Sasaki

As the fall semester begins and students return to campus, our thoughts are on what makes a welcoming student experience. One of our recent projects at The Lawrenceville School is a case study in inviting: Tsai Commons and Field House builds on the premise that all students belong and all perspectives are welcome. One stage in the realization of Sasaki’s campus master plan, the building opens up to students in all directions, inviting them to sit at the same metaphorical table. We asked Vinicius Gorgati and Marta Guerra-Pastrián to pull back the curtain and tell us about the design process behind the Field House, the second phase of which opened this summer. Thanks to intern Henry Murray for leading this piece! Read on: https://lnkd.in/eCvq2GaU

What does it look like to design with a social focus in Southern California? Ian Dickenson built a career on integrated design and rethinking urban life. To him, the best designs can be found in the spaces in-between. In his built work and academia, Ian uses architecture to grapple with bigger social issues. "Understanding architecture as a social act—that's a through line that's always resonated with me. Architecture is an extension of society, and what we're collectively trying to advance towards," says Ian. "Within Los Angeles, one of the most pressing issues is residential instability and unequal access to resources in the city. Housing is the foundation that brings people together, that gives cities life." Learn more in this designer spotlight. https://lnkd.in/eka9bRCU #losangeles #housing #theinbetween

Sasaki has opened our new Los Angeles studio! 🌴 With projects from the Port of Los Angeles to West Hollywood, the team is commited to human-centered design across the city and the region. "The new studio will build upon deep roots working alongside forward-thinking partners in California and throughout the West Coast," says architect Ian Dickenson. “We are excited to grow our team and collaborate with more local partners to design visionary and resilient places.” Find out more: https://lnkd.in/gejH3hac

The 2024 Paris Olympic Games celebrated the city’s public realm as well as the athletes, and it was a joy to watch. The visitor experience began not at the venue entrance, but out in the city, in the outdoor places and interstitial spaces that make our urban centers great. The games incorporated the city's assets--the Grand Palais, the River Seine, the grounds of Versailles--into a holistic environment combining joy and sport, largely navigable by public transit. The city invested in infrastructure, open space, housing, and public amenities that will support the citizens long after the games. "Investment in public space is a cornerstone of strong urban centers," writes Meredith McCarthy. "And if those kinds of spaces can work for the Olympics, imagine what they can do for everyday life." So how will Los Angeles invest in public space for the benefit of the 2028 Olympic Games and beyond? https://lnkd.in/euuVtztX Photo by Marco Verch #Paris2024 #LosAngeles2028 #UrbanDesign #UrbanPlanning #OlympicLegacy

Although the east coast is getting a reprieve, parts of the southern and western U.S. are experiencing dangerous levels of heat this week. Urban heat threatens not only the wellbeing of citizens, but the vitality of the public realm itself. Cities are vital places in the modern world because disparate currents converge there. In healthy cities, people of all backgrounds regularly cross paths, interact, and influence one another in the shared spaces between buildings, also called the public realm—everything from parks, to plazas, to sidewalks, to the buses and trains of transit systems. The churn of this melting pot generates new ideas, enterprise, culture, and social movements. But if that melting pot is, well, melting, people either stay indoors or else must risk their health and lives outdoors, and the vital exchange of the city starts to melt away too. Cities with warm summers or year-round climates need to plan for extreme heat, just as those on oceans must plan for rising sea levels. Fortunately, urban planners, architects, and landscape architects are developing models and tools to fortify the public realm for extreme temperatures. Shane Woolley interviews Sasaki designers about their strategies for understanding and addressing urban heat in "Between two buildings: Summer urbanism." https://lnkd.in/g8y2Xy4Y

Planner and principal Caitlyn Clauson has been appointed as Sasaki’s new President! The appointment recognizes Clauson’s deep understanding of the firm’s multidisciplinary approach, as well as her belief in design as a collective practice. Her passion for fostering creative and inclusive collaboration will guide Sasaki into its next chapter. In her new role, Clauson leads the strategic direction of the firm and ensures Sasaki’s culture continues to thrive. “It’s a privilege to have a hand in shaping how we come together at Sasaki, and in turn, how we transform ideas into impact.” Read more: https://lnkd.in/dR3s3fjq

The City of Akron, Ohio has selected Sasaki to plan the future of the Akron Innerbelt, an abandoned mile-long stretch of highway that fractured a vibrant community five decades ago. "The Innerbelt created a scar on the face of our community and as we take the next steps to determine the future of this area, we can hopefully begin to heal that wound and repair what was damaged,” said Akron Mayor Shammas Malik. “Our administration is excited to partner with the planners at Sasaki on the next phase of the Innerbelt development. Sasaki has a level of experience and expertise that really impressed our team during the interview process. They also prioritized community involvement and have included several local experts in the design of their group, so they know the history and importance of the work to be done here." To undertake the master plan, the City of Akron received a first-of-its-kind grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program, which seeks to reconnect communities that are cut off from opportunity and burdened by past transportation infrastructure decisions. U.S. Department of Transportation City of Akron, Ohio Shammas Malik #infrastructure #akron #cityofakron #innerbelt #reconnectingcommunities #urbaninnovation 📷 Jenna Eastman c/o Akron Documenters

The City of West Hollywood has selected Sasaki to help devise strategies to address urgent housing issues in the region. We believe stable and affordable housing can transform health, education, and local economies. Sasaki's work with West Hollywood includes a comprehensive review of the city’s current housing policy, standards, and zoning criteria to identify barriers to housing development and to propose improvements. We will study how housing is spread across the city and simulate scenarios that ensure equal access. We will generate design guidelines and propose new typologies that contribute to West Hollywood's legacy of progressive and visionary policy and design. Sasaki is committed to helping West Hollywood create more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable housing solutions Stay tuned for updates as we embark on this important project, driving positive change and shaping the future of West Hollywood! 🌆 #UrbanPlanning #HousingSolutions #WestHollywood #CommunityDevelopment

Thanks to American Society of Landscape Architects and Tamar Warburg for this conversation about how design firms are reducing their carbon emissions. And props to the architects, interior designers, and landscape architects at Sasaki who designed our beautiful office with environmental impacts in mind!

How can the public realm support the arts in its many forms? Sasaki has had the pleasure of working with inspiring arts districts–like Nine Rails Creative District in Ogden, UT–to bring city streets to life. In order to support many and varied art installations, designers need to engage with artists to understand their needs and incorporate arts infrastructure from early in the design process. At Dumke Arts Plaza in Ogden, UT, an elevated plinth creates a lookout point to see the Wasatch Mountains, while a planted, terraced plaza and covered gathering space provide opportunities for visual arts, performing arts, and everyday use. A set of six structural poles with built-in speakers facilitates hanging sculptures, while four sculpture pads integrate into the plaza to allow even heavy sculptures to sit gracefully on grade. Two stages are ready for performances, and a permanent LED screen facilitates installation art. As part of the design process, we created a user's manual for the plaza to help artists prepare their installations. So far we’ve seen dance shows, concerts, projection mapping, and several world-renowned sculpture shows at Dumke Arts Plaza. We can’t wait to see what comes next! … Chakaia Booker Weber State University Hogan & Associates Construction Io LandArch @unioncreativeagency 📷 @BenZack @CamMcloud