America’s Playground: Las Vegas Public Spaces
The Modernist design language of Las Vegas extends to its streetscape and its most famous expression – The Strip. What worked 50 years ago as a high concept is now constrained by a changing expectation of shared space. We expect more from our public realm than ever before. People need respite from the sun, the heat and the activity on the street, and these needs are exacerbated by social disconnections such as homelessness. Las Vegas is in a unique position to rethink how the public realm can be more than the sum of its parts. Join James Burnett, FASLA, founder of OJB Landscape Architecture and Jerry Van Eyck of !melk landscape architecture & urban design, as they consider the imperatives of public space in a desert climate, from the design of the Las Vegas Civic Center Plaza to The Park along the strip. The conversation about what other cities are doing to improve the quality of life through their investment in parks and other public spaces is a moment where Las Vegas can learn.
The session will be moderated by Eric Strain.