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Design Competition

Shade Zones

Fan Favorite Award

Voting Opens 2/9

The designs are in. The judges have voted. Now it's your turn.

We were blown away by the creativity, thoughtfulness, and innovation in this year’s Shade Zones submissions. From bold, playful concepts to elegant, practical designs, each entry brings something unique to the table—and proves that our student designers are shaping a cooler, shadier, and more vibrant L.A.

Keep scrolling to explore all of the incredible designs, and get ready to pick your favorite for the Fan Favorite Award!

Design Objectives

Designs were required to meet the objectives listed below.

The brief (available here) calls on teams to design temporary, modular shade structures for deployment at the mega-sporting events coming to Los Angeles.

  • Quality Shade

    Block direct sunlight during peak heat hours.

  • Modularity

    Allow units to connect and form continuous shaded networks.

  • Durability

    Withstand weather, transport, and repeated assembly.

  • Accessibility

    Comply with ADA and universal design principles.

  • Sustainability

    Use low-impact, locally sourced, or reused materials.

  • Material Legacy

    Enable materials to be reused after events.

  • Aesthetics

    Adapt to different branding and wayfinding needs.

  • Simplicity

    Be easily assembled by volunteers without specialized skills or tools.

  • Arts and Culture

    Reflect local Los Angeles arts and culture.

Review Your Contestants

The Designs

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