Supervisor Yaroslavsky Funds Master Plan for Anson Ford Theatre

Levin & Associates Architects have been selected to develop a comprehensive master plan for the John Anson Ford Theatres. The firm, headed by President and Principal Brenda A. Levin, FAIA, comes to the project with a wealth of experience in revitalizing and enhancing historic sites. Levin has worked on similar rehabilitation projects, including the Griffith Observatory Renovation, Frank Lloyd Wright's Hollyhock House, the Bradbury Building, and restoration of Los Angeles City Hall.

Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, who represents the Third District where the Ford Theatres are located, provided $350,000 in Third District Capital Improvement funds to support the master plan. "The time has come to devise the kind of comprehensive strategy to guide the Ford's development that only a Master Plan can provide," Yaroslavsky said. "The county has invested $6.1 million in capital improvements to the Ford over the past two decades. These have greatly enhanced the visitor experience there, but at the same time they've only been piecemeal solutions to upgrade a facility originally built in 1920. The Ford needs to envision how to maximize its services to patrons in the long term."

The Ford Theatres are located in a County Regional Park on Cahuenga Boulevard East in the Hollywood Hills. The site encompasses two theatres: the 1,200-seat outdoor Ford Amphitheatre and the 87-seat, indoor [Inside] the Ford. The Ford was built by Christine Wetherill Stevenson in 1920. The building, which was re-built in 1931 after a fire destroyed the original structure, is described as a neo-Judaic style, and the distinctive towers that flank the amphitheatre's stage resemble the gates of Jerusalem.

The Master Plan, which will be completed by the end of 2010, will make recommendations for:

• Site expansion and location of future buildings

• Preservation and emphasis of the historic elements of the theatre and surrounding buildings

• Improvements in parking and traffic flow

• Improved visibility

• Incorporation of environmentally sustainable technology

• Expansion and/or upgrade of the outdoor amphitheatre and indoor theatre.

Also on the Ford's wish list for the Master Plan: building new rehearsal and office space and a year-round restaurant, expanding or upgrading the 1,200-seat amphitheatre and [Inside] the Ford, creating a sound barrier so both venues can host performances simultaneously, and incorporating new technology throughout the site.

Levin & Associates was selected for the Master Plan process through a competitive Request for Proposal (RFP) process. Proposals were reviewed by a committee including representatives of the Arts Commission, the Ford Theatre Foundation and the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation.

"There was strong competition among several outstanding firms competing to develop the Ford Master Plan," said Ron Rosen, President of the Los Angeles County Arts Commission. "This made the choice difficult. We're excited and honored to have the opportunity to be working with the selected firm of Levin & Associates."

Architect Brenda A. Levin, FAIA, Levin & Associates Architects, is known for revitalizing Los Angeles' urban, historic and cultural form. For 30 years her architecture firm has pioneered the preservation and re-definition of important historic landmarks of the city. In addition to her work at Griffith Observatory, other prominent projects include: Grand Central Market, Chapman Market, the Oviatt Building, the Fine Arts Building, the Bradbury Buildings, the Wiltern Theater, and Los Angeles City Hall. The firm's architectural work also includes the design of new educational facilities at Scripps, Occidental, Whittier and Pitzer colleges, and cultural buildings, including the design of the Autry and Southwest museums and the Wilshire Boulevard Temple Master plan.

The Los Angeles County Arts Commission provides leadership in cultural services of all disciplines for the county, encompassing 88 municipalities. The Arts Commission, in addition to programming the John Anson Ford Theatres, administers a grant program that funds more than 300 non-profit arts organizations annually; provides leadership and staffing to support the regional blueprint for arts education, Arts for All; oversees the County's Civic Art Program for capital projects; funds the largest arts internship program in the country in conjunction with the Getty Foundation; and supports the Los Angeles County Cultural Calendar on ExperienceLA.com. The commission also produces free community programs, including the L.A. Holiday Celebration broadcast nationally, and a year-round music program that funds more than 40 free concerts each year in public sites.

The Ford Theatre Foundation, a not-for-profit organization founded in 1994, supports the performing arts and education activities that are presented at the Ford Theatres. The Foundation's Community Bridges program builds audiences by encouraging and facilitating participation in the theatres' programs and brings Ford performers to youth and social service centers based in Asian Pacific Islander and Latino communities throughout Los Angeles County. The Foundation presents the Big!World!Fun! Family Series, and the free, interactive J.A.M. (Jazzed and Motivated) Sessions during the Ford's summer season.