel? Do the cafés splash out on the streets?

All of these things are carefully calibrated to work together, to be a catalyst for economic strength and neighborhood cohesion, and to create a whole greater than the sum of its parts.

So, this is not architecture in the traditional sense but it’s something we at CRTKL have specialized in for decades.

How does the city of LA’s appointment of Christopher Hawthorne, the former LA Times architecture critic, impact today’s projects and developments?

I’m not sure every architect in town agrees with me, and to be fair he’s only been in the role for around one year, but I see it as a positive thing. It puts design high on the agenda. It says that architecture is important in this city and you better bring you’re “A Game.” Expecting excellence, and elevating the dialogue, are always good things.

Architecture practices need to play a role in their communities and that includes helping to identify approaches to some of those big intractable problems the world is facing.

What does a modern metropolis look like for you? What do you envision is the future of LA in terms of development and design? If you can look into the future 5 to 10 or even 20 years from now, what do you see?

I think LA is on a trajectory for that modern metropolis, however we define it, but there are a few issues we need to address with some urgency. These aren’t traditional design or architecture challenges but societal ones where design and architecture are part of a larger solution. I said earlier that architecture practices need to play a role in their communities and that includes helping to identify approaches to some of those big intractable problems the world is facing.

First, affordable or market-driven housing needs to be more prevalent for a thriving population to embrace Downtown. Obviously a lot of progress has been made here, and CRTKL is proud of the role we’ve played in that, but we need more people living in the city.

We need to break our reliance on the car and up our game when it comes to mass transit or alternate means of transportation. Maybe autonomous cars are the answer, but I suspect that it will take a range of solutions and a partnership between the public and private sectors.

Finally, we need to solve the homeless dilemma. This is not unique to LA—almost every city in the country faces a similar challenge—but we need to be more creative, empathetic and engaged.

Kelly M. Farrell AIA is the President and CEO of CallisonRTKL, the global architecture, planning and design firm. Joseph Pimentel is a business reporter for Bisnow, a multi-platform digital media company that produces news and live events relevant to the local business community. Portions of this interview appeared in ‘The Bar Has Never Been Higher’: As LA Changes, Architects Need to Step Up Their Game, Bisnow, June 10, 2019.

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CallisonRTKL

For more than five decades, Callison and RTKL have created some of the world’s most memorable and successful environments for developers, retailers, investors, institutions and public entities. In 2015, our two practices came together under the Arcadis umbrella, expanding our sphere of influence and the depth and breadth of our resources. Our team is comprised of nearly 2,000 creative, innovative professionals throughout the world who are committed to advancing our client’s businesses and enhancing quality of life.