The Design District in West Hollywood, known for its vibrant and stylish atmosphere, is home to a concentration of high-end interior design showrooms, art galleries, fashion boutiques, and restaurants. Bounded by Melrose Avenue to the north, Beverly Boulevard to the south, Robertson Boulevard to the west, and La Cienega Boulevard to the east, this area has been a hub of creativity and innovation since 1949.

Over the past 75 years, more than 250 global visionaries and creative leaders have made the walkable Design District radius their West Coast home. As 2024 marks this milestone anniversary, the City of West Hollywood has been laying the groundwork for the next chapter in the district's evolution.

To enhance their infrastructure and economic vitality, the city has been advancing the Design District Streetscape Master Plan, which is currently underway and has already ushered in a significant transformation on Melrose Avenue.

To realize these ambitious goals, the city embarked on a comprehensive design process that prioritized community engagement, interdisciplinary collaboration, and innovative solutions. The design process commenced with extensive stakeholder outreach efforts, including community workshops, public forums, and online surveys to solicit feedback, gather input, and ensure that the project reflected the desires and aspirations of the community.

Berg & Associates, Inc. was brought on board as the construction manager and public outreach consultant. Their responsibilities encompassed overseeing all aspects of the construction process, from planning and scheduling to budget management and on-site coordination. Utility coordination was important in managing more than eight third-party companies with overlapping schedules and business impacts. Public outreach was critical to ensure that local residents, businesses, and other stakeholders were informed about the project's progress, potential disruptions, and benefits. Together with Berg & Associates, the City of West Hollywood held fifty community workshops and public meetings, created a dedicated project website, distributed over sixty construction notices, and maintained open lines of communication to address concerns and provide solutions to public inquiries.

 

Key players in the execution of the plan include:
Kabbara Engineering, led by Principals, Bill Kabbara, P.E., P.L.S. and Leah Kabbara, P.E., were the Prime Civil Engineering Design consultants tasked with implementing the vision of the Design District Streetscape Master Plan and managing the project from the early preliminary design and artist selection stages, through completion of construction. The Kabbara Engineering Team included Landscape Architecture and Community Outreach services by Bron Ruf, L.A., of LRM Associates Inc. Our Team also included Traffic Signal and Lighting design services by Transportation & Energy Solutions Inc., and Fiber Interconnect and Electrical design by General Technologies and Solutions LLC.

Design Concept
The streetscape design was meticulously curated to "brand" the Design District, creating a distinct and unique character for the area. Improvements include expanded pedestrian-friendly sidewalks, curb extensions, LED-energy efficient streetlights, a modern in-roadway lighting system for safe pedestrian crossings, electric vehicle charging stations, increased street banners, upgraded bus shelters, and a unique landscape planting pattern. These enhancements would transition Melrose Ave to function more like a retail street designed to serve local businesses and residents.

Connectivity was another major theme that the team took advantage of by expanding opportunities for internet connectivity, public Wi-Fi, and EV charging facilities as well as interconnected streetlight and traffic signal systems, smart bus shelters, and totems throughout the site.

Based on the plan, the district was to have three different tree species with larger, London planetrees featured throughout the district and alternating pink flowering trumpets and Chinese pistaches that would help build the identity of that street. Trees were vetted by the city's Urban Forester to ensure they were appropriate for this climate and that the trees would not have issues related to sap or expanding roots. Expanded and extensive tree canopies are a central component of the Design District.

Challenges
In addition to the hurdles of working within the constraints of existing conditions in this densely populated and built-out urban environment, some of the main challenges of this project were related to the existing poor soil conditions on the site.

Thorough and on-going coordination was required with all affected public agencies and utility companies throughout the design and construction phases to ensure that any conflicts and issues were identified and mitigated prior to implementation.

Over-excavation and placement of new subgrade materials under new sidewalk pavements was utilized to mitigate the poor soils conditions within the project limits. Additionally, in areas with limited narrow parkway widths, the design incorporated the use of water retention root cells to capture parkway runoff and to provide better soils conditions and growing environments for the new street trees.

Despite the inherent challenges posed by such a complex undertaking - including logistical constraints, budget limitations, and the need to balance ecological conservation with urban development - the project team remained steadfast in their commitment to realizing the vision for the Design District's landscape.

Today, as residents and visitors traverse the revitalized landscape, they are greeted by a tapestry of native flora, vibrant colors, and ecological vitality - a testament to the power of landscape design to inspire, enrich, and sustain the human experience. Looking ahead to a revitalized future, the Design District aims to ensure that it remains a leading destination for design, art, fashion, and upscale dining, continuing to attract both local residents and visitors from around the world.