The Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden, a 127-acre site established in 1947, holds a rich history as both a botanical garden and a cultural landmark. Originally an active village for the Gabrielino-Tongva people, the land became Rancho Santa Anita in the early 1800s and passed through several notable hands, including Hugo Reid, whose adobe home remains on the property, and real estate speculator Elias Jackson “Lucky” Baldwin, who acquired it in 1875. Eventually, the State of California and Los Angeles County purchased the property, transforming it into the Arboretum. In 2018, EPTDESIGN was hired and led a multi-disciplinary team to help reimagine the arrival experience for visitors while restoring the historic mid-century structures hidden beneath years of alterations.
In collaboration with the Board of Trustees, the staff, and the public, the project’s purpose was described as follows:
“The project goal is to create a Visitor Plaza that, through inspired design and plant materials, celebrates and transforms the Arboretum arrival experience. We seek new opportunities for gatherings, expressing Arboretum mission themes, and providing beautiful and comfortable access to visitor information and hospitality services.”
Before the new Visitor Plaza was introduced, navigating the Arboretum posed a challenge for many guests. Not only was it cramped and dated, parents with strollers and visitors using wheelchairs or walkers often struggled with access from the parking lot. Once inside, the layout made it easy to lose direction – clear pathways and signage were lacking, leaving many unsure of how to explore the Arboretum’s amenities.
Principal and project designer, Nord Eriksson, said, “We had a wonderful opportunity to enlarge and craft a new experience from the moment guests arrived in the parking lot, to entering the Visitor Plaza, and then curating their experience through prominent signage, visual cues, and displays. Where before, people moved randomly throughout the site, we were able to choreograph meaningful circulation beginning at the I.D. Marquee, moving through ticketing, and into the plaza where restrooms and wayfinding maps are available prior to entering the gardens. The pathway back winds past the retail shop on the way to the parking lot. And today, everything is ADA compliant creating accessibility for all.”
The Visitor’s New Experience
ETPDESIGN thought of the process of entry as a series of unfolding experiences where different elements are revealed each time you enter a new zone.
“We wanted people to feel a sense of discovery, of surprise, as they entered the Arboretum. From the moment you enter the parking lot, there’s a sense of anticipation today. It’s very clear where you want to go each step of the way, and yet each ‘stage’ introduces new elements, plantings, and educational opportunities,” said Scott Horsley, Managing Principal of the firm.
Returning to its Historic Past
The original Mid-Century Modern architecture of the arrival complex was thoughtfully restored and adapted by our team to meet the needs of today’s increased visitor numbers. The former Gift Shop was returned to its original function as the Ticketing Pavilion, while the previous Membership Office was repurposed into the new Gift Shop, blending historical preservation with modern functionality.
Prized Horticulture, Peacocks, and Care for Stormwater
Creating new plantings for the Arboretum was exciting. The reimagined experience includes a welcome plaza with demonstration gardens, diverse seating options, a variety of donor opportunities, and ample flexible space. Demonstration gardens introduce low-water planting and low-impact development and point visitors to a larger network of interpretive gardens throughout the Arboretum through a thoughtfully curated system of signage and displays.
According to Horsley, “The wild peacocks – introduced in the 1880s by Lucky Baldwin – are iconic at the Arboretum. Our team created a palette of colors from the peacock’s feathers and used these as accent colors for wayfinding and signage.”
The planting palette embraced historic planting ideals, in particular the flowering plants introduced by founder Dr. Samuel Ayers, during his tenure at the Arboretum in the 1960s. Known as the Arboretum Rockstars, these plants fit with the existing entry plantings: most come from seasonally moist and dry subtropical climates with good adaptability to heat, sun, and warm summer conditions. They complement the existing palette with warm colors and an emphasis on color for visitor interest.
To benefit stormwater collection, the parking lot includes four giant cisterns beneath it for a combined 36,000-gallon water storage capacity. Water runoff from the plaza and parking areas are cleansed through a modular wetland. The system also slows the rate at which water reaches the larger Rio Hondo drainage resulting in 90% of that flow recharging aquifers in a typical year.
The Unfolding Experience
Today, visitors to the Arboretum can effortlessly navigate ADA-compliant pathways that weave through beautifully restored Mid-Century Modern architecture and lush plantings. With every step, new details and hidden treasures of the landscape are revealed, offering a seamless blend of history, accessibility, and natural beauty.
