American Institute of Architects (AIA)
June 10, 2024
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has announced that a 2024 AIA Architecture Award has been presented to SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park, a 298-acre sports and entertainment complex in Inglewood, a suburb of Los Angeles. HKS served as the architect, in collaboration with Studio-MLA as the landscape architect on this landmark project.
The winners were unveiled during the AIA’s national AIA24 conference in Washington, D.C.
AIA’s annual award celebrates the best innovative design. The selection process is guided by the AIA’s Framework for Design Excellence, which focuses on principles of sustainability, resilience, and accessibility.
“We are thrilled to see our collaborative work with HKS at SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park recognized for its ecological and community impact,” said Mia Lehrer, FASLA, president of Studio-MLA. “Our goal was to create a landscape that both complements the monumental building and ‘grounds’ the human eye level experience, while supporting the local ecosystem and providing vital green spaces for people and wildlife alike.”
The SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park project integrates three primary elements: SoFi Stadium, the NFL’s premier venue; YouTube Theater, a 6,000-seat live performance space; and American Airlines Plaza, linking the stadium and theater. Studio-MLA’s design features 25 acres of associated public open space, including landscaped parks, trails, and a lake, all tailored to the local climate and cultural context.
Studio-MLA, working in close collaboration with HKS, designed a series of new canyons through which fans enter the seating bowl, which sits 100 feet below grade. The pathways include gardens rife with native southern California plants that evoke the feeling of ambling down bluffs in Malibu to reach the beach.
“Our approach focused on sustainability and habitat creation,” said Kush Parekh, PLA, lead designer at Studio-MLA. “By incorporating native plants and creating diverse green spaces, we aimed to foster a resilient landscape that promotes biodiversity and ecological health while offering the community accessible and enjoyable outdoor environments.”
Designed for year-round activity, the site accommodates major stadium events and local community gatherings like yoga classes, farmers markets, and even voter registration hub, benefiting the Inglewood community and its surrounding neighborhoods.
An AIA award is the ultimate acknowledgment of this impactful, exemplary work in architecture and landscape architectural design.
ABOUT STUDIO-MLA
Studio-MLA integrates landscape architecture, urban design, and planning to inspire human connection, unite communities, and restore environmental balance. ‘Advocacy by Design’ drives their practice, promoting ecological and social change with inclusivity. For over 25 years, founder Mia Lehrer, FASLA, has led innovative thinking to address urban and natural environments. The studio’s work, from city master planning to intimate garden designs, is known for creativity and responsibility. With offices in Los Angeles and San Francisco, their 45-person team includes diverse professionals who believe in the transformative power of design.
ABOUT HKS
HKS is a global firm of architects, designers, planners and advisors who create places noted for their beauty and performance. Our 1,600 people in 29 offices are united by the belief that an environmental, social and governance approach to design achieves design excellence. In 2023, we became a carbon neutral firm. We value honesty, diversity and inclusion and we celebrate creative thinking. In partnership with our clients and collaborators, we craft powerful ideas and solutions. Together we create places that stand apart.