HKLA

Los Angeles, California
by

Robertson Plaza; Los Angeles, CA
Robertson Plaza transforms a historic urban open space into a vibrant pedestrian destination through the integration of sculptural landforms, custom precast planters, enhanced paving, layered planting, and outdoor gathering spaces. Inspired by the fluid movement of the human body, a series of organically shaped precast planters defines pathways, seating areas, and visual connections, creating a contemporary landscape expression that is both functional and artistic. Located within a dense commercial district, the project balances retail visibility, employee privacy, and public use while establishing a distinctive identity for the site. Recognition: 2018 Southern California ASLA Merit Award in the Landscape Art category. Photo Credit: Tom House

Calabash Charter Academy; Woodland Hills, CA
Inspired by the children's classic "We're Going on a Bear Hunt," the campus at Calabash Charter Academy is organized into a sequence of outdoor experiences that encourage exploration, imagination, movement, and social interaction. Distinct landscape zones utilize topography, planting, color, and play elements to create environments that reinforce educational themes while accommodating everyday campus activities. The project demonstrates how landscape architecture can become an active teaching tool rather than simply a backdrop for learning. Widely recognized for its innovative educational approach, the project has become a model for integrating narrative, outdoor learning, and community engagement into elementary school design. Recognition: 2025 Southern California ASLA Honor Award. Photo Credit: Lawrence Anderson

California State University Dominguez Hills; Carson, CA
This six-acre transformation reimagines the heart of California State University Dominguez Hills as an inclusive, climate-resilient campus landscape that strengthens identity, connectivity, and everyday student life. Replacing fragmented plazas, compacted lawns, and an underutilized fire lane, the design creates a cohesive network of shaded promenades, flexible event lawns, courtyards, and outdoor learning environments that seamlessly connect the Main Quad, North Lawn, and Innovation & Instruction Building. More than 100 new canopy trees, integrated bioswales, soil remediation, and a reclaimed-water-compatible planting palette improve comfort, stormwater performance, and long-term resilience while establishing a welcoming, park-like campus core. Recognition: 2025 Southern California ASLA Merit Award. Photo Credit: Lawrence Anderson

Vermont Miracle Park; Los Angeles, CA
Vermont Miracle Park transforms a long-vacant site in South Los Angeles into a vibrant neighborhood destination that celebrates creativity, diversity, and community resilience. Rather than relying on conventional park design, the project embeds layers of storytelling throughout the landscape, encouraging children and families to discover new perspectives through everyday experiences. Sculptural monarch butterflies integrated into the perimeter fence, a raised walkway that reveals patterns inspired by tree shadows and aircraft flight paths, colorful play spaces, alphabet graphics, native gardens, and bioswales each communicate messages of curiosity, inclusion, and environmental stewardship. Recognition: 2018 Southern California ASLA Merit Award. Photo Credit: Tom House

Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center; Downey, CA

 
The Residential Care Center and Residential Treatment Program at Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center creates a therapeutic campus where landscape supports healing, recovery, and community. Inspired by the site's historic agricultural heritage, the design preserves mature trees and organizes the campus through a network of shaded pathways, courtyards, sensory gardens, and restorative outdoor rooms that encourage daily activity and social interaction. Fragrant planting, edible gardens, pollinator habitats, and comfortable gathering spaces provide opportunities for reflection, rehabilitation, and connection to nature while reinforcing a sense of independence and belonging. The landscape carefully balances privacy with community engagement, creating a welcoming environment for long-term residents and caregivers alike. Photo Credit: Lawrence Anderson

Hollywood Park Residences; Inglewood, CA
The Crosby and The Wesley redefine multifamily living within Hollywood Park, Inglewood's transformative mixed-use district surrounding multiple premier entertainment venues. Set across five acres, a series of resort-inspired outdoor environments seamlessly blend wellness, recreation, and community life. Lush courtyards, pools, yoga lawns, rooftop gardens, entertainment terraces, dog parks, and native planting areas provide residents with diverse spaces for relaxation and social connection. Inspired by the elegance of the historic Hollywood Park Racetrack, the design combines timeless materials with climate-adapted planting, reclaimed-water irrigation, and integrated stormwater strategies connected to the master plan's lake system. The project demonstrates how landscape architecture can elevate high-density housing while contributing to a vibrant, walkable, and sustainable urban community. Photo Credit: HANA

Garden Grove Civic Center; Garden Grove, CA
The Garden Grove Civic Center Revitalization transforms six acres at the heart of the city's civic district into a welcoming public landscape that unites government, community, and nature. The multi-phase project integrates a modern Police Department headquarters, a four-level public parking structure, and a reimagined Civic Center Park into a cohesive civic destination that celebrates history while embracing the future. Expansive event lawns, shaded walking trails, a memorial grove, and flexible gathering spaces create opportunities for everyday recreation and community celebrations, while sustainable planting, stormwater strategies, and tree-lined pedestrian connections enhance resilience and accessibility. Recognition: 2025 Southern California Development Forum Citation Award for Urban Design/Planning. Photo Credit: HKLA

City of Hope Medical Campus; Duarte, CA
Located on a 116-acre National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer campus, the City of Hope Landscape Master Plan reimagines the outdoor environment as an essential extension of the healing experience. The plan establishes more than 16 miles of interconnected healing pathways linking research, clinical, and patient care facilities through therapeutic gardens, shaded promenades, sensory landscapes, and restorative gathering spaces. Movement-based paths support physical recovery, sensory gardens foster mental well-being, and spaces for reflection, grounding, and social connection nurture emotional healing. Native and climate-adapted planting, bioswales, expanded tree canopy, and reclaimed water strategies restore ecological health and strengthen climate resilience. Recognition: 2025 World Landscape Architecture Award of Excellence, 2025 Southern California ASLA Honor Award. Photo Credit: HKLA

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Robertson Plaza; Los Angeles, CA
Robertson Plaza transforms a historic urban open space into a vibrant pedestrian destination through the integration of sculptural landforms, custom precast planters, enhanced paving, layered planting, and outdoor gathering spaces. Inspired by the fluid movement of the human body, a series of organically shaped precast planters defines pathways, seating areas, and visual connections, creating a contemporary landscape expression that is both functional and artistic. Located within a dense commercial district, the project balances retail visibility, employee privacy, and public use while establishing a distinctive identity for the site. Recognition: 2018 Southern California ASLA Merit Award in the Landscape Art category. Photo Credit: Tom House

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Calabash Charter Academy; Woodland Hills, CA
Inspired by the children's classic "We're Going on a Bear Hunt," the campus at Calabash Charter Academy is organized into a sequence of outdoor experiences that encourage exploration, imagination, movement, and social interaction. Distinct landscape zones utilize topography, planting, color, and play elements to create environments that reinforce educational themes while accommodating everyday campus activities. The project demonstrates how landscape architecture can become an active teaching tool rather than simply a backdrop for learning. Widely recognized for its innovative educational approach, the project has become a model for integrating narrative, outdoor learning, and community engagement into elementary school design. Recognition: 2025 Southern California ASLA Honor Award. Photo Credit: Lawrence Anderson

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California State University Dominguez Hills; Carson, CA
This six-acre transformation reimagines the heart of California State University Dominguez Hills as an inclusive, climate-resilient campus landscape that strengthens identity, connectivity, and everyday student life. Replacing fragmented plazas, compacted lawns, and an underutilized fire lane, the design creates a cohesive network of shaded promenades, flexible event lawns, courtyards, and outdoor learning environments that seamlessly connect the Main Quad, North Lawn, and Innovation & Instruction Building. More than 100 new canopy trees, integrated bioswales, soil remediation, and a reclaimed-water-compatible planting palette improve comfort, stormwater performance, and long-term resilience while establishing a welcoming, park-like campus core. Recognition: 2025 Southern California ASLA Merit Award. Photo Credit: Lawrence Anderson

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Vermont Miracle Park; Los Angeles, CA
Vermont Miracle Park transforms a long-vacant site in South Los Angeles into a vibrant neighborhood destination that celebrates creativity, diversity, and community resilience. Rather than relying on conventional park design, the project embeds layers of storytelling throughout the landscape, encouraging children and families to discover new perspectives through everyday experiences. Sculptural monarch butterflies integrated into the perimeter fence, a raised walkway that reveals patterns inspired by tree shadows and aircraft flight paths, colorful play spaces, alphabet graphics, native gardens, and bioswales each communicate messages of curiosity, inclusion, and environmental stewardship. Recognition: 2018 Southern California ASLA Merit Award. Photo Credit: Tom House

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Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center; Downey, CA
The Residential Care Center and Residential Treatment Program at Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center creates a therapeutic campus where landscape supports healing, recovery, and community. Inspired by the site's historic agricultural heritage, the design preserves mature trees and organizes the campus through a network of shaded pathways, courtyards, sensory gardens, and restorative outdoor rooms that encourage daily activity and social interaction. Fragrant planting, edible gardens, pollinator habitats, and comfortable gathering spaces provide opportunities for reflection, rehabilitation, and connection to nature while reinforcing a sense of independence and belonging. The landscape carefully balances privacy with community engagement, creating a welcoming environment for long-term residents and caregivers alike. Photo Credit: Lawrence Anderson

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Hollywood Park Residences; Inglewood, CA
The Crosby and The Wesley redefine multifamily living within Hollywood Park, Inglewood's transformative mixed-use district surrounding multiple premier entertainment venues. Set across five acres, a series of resort-inspired outdoor environments seamlessly blend wellness, recreation, and community life. Lush courtyards, pools, yoga lawns, rooftop gardens, entertainment terraces, dog parks, and native planting areas provide residents with diverse spaces for relaxation and social connection. Inspired by the elegance of the historic Hollywood Park Racetrack, the design combines timeless materials with climate-adapted planting, reclaimed-water irrigation, and integrated stormwater strategies connected to the master plan's lake system. The project demonstrates how landscape architecture can elevate high-density housing while contributing to a vibrant, walkable, and sustainable urban community. Photo Credit: HANA

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Garden Grove Civic Center; Garden Grove, CA
The Garden Grove Civic Center Revitalization transforms six acres at the heart of the city's civic district into a welcoming public landscape that unites government, community, and nature. The multi-phase project integrates a modern Police Department headquarters, a four-level public parking structure, and a reimagined Civic Center Park into a cohesive civic destination that celebrates history while embracing the future. Expansive event lawns, shaded walking trails, a memorial grove, and flexible gathering spaces create opportunities for everyday recreation and community celebrations, while sustainable planting, stormwater strategies, and tree-lined pedestrian connections enhance resilience and accessibility. Recognition: 2025 Southern California Development Forum Citation Award for Urban Design/Planning. Photo Credit: HKLA

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City of Hope Medical Campus; Duarte, CA
Located on a 116-acre National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer campus, the City of Hope Landscape Master Plan reimagines the outdoor environment as an essential extension of the healing experience. The plan establishes more than 16 miles of interconnected healing pathways linking research, clinical, and patient care facilities through therapeutic gardens, shaded promenades, sensory landscapes, and restorative gathering spaces. Movement-based paths support physical recovery, sensory gardens foster mental well-being, and spaces for reflection, grounding, and social connection nurture emotional healing. Native and climate-adapted planting, bioswales, expanded tree canopy, and reclaimed water strategies restore ecological health and strengthen climate resilience. Recognition: 2025 World Landscape Architecture Award of Excellence, 2025 Southern California ASLA Honor Award. Photo Credit: HKLA

HKLA is an award-winning landscape architecture and urban design practice founded in Los Angeles in 2012. The firm partners with public agencies, educational institutions, healthcare organizations, and mission-driven clients to create places that strengthen communities and enrich everyday life. HKLA's work is grounded in a research-based, process-oriented approach that views landscape as a medium for storytelling - revealing the unique cultural, ecological, and social narratives of each site. Rather than applying a signature style, the firm develops context-specific designs that foster connection, resilience, and a strong sense of place. Through meaningful community engagement, environmental stewardship, and meticulous attention to craft, HKLA transforms complex challenges into memorable civic landscapes that support learning, healing, recreation, and belonging. The firm's work has received regional, national, and international recognition for design excellence and social impact, and its founder - Hongjoo Kim, PLA - was elevated to ASLA Fellow status this year.
Employees: PLAs (3), Principals (1); Total (12)
Software used: AutoCAD, LandFX, Adobe Suite, Rhino3D, Lumion, Microsoft Suite

As seen in LASN magazine, August 2026.