Ken Smith Landscape Architect of New York Selected as Master Designer in Orange County Great Park Competition

JANUARY 24, 2006 – IRVINE, California – The Orange County Great Park Corporation Board of Directors at its meeting yesterday, January 23rd, enthusiastically selected Ken Smith Landscape Architect of New York, a world renowned landscape design firm as Master Designer of the Orange County Great Park. Ken Smith, and his team, will be charged with the overall responsibility of creating the master design for the Orange County Great Park. His most famous designsinclude the East Pines Master Plan and the U.S.S. Intrepid Sea, Space and Air Museum both, in New York, and Third Street Light Rail Project in San Francisco.

Ken Smith earned the support of two jury panels assembled to judge the designs of landscape architect firms competing to be Master Designer of the Orange County Great Park following an intense eight-month competitive process. The jurors, all distinguishedleading architects, designers and academics, were passionate about Smith’s conceptual originality and use of dominant features. Smith’s design includes a canyon joining the Agua Chinon corridor with a lake. An amphitheatre faces east across the lake. The design retains the old runway as a linear monument to the Marine history with fighter planes stationed along its entire length. Orange bicycles would be used as a mode of transportation throughout the park and three large hot air balloons would be an attraction for visitors to see the entire park from above.

Smith’s design also met the various elements in response to the public’s needs and desires. More than 3,380 individuals from around the county participated in an online poll and nearly 1,700 individual comments, of which 365 comments or twenty percent were from Irvine residents, were also positive responses to Ken Smith’s proposal. Smith’s designs captured the public’s zeal to have lakes, an amphitheatre, sports park, museums and a natural grove.

“I wholeheartedly and enthusiastically support both the public’s preference and that of the distinguished jury design panel to select Ken Smith Landscape Architect as Master Designer of the Orange County Great Park,” said Larry Agran, Chair, Orange County Great Park Corporation. “I will do everything in my power to make sure the Orange County Great Park is the most extraordinary park to be built in the 21st Century.

Ken Smith Landscape Architect was one of 38 world-renowned design firms initially invited to compete for the honor of Master Designer of the Orange County Great Park. Twenty-four firms responded. From this, the Orange County Great Park Board of Directors chose seven semi-finalists based on recommendations of a selected jury panel of architects. In late September, the seven firms presented their designs to the Orange County Great Park Board of Directors and to the public. More than 3,380 members of the public reviewed the designs in an on-line poll, others viewed the designs on display at Irvine City Hall. After formal presentations, the public participation process and recommendations of a second jury panel, the Orange County Great Park Board chose three semi-finalists. Ken Smith Landscape Architect was one of the three semi-finalists.

In November, the Board embarked on an intensive research trip to three countries to evaluate the work of the semi-finalists. The projects designed by Ken Smith’s team members include 55 Water Street Plaza, 7 World Trade Center, Roof Garden Museum of Modern Art, South Cove, Battery Park all in New York and Railyard Park in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

The Board made their decision based on criteria that included a design style that supports community preferences and the Great Park Board; management style and how it will complement the Board and staff; display of artistry that supports the vision of the community and Board; and demonstrates project experience sufficient to design the Great Park.

The Orange County Great Park staff will immediately begin contract negotiations with Ken Smith. Following negotiations, the firm will begin work on the master design which will include building and structural themes, scale of the elements, building materials, lighting, landscape pallet and planting schemes, gateways and edge treatment, signage and way- finding, and pedestrian and vehicular circulation patterns.

A groundbreaking ceremony is slated for Spring 2006.

The 1,347-acre Orange County Great Park will be a major metropolitan park and the focal point of redevelopment of the larger 4,700-acre former Marine Corps Air Station El Toro located in Irvine, California, and designated for closure more than a decade ago. The Great Park will include extensive natural areas in addition to recreational and cultural uses. The remaining 3,700-acre area will be revitalized by the Lennar Corporation and will include residential, educational, commercial and retail uses, and other supporting facilities.

For more information about the Orange County Great Park, go to www.ocgp.org

Press Contacts:
Maryann Maloney
(949) 375-0856