COMMUNITYscape is a two-semester series in the analysis and design of the Slauson and Wall Opportunity Site - a seven-acre site located 2.5 miles from Exposition Park - conveniently located steps away from Metro’s pedestrian bike path, the first of its class in South Los Angeles. The 6.4-mile path will connect residents to Metro’s Crenshaw, Silver and Blue lines, some of the most heavily traversed rail and bus rapid transit lines in the city. Its development will help create jobs and address the current housing crisis. It will also give community members an opportunity to enjoy outdoor recreational space, along with incubator space for street vendors within a state-of-the-art food court, flexible office space for nonprofits and start-ups. Most importantly, this site will serve as a town center where community members can enjoy open space.

The course project enables students to coordinate Perkins + Will and their community partner, Brotherhood Crusade and the City of Los Angeles Economic and Workforce Development Department. The fall 2021 semester focuses on site, sociocultural and environmental research / analysis and schematic design. The spring 2022 semester focuses on design development and the fabrication of site furnishings and landscape components prototypes. Students are encouraged to enroll in both the semester’s studios for the full hands-on, stakeholder-partnership experience. There is a fundamental relationship between social and ecological systems that, when leveraged, benefit both communities and their environments -  linking infrastructure goals with wealth-building and anti-displacement goals - new landscapes associated with new affordable housing, with input from community members and organizations. This holistic approach results in green infrastructure improvements that provide economic and health benefits, directly serving residents. Community-led design demonstrates how landscape can be a positive and powerful resource for those most vulnerable.