Sun to Shade: Designing to Live Well in a Hotter Los Angeles

ADMISSION:
Admission is free and open to everyone. Reservations required.

RSVP

DESCRIPTION:
How can shade help us live better in a hotter Los Angeles?

Join renowned design firm Gensler LA for a panel conversation and Hackathon exploring how shade can transform the way we experience, design for, and navigate Los Angeles as temperatures continue to rise.

The panel will bring together diverse perspectives—designers, urban planners, and performing and visual artists engaging with climate issues—to explore the role of shade in creating more comfortable, livable, and resilient spaces. From the built environment and public spaces to design innovation and community well-being, we'll consider how thoughtful approaches to shade can help us respond to extreme heat while reimagining the city that we share.

The discussion will spark new ways of seeing and designing the environments around us, highlighting opportunities to make Los Angeles cooler, healthier, and better adapted for the future. Using a hackathon-inspired format, panelists and attendees will move beyond conversation to collectively brainstorm creative, actionable ways shade can help Los Angeles adapt to rising temperatures. The goal is to generate fresh perspectives, encourage collaboration across disciplines, and begin imagining creative solutions.

As the kickoff to a larger series of events (culminating in Sunshine to Shade in Spring 2027), this conversation establishes a foundation for continued exploration, collaboration, and action around the possibilities of shade and the future of our urban environments.

Related Event:
Sunshine to Shade: Moving to Cool
Saturday, April 10, 1 to 7 p.m.
USC Peace Garden, Architecture Courtyard, and Gin. D. Wong Auditorium
More info & RSVP

Presented by Gensler LA. Organized by Brianna Seabron (Gensler), Kevin Sherrod (Gensler, USC School of Architecture), Jennifer Lott (USC Kaufman School of Dance, USC Arts and Climate Collective), and Kiel Shaub (USC Physical Education & Mind Body Health, USC EXL Lab). With support from Shirin Raban (USC Roski School of Art and Design, UCLA Extension) and Esther Margulies (USC School of Architecture, USC Urban Trees Initiative).