The focus of this studio was to envision a new future for Exposition Park and the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Exposition Park is currently underutilized and suffers from a lack of a clear organization and identity. The Coliseum has a strong history, hosting both the 1932 and 1984 Olympics (the only venue in the world to host two Olympic Games) but is becoming obsolete. The design of the seating bowl is inadequate by today's standards, and the Coliseum lacks the facilities and private boxes befitting a top 25 NCAA football program. Under the guidance of Dan Meis, senior principle at Populous, and Greg Otto, senior principle at Buro Happold, this studio will design a major remodel to the Coliseum and serve as an idea engine for public and university officials seeking to enliven Exposition Park.
My plan for Exposition Park is for a new athletics campus for USC: In addition to a new modern football field inside the "ruins" of the old coliseum, proposed is a new Dedeaux Field to host the USC baseball program and a new MLS soccer stadium to host Chivas USA (who currently share the Home Depot Center with the LA Galaxy) and the USC women's soccer team. Also called for is a reorganization of the museums currently on the site with a new facility to house the space shuttle Endeavor. Adding these stadia and extending the Trousdale pedestrian street south through Exposition Park will help to link the park to the USC campus and create an active public park.
