2026 Class of Fellows: Hongjoo Kim, PLA, FASLA, Southern California Chapter

HKLA; Los Angeles, California
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Category: Works, Page 52

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Category: Works, Page 52

Hongjoo Kim, PLA, ASLA, is a visionary design leader whose work elevates landscape architecture as a powerful civic and cultural practice. Over nearly three decades, he has built an influential body of public work that brings together storytelling, environmental performance, and social equity to create landscapes that reflect and serve diverse communities. As Founder and Principal of HKLA, Kim has led more than 120 projects for over 40 public agencies, shaping parks, campuses, healthcare environments, and civic spaces across California and beyond. What sets his work apart is a process-driven approach rooted in uncovering the unique narratives of each place. Through research, community engagement, and careful design, he transforms these stories into meaningful spaces that foster identity, belonging, and long-term stewardship. Kim's projects consistently demonstrate how landscape architecture can address pressing social and environmental challenges. At Vermont Miracle Park in Los Angeles, he transformed a long-vacant site in an underserved neighborhood into a vibrant, community-centered space that promotes healing and pride. At the City of Hope Medical Campus, he reimagined outdoor environments as essential components of care, creating an extensive network of therapeutic landscapes that support recovery and well-being. His work at Calabash Charter Academy turned a heat-intensive schoolyard into a shaded, nature-based learning environment that has improved student experience and become a model for future campuses. Across all scales, Kim's designs are distinguished by their cultural sensitivity, ecological intelligence, and measurable public impact. His leadership within ASLA and allied organizations further amplifies his influence on the profession. Through a career defined by creativity, rigor, and a deep commitment to public life, Hongjoo Kim has advanced landscape architecture as a vital force for more inclusive, resilient, and meaningful places.

As seen in LASN magazine, August 2026.