Landscape Architect Articles

Seven Firms Finalists for Orange County, Ca. Great Park Design11-15-05 | News

Seven Firms Finalists for Orange County, Ca. Great Park Design

A jury of leading architects, designers and academics selected seven of the world?EUR??,,????'???s top landscape architecture firms as finalists to compete for the job of master designer of the Orange County Great Park. The Great Park will be developed on seven square miles at the site of the decommissioned El Toro Marine Corps Air Station in the geographic center of Orange County, California.

The seven firms are: Abalos & Herreros of Madrid, Spain; Miralles/Tagliabue of Barcelona, Spain; Richard Haag Associates, Landscape Architects of Seattle, Washington; Hargreaves Associates of San Francisco, California; Olin Partnership of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Royston Hanamoto Alley & Abey, Mill Valley, California; Ken Smith, Landscape Architect of New York in partnership with Ten-Arquitectos, Mexico City, Mary Miss Studio, New York and Mia Lehrer and Associates, Los Angeles.

?EUR??,,????'??We have moved one step closer to finding the Frederick Law Olmsted of the 21st century?EUR??,,????'??+a master designer with the talent and vision to give Orange County a park that will serve the needs of our local residents and become a destination for travelers from around the globe,?EUR??,,????'?? said Larry Agran, chair of the Orange County Great Park Corp.

Dr. Hamid Shirvani, FASLA, FRSA, FRGS, provost and professor of architecture at Chapman University, a consultant who organized the design jury said, ?EUR??,,????'??Our candidates included 24 of the most highly respected design firms from throughout the world. The firms were evaluated on a number of criteria, including references, national and international awards and recognition, qualifications of principals who will work on the Great Park, and the firm?EUR??,,????'???s design philosophy and portfolio.?EUR??,,????'??