Buildings
Ken Smith Designing "Great Park" in Orange County
(archrecord.construction.com - 02/08/06)
By Allison
Milionis
On January 23, New York-based Ken Smith
Landscape Architect was chosen as master planner for a 1,347-acre
park in Irvine, California. The "Great Park," which
officials say may take decades to complete, will be one of
the largest in the U.S. Parts of the park, including sports
fields, are expected to open by 2008, with the first buildings
ready by 2012.
The property is part of a 4,700-acre
parcel that served as the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station
for nearly 60 years before it officially closed in 1999. The
base was considered for reuse as a commercial airport, but
following several years of legal and political battles the
plan was amended in 2002. Last year, Miami-based Lennar Corporation
purchased the property from the Department of Navy for $649.5
million and then transferred a portion to the City of Irvine.
Smith’s conceptual plan includes
a man-made canyon, a lake that will provide the backdrop to
a proposed amphitheater, and a linear park that will incorporate
a fighter plane museum. The master plan team comprises Enrique
Norten/TEN Arquitectos, landscape architects Mia Lehrer +
Associates, public artist Mary Miss, ecologist Steven Handel,
and environmental engineers, Buro Happold. The team will begin
work on the design following contract negotiations. Phase
I of the project, including the infrastructure, is expected
to cost $401 million.
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