Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

Reclaiming Hardscape as programmatic green space: a progress report

Karen Wise, Vice President, Education and Exhibits

The Institution: Natural History Museum & Our Audience

Mission: To inspire wonder, discovery and responsibility for our natural and cultural worlds Core scientific expertise: systematic biology (faunal) Audience: Diverse visitors reflecting LAs underlying demography 1m visits per year 250K school children each year (free) Paying visitors come for family/social experience, for fun. Educational value is desired but often secondary

The Location

The Opportunity:
Reclaim 3 acres of parking lots, brick, concrete & underutilized turf

Patch

Network

Mosaic

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Exposition Boulevard
J. BREWER PARK ROSE GARDEN

MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY

Vermont Avenue

COLISEUM

Figueroa Street

EXPOSITION PARK SOUTH

Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard

110 Harbor Freeway

Public Transportation: Vermont Bus Line & new Expo Line Light Rail

3.5 acres

Existing Biodiversity in the Area: Hundreds of Trees

1- Chorisia speciosa- Floss-Silk Tree 1- Ficus benjamina- Small Leaf Rubber Tree 1- Quercus suber- Cork Oak 1- Pittosporum undulatum-Victorian Box 2- Cedrus deodara- Deodar Cedar 2- Jacaranda mimosifolia- Tree 2- Morus alba- White Mulberry 2- Ulmus parvifolia- Chinese Elm, 3- Calodendrum capense- Cape Chestnut 3- Cassia leptophylla- Gold Medallion Tree 3- Cinnamomum camphora- Camphor Tree 3- Cupressus sp.-Dragon Tree 3- Eucalyptus viminalis- Manna Gum 3- Ficus macrophylla- Moreton Bay Fig 3- Ficus microcarpa- Little Leaf Fig 3- Quercus robur- English Oak Brazil, No. Argentina India, Malaysia So. Spain, Portugal Australia India Brazil China China, Japan So. Africa, Zimbabwe Brazil China, Japan, Taiwan Canary Island Spain Southeastern Australia Tasmania Australia Queensland Australia Malaysia Europe, So. Africa, Western Asia South Africa Australia Queensland Australia Western China Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece Tropical Africa China Bolivia

Trees from more than 35 countries adjacent to the Museum site

4- Erythrina caffra- Kaffirboom Coral Tree 4- Eucalyptus baueriana- Blue Box 4- Eucalyptus citriodora- Lemon Scented Gum 4- Koelreuteria bipinnata- Chinese Flame Tree 4- Olea europaea- Olive 4- Schinus terebinthefolius- Brazilian Pepper 4- Spathodea campanulata- African Tulip Tree 5- Pistachia sinensis- Chinese Pistache 5-Tipuana tipu- Tipu Tree

South Africa 7- Carissa macrocarpa- Natal Plum India 7- Cedrus deodara- Deodar Cedar 7- Juniperus chinensis Torulosa- Hollywood Juniper Magnolia, Japan

Existing Biodiversity in the Area: 163 Birds (now 170)

Top 10 Birds Red Tailed Hawk Western gull (non breeding) Rock Pigeon (Rock Dove) Mourning Dove Annas Hummingbird Allens Hummingbird Black Phoebe Western Scrub-Jay (now rare) House Finch Bushtit
Black Phoebe House Finch

Allens Hummingbird

Bushtit

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Existing Biodiversity in the Area: Thousands(?) of Insects

Top 10 Insects European Honeybees White Cabbage Butterfly Monarch Butterflies White Lined Sphinx Moth Flower Flies (aka Hover Flies) Carpenter Bees Bumble Bees Milkweed Bug Ladybugs Many varieties of Aphids Spittlebugs Ornate Checkered Beetle
White Cabbage Butterfly Milkweed Bug European Honeybees White Lined Sphinx Moth

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Project Goals
New 3 acre open air experience in the heart of the city where families, students and visitors of all ages can experience the benefits of nature in central LA Visitor amenities as important as program More like a state park than a botanic garden An indoor-outdoor education center for hundreds of thousands of students engage with fun science programs aligned with grade level curriculum The headquarters and main field site for long term study of urban biodiversity in LA

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Project Program

Collaboration among scientists, educators, exhibit designers, interpretive planners, landscape designers & construction team Garden designed to create a welcoming setting for a million visitors a year for visitor amenities, respite, nature, science & science education 30,000 plants selected for aesthetic and for wildlife habitat value

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Urban Edge

Nature on Edge

Protect and filter: Urban Nature

Living Wall

Nature between the Cracks

Stramphitheater

Fusion Nature

Get dirty zone

Touching Nature

Pollinator garden

Nature at Work

Urban Wilderness

Contemplative and Immersive Nature

Home garden

Nature at Home

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Opening June 9, 2013

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