The office tower at 1000 Wilshire Boulevard fronts the busy Harbor Freeway. Its public plaza had been virtually unusable for anything but a quick dash into the building. This project created a visual and acoustical separation for the plaza, and provides integrated seating and lighting for nighttime use. 

 

 

A translucent glass wall along the plaza edge defines the public space and connects the planting areas at each end. Laminated glass panels transition from blue to green, grasses embedded within the glass echo the landscape.

 

 

A linear pool at the base of the wall is fed by water spilling over a glass rock fountain. The granite pool edge is bench height to encourage seating. At night the glowing wall becomes the visual marker for the public space and forms a backdrop for events and gatherings.