The first and largest park in the City of Angels, Pershing Square, has undergone seven major transformations since Los Angeles Mayor Aguilar declared the scrubland a public plaza in 1866. Including rededication to World War I hero General John Pershing in 1918 and modification as the grass roof of an 1,800-car parking structure in 1951, nothing has been so dramatic as its renovation as a symbol of California that a coalition of businesses spearheaded in order to revitalize the downtown business district surrounding the square at Olive, Hill, Fifth and Sixth Streets.

Renowned Architect Ricardo Legorreta of Legorreta Arquitectos (Mexico City) and Landscape Architect Laurie Olin of Hanna/Olin, Ltd. (Philadelphia), with local coordination provided by Langdon Wilson Architects, created two plazas in the spirit of Mexican zocalos divided by a 125-foot bell tower. In striking contrast to glass and granite buildings towering around the square, the twin plazas are populated with brightly colored columns, orbs, walls, and the simple geometric buildings that house a cafe´ and transit center. The purple bell-tower and artistic interpretations of the city's cultural history affirm the role of the past in the vitality of present-day Los Angeles with signature elements like earthquakes, ocean, agriculture, and an aqueduct representing the aqueduct that brings water-and life-to the city.

California artist Barabara McCarren designed the stylized earthquake faultline in gold and charcoal quartzite and black terrazzo that cuts a jagged line from the southwest corner of the park at Olive and Sixth into the center of a tidal pool. Water running from an aqueduct at the base of the bell tower feeds the large circular pool at eight minute intervals, creating tidal action that depicts the ocean. Overlooking the tidal pool, a semi-circular bench inscribed with a commentary on Pershing Square and the vibrancy of the city by Carey McWilliams, a journalist who reported California life in the 1930's and 1940's, also evokes local history. Likewise, inlaid in the concrete bench at Fifth and Hill, porcelain reproductions of photo postcards written by early visitors, archived at UCLA, recall Angelino heritage.

Nearby, fashioned from abalone terrazzo is Pershing Square's answer to the Hollywood Walk of Fame: a star walk featuring constellations of the summer and winter skies, bearings visible to stargazers throughout the city. Three telescopes positioned near this star walk reveal not starry skies, however, but historic perspectives of Pershing Square that have transpired from 1889 and 1930, while the third allows a view of the present park and the skyline of the cityscape.

The plant palette includes specimens that are historically symbolic, including coral trees-California's state tree, a variety of palm trees and, of course, orange trees. A grove of orange trees, which marks the center of the 5-acre park, recognizes the contribution of agriculture to LA's regional economic development, and also recalls an orange grove that once provided citrus for the predecessor of Loyola-Marymount University. Toward the east, a towering palm court with 48 reclaimed specimens arranged in a corridor creates a secluded garden setting for a collection of patriotic statues and artifacts from several eras-a soldier from the Spanish-American War, a World War I doughboy, and a cannon from "Old Ironsides," the famous World War II battleship-as well as a statue of Beethoven commemorating the founding of the LA Philharmonic in 1932. At the northern end, a grassy Mayan-style amphitheater with a depressed center faces the highest elevation in the park, a natural stage framed by four huge Canary Island palms and accessed by two sets of risers.

The unifying element for the 5-acre plaza filled with historic symbols is 67,000 square feet of hardscape in a large-scale weave pattern. The color-hardened surface was hand seeded with silica carbide to achieve "sparkles" and lightly sandblasted to create the texture of stone. In addition, the alternating score lines on 12"-square graphic tiles capture light from two different angles, creating the subtle appearance of two colors.

Just as public money financed the first park on the site in 1872, the $14.5 million renovation completed in 1994 was funded by a committed partnership of the public and private sectors. Utilizing an innovative financing structure, Maguire Thomas Partners provided leadership and $1.5 million in seed money for the eighteen property owners surrounding the park who comprised the Pershing Square Property Owners Association. The group ultimately taxed themselves to retire $8.5 million in municipal securities to augment the City of Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency's $6 million.

Also uniquely, the project was planned cooperatively with social agencies to offer counseling and other services to the homeless. By incorporating the civic interests of the coalition for others in need, the plaza is a role model for Landscape Architects to add cultural and social benefits to project concepts. LASN

Used as a market place, park, or public assembly, an open space in a small town is the heart of the town. No less the central plaza of that town when it becomes a metropolis, reflecting its own history of cultural change.