EPTDESIGN

Orange County, Pasadena, Claremont, and Santa Barbara, California
by

Simone Little Italy; San Diego, CA
Rising 36 stories above San Diego's Little Italy neighborhood, Simone redefines urban residential living by pairing panoramic views with a series of thoughtfully designed outdoor spaces. The landscape extends the building's living experience vertically, creating distinct destinations that encourage relaxation, recreation, and social connection. The Level 6 Amenity Deck serves as the community hub with gathering spaces, outdoor kitchens, fitness areas, a dog run, media walls, fire pits, and an outdoor projection wall. The Sky Deck Lounge offers sunset-facing fire pits and entertainment spaces from the 35th level, while the cantilevered rooftop Pool Deck crowns the tower with a pool, spa, cabanas, and sweeping views of the city skyline and San Diego Bay. Photo Credit: Ryan Gobuty

LA Arboretum Visitor Plaza; Arcadia, CA
The Los Angeles Arboretum Visitor Plaza renovation transforms the arrival experience by revealing the historic mid-century design formerly obscured by decades of piecemeal alterations. The new plaza creates a welcoming sequence with demonstration gardens, flexible gathering spaces, donor opportunities, and diverse seating while introducing visitors to the Arboretum's network of interpretive gardens through thoughtfully integrated signage. Accessibility was central to the design, replacing a maze of ramps and stairs with gently sloped pathways. Designed to support both everyday use and large events, the plaza reflects the Arboretum's mission of learning, enjoyment, and inspiration while establishing a welcoming civic destination rooted in history and designed for the future. Recognition: 2025 ASLA SoCal Chapter Honor Award. Photo Credit: Jennifer Cheung

EF Education First; Pasadena, CA
The transformation of EF Education First's Pasadena campus into an international boarding high school demonstrates how thoughtful landscape design can strengthen campus character and environmental performance. New dormitories are integrated into the existing campus through enhanced circulation, fire access, and interconnected outdoor spaces. Preserving the site's mature tree canopy - a defining campus asset - guided the design, while a renewed focus on sustainability introduced water-conscious planting and resilient landscape strategies that maximize existing site resources. The resulting campus balances historic character with contemporary needs, creating welcoming outdoor environments that support student life, improve campus connectivity, and reinforce EF's vision for an engaging residential learning experience. Photo Credit: Ryan Gobuty

Pomona College Studio Art Hall; Claremont, CA
Home to drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, and digital arts, Pomona College Studio Art Hall is filled with daylight and framed by views of the surrounding landscape, while transparent studios invite passersby to witness the creative process. Situated at the gateway to the Sontag Greek Theater and adjacent to a native oak grove, the landscape reflects the site's historic patterns of water movement through a modular paving system that gradually gives way to planted spaces within the central courtyard. Low impact development strategies, water-efficient irrigation, and flexible outdoor classrooms and gathering areas create an inspiring setting for learning, collaboration, and artistic expression. Recognition: 2016 ASLA SoCal Chapter Merit Award. Photo Credit: Jennifer Cheung

100 West Walnut; Pasadena, CA

 
100 West Walnut transforms a once-isolated office campus into a vibrant mixed-use neighborhood that reconnects Pasadena's historic urban fabric. The design reimagines former surface parking lots as a walkable district that bridges Old Pasadena with surrounding neighborhoods. Phase One includes 365 residential units, 210,000 square feet of creative office space, and ground-floor retail above a three-level subterranean garage. A network of intimate plazas, paseos, and alleyways recalls the historic warehouse district that once occupied the site, creating inviting public spaces that encourage exploration and social interaction. By drawing inspiration from Pasadena's history, the project establishes a contemporary neighborhood rooted in the city's architectural and cultural legacy. Photo Credit: Jennifer Cheung

Overlook Park; Irvine, CA
Set among the rolling hills of Irvine's Orchard Hills community, Overlook Park creates a resort-inspired destination with welcoming spaces that encourage residents of all ages to gather, play, and unwind. A junior Olympic-sized pool, spa, outdoor dining areas, shaded seating, and flexible lawns support everyday use as well as community events, while playful amenities - including a children's play area, games, and walking paths - promote active lifestyles and spontaneous interaction. Native and ornamental planting frame sweeping views across Irvine's hills and reservoir, culminating at the park's namesake overlook. The landscape fosters a strong sense of community while celebrating the natural beauty of its hillside setting. Photo Credit: Jennifer Cheung

UCLA Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden; Los Angeles, CA
The restoration of the historic stream at UCLA's 7.5-acre Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden transformed a failing water feature into a resilient system that supports research, education, and ecological stewardship. The recirculating stream dramatically reduces water consumption by capturing runoff - including water from nearby cooling towers - and recycling it for irrigation throughout the garden. Carefully engineered grades maintain continuous flow while supporting aquatic health, and strategically placed boulders, pond shelves, and native plantings enrich habitat and visitor experience. As one of UCLA's most treasured outdoor classrooms, the revitalized stream enhances the garden's mission to inspire environmental awareness while creating a sustainable landscape that will serve future generations. Recognition: 2025 ASLA SoCal Chapter Merit Award. Photo Credit: Ryan Gobuty

Orange County Sanitation District Headquarters; Fountain Valley, CA
A private courtyard at the Orange County Sanitation District's (OC San) new headquarters provides staff with a restorative outdoor retreat rooted in biophilic design, supporting quiet lunch breaks and larger gatherings while strengthening connections to nature. At the building's front door, the arrival plaza creates a welcoming civic presence that reinforces OC San's commitment to transparency and public service. Interpretive elements and an immersive indoor-outdoor exhibit educate visitors about the agency's essential work while outdoor tour stops are integrated throughout the site. The landscape creates spaces that support well-being, foster engagement, and strengthen the connection between the district and the community it serves. Photo Credit: Dan Schwalm

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Simone Little Italy; San Diego, CA
Rising 36 stories above San Diego's Little Italy neighborhood, Simone redefines urban residential living by pairing panoramic views with a series of thoughtfully designed outdoor spaces. The landscape extends the building's living experience vertically, creating distinct destinations that encourage relaxation, recreation, and social connection. The Level 6 Amenity Deck serves as the community hub with gathering spaces, outdoor kitchens, fitness areas, a dog run, media walls, fire pits, and an outdoor projection wall. The Sky Deck Lounge offers sunset-facing fire pits and entertainment spaces from the 35th level, while the cantilevered rooftop Pool Deck crowns the tower with a pool, spa, cabanas, and sweeping views of the city skyline and San Diego Bay. Photo Credit: Ryan Gobuty

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LA Arboretum Visitor Plaza; Arcadia, CA
The Los Angeles Arboretum Visitor Plaza renovation transforms the arrival experience by revealing the historic mid-century design formerly obscured by decades of piecemeal alterations. The new plaza creates a welcoming sequence with demonstration gardens, flexible gathering spaces, donor opportunities, and diverse seating while introducing visitors to the Arboretum's network of interpretive gardens through thoughtfully integrated signage. Accessibility was central to the design, replacing a maze of ramps and stairs with gently sloped pathways. Designed to support both everyday use and large events, the plaza reflects the Arboretum's mission of learning, enjoyment, and inspiration while establishing a welcoming civic destination rooted in history and designed for the future. Recognition: 2025 ASLA SoCal Chapter Honor Award. Photo Credit: Jennifer Cheung

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EF Education First; Pasadena, CA
The transformation of EF Education First's Pasadena campus into an international boarding high school demonstrates how thoughtful landscape design can strengthen campus character and environmental performance. New dormitories are integrated into the existing campus through enhanced circulation, fire access, and interconnected outdoor spaces. Preserving the site's mature tree canopy - a defining campus asset - guided the design, while a renewed focus on sustainability introduced water-conscious planting and resilient landscape strategies that maximize existing site resources. The resulting campus balances historic character with contemporary needs, creating welcoming outdoor environments that support student life, improve campus connectivity, and reinforce EF's vision for an engaging residential learning experience. Photo Credit: Ryan Gobuty

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Pomona College Studio Art Hall; Claremont, CA
Home to drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, and digital arts, Pomona College Studio Art Hall is filled with daylight and framed by views of the surrounding landscape, while transparent studios invite passersby to witness the creative process. Situated at the gateway to the Sontag Greek Theater and adjacent to a native oak grove, the landscape reflects the site's historic patterns of water movement through a modular paving system that gradually gives way to planted spaces within the central courtyard. Low impact development strategies, water-efficient irrigation, and flexible outdoor classrooms and gathering areas create an inspiring setting for learning, collaboration, and artistic expression. Recognition: 2016 ASLA SoCal Chapter Merit Award. Photo Credit: Jennifer Cheung

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100 West Walnut; Pasadena, CA
100 West Walnut transforms a once-isolated office campus into a vibrant mixed-use neighborhood that reconnects Pasadena's historic urban fabric. The design reimagines former surface parking lots as a walkable district that bridges Old Pasadena with surrounding neighborhoods. Phase One includes 365 residential units, 210,000 square feet of creative office space, and ground-floor retail above a three-level subterranean garage. A network of intimate plazas, paseos, and alleyways recalls the historic warehouse district that once occupied the site, creating inviting public spaces that encourage exploration and social interaction. By drawing inspiration from Pasadena's history, the project establishes a contemporary neighborhood rooted in the city's architectural and cultural legacy. Photo Credit: Jennifer Cheung

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Overlook Park; Irvine, CA
Set among the rolling hills of Irvine's Orchard Hills community, Overlook Park creates a resort-inspired destination with welcoming spaces that encourage residents of all ages to gather, play, and unwind. A junior Olympic-sized pool, spa, outdoor dining areas, shaded seating, and flexible lawns support everyday use as well as community events, while playful amenities - including a children's play area, games, and walking paths - promote active lifestyles and spontaneous interaction. Native and ornamental planting frame sweeping views across Irvine's hills and reservoir, culminating at the park's namesake overlook. The landscape fosters a strong sense of community while celebrating the natural beauty of its hillside setting. Photo Credit: Jennifer Cheung

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UCLA Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden; Los Angeles, CA
The restoration of the historic stream at UCLA's 7.5-acre Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden transformed a failing water feature into a resilient system that supports research, education, and ecological stewardship. The recirculating stream dramatically reduces water consumption by capturing runoff - including water from nearby cooling towers - and recycling it for irrigation throughout the garden. Carefully engineered grades maintain continuous flow while supporting aquatic health, and strategically placed boulders, pond shelves, and native plantings enrich habitat and visitor experience. As one of UCLA's most treasured outdoor classrooms, the revitalized stream enhances the garden's mission to inspire environmental awareness while creating a sustainable landscape that will serve future generations. Recognition: 2025 ASLA SoCal Chapter Merit Award. Photo Credit: Ryan Gobuty

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Orange County Sanitation District Headquarters; Fountain Valley, CA
A private courtyard at the Orange County Sanitation District's (OC San) new headquarters provides staff with a restorative outdoor retreat rooted in biophilic design, supporting quiet lunch breaks and larger gatherings while strengthening connections to nature. At the building's front door, the arrival plaza creates a welcoming civic presence that reinforces OC San's commitment to transparency and public service. Interpretive elements and an immersive indoor-outdoor exhibit educate visitors about the agency's essential work while outdoor tour stops are integrated throughout the site. The landscape creates spaces that support well-being, foster engagement, and strengthen the connection between the district and the community it serves. Photo Credit: Dan Schwalm

EPTDESIGN is a dynamic, award-winning, full-service landscape architecture firm with studios across Southern California. Founded in 1962, EPTDESIGN serves a diverse range of clients across institutional, public, commercial, residential, and international sectors. Their track record of repeat work reflects both their commitment to design excellence and their strong service orientation. As a 100% employee-owned firm, they bring a shared sense of ownership and accountability to every project. When everyone has a personal stake in the work, their clients experience greater creativity, responsiveness, and follow-through. Employee ownership is more than a business model, it is a shared investment in the places they create, the relationships they build, and the communities they serve. Guided by their ethos of Well-Being Through Design, they create timeless, resilient landscapes that foster meaningful connections and lasting value.
Employees: PLAs (11), Principals (6); Total (44)
Software used: AutoCAD, SketchUp, Rhinoceros, Lumion, Enscape, LandFX

As seen in LASN magazine, August 2026.