Design Competition
Shade Zones
Tools & Resources
Competition Resources
Highlighted Resources
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From our friends at Climate ResolveTips on Designing High-Quality Shade
In this video, Climate Resolve’s Associate Director of Advocacy & Organizing, Cat Baltazar, is on the hunt for shade and gives some helpful tips on what makes a great shade structure.
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From your LA County Public Works OrganizersThe LA River Master Plan
The “bible” for this year’s competition, this plan—created by L.A. County with OLIN Studio and other leading design voices—establishes a unified vision for improving access, recreation, ecology, equity, and flood resilience along the river’s 51 miles.
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From your LA County Public Works OrganizersLA River Master Plan Story
This short video is an introduction to the LA River Master Plan. It help you understand the river’s history, community priorities, and broader context as you develop your designs.
Competition Resources
Technical Resources
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Track 1: L.A. River Multi-Use Trail Convergence Zone
Check out the Track 1 site location—more photos and images coming soon.
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Track 2: L.A. River Bikeway Access Point
Check out the Track 2 site location—more photos and images coming soon.
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LA River Master Plan: Trails and Access Gateways
The LA River Master Plan utilizes a kit of parts that includes possible design typologies for sites along the L.A. River, including Trails and Access Gateways—directly relevant to both Track 1 and Track 2 designs.
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Shade Map
UCLA has created a shade layer on the American Forests Tree Equity Score that projects shade at noon, 3 PM, and 6 PM
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Shadow Map
Web apps that can help you see which way shadows are cast in LA during different times of year and day
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LA River Master Plan: Pavilion Plans
Scalable pavilion concepts that combine shade and seating with options for restrooms, bicycle racks, water, charging and emergency services.
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LA River Master Plan Appendix: Design Guidelines
Use these guidelines to inform the form, placement, accessibility, materials, landscape, signage, and amenities of your proposal.
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LA River Master Plan Appendix: Technical Backup Document
Refer to this document for detailed information about existing river conditions and the technical, infrastructural, environmental, and operational factors that may shape your design.
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L.A. River Plant Palette and Landscaping Guidelines
Guidance for selecting plants suited to the river corridor’s ecology, climate, and maintenance conditions.
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Circular Economy Design Principles
Introduction and explanation of circular economy design principles
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Embodied Carbon: Building Materials
Guidance on how to eliminate the emissions hidden in concrete, steel, insulation, and other building materials
Competition Resources
Case Studies
Resources to help you think, plan, and build.
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L.A. River Tier I Shade Pavilion
An LA River Master Plan model for combining shade, amenities, accessible trail connections, and community identity on a constrained river site.
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Parque Dos Rios
Located where the L.A. River and Rio Hondo trails converge, Parque Dos Rios pairs a custom metal shade structure with seating, native habitat, interpretive graphics, and river views.
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Lewis MacAdams Riverfront Park Pavilion
This open-air pavilion provides a flexible setting for daily recreation and community events along the L.A. River.
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Sprout House
A student-designed and built pavilion using overlapping metal roofs and integrated seating to create a shaded community space beside a walking and cycling greenway.
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Pima Dynamite Trailhead
A desert trailhead serving hikers, cyclists, and equestrians, with generous shade, wayfinding, native planting, dark-sky lighting, and carefully managed drainage.
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60-Degree Ecological Pavilion
A repeatable cycling rest-stop prototype combining a lightweight steel frame with seating, bicycle repair, solar power, rainwater collection, and habitat-supporting elements.
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Paso Nara
An 18-square-meter student-built pavilion composed of 16 prefabricated plywood modules that can be disassembled, transported, and reconstructed.
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Sala Backe Pavilion
A freestanding perforated-steel pavilion that creates dappled shade where underground infrastructure prevents tree planting.
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Earthen Pavilion
An experimental pavilion that combines a porous woven canopy, airflow, and earthen thermal mass to improve outdoor comfort without mechanical cooling.
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Clemson Park Pavilion + Shade Structure
A roughly 5,800-square-foot trail pavilion with shade, restrooms, bicycle parking and a repair station in South Carolina.
More questions?
We’ve got you covered. Reach out and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.