City of West Hollywood

The Sunset Strip Gateway Design program will include the design and implementation of three landmark gateways on the Sunset Strip, located at Sunset Blvd/Doheny Road, Sunset Blvd/Marmont Lane, and Sunset Blvd/La Cienega Blvd. The program goals will be to:

• Strengthen the Sunset Strip’s identity with visual markers at entry points to create a sense of arrival and sense of place;
• Invite more people to walk between destinations and comfortably cross the street in a safe manner; and
• Create places that invite people to spend more time outside of the destinations on the Sunset Strip.

In June 2020, the City released a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for qualified firms to provide credentials to develop conceptual gateway designs (Phase 1). After careful review of 28 RFQ submissions, the following four local, national and international design teams have been shortlisted to develop conceptual designs for three gateways on the Sunset Strip.

• MELK! - An award-winning New York-based landscape architecture and urban design practice that specializes in creating strong “brand identities” for places, and has developed a reputation for delivering well-crafted designs, from small to large scales, that are forward-looking, contextually significant, and which can be enjoyed year-round.

• MUTUO/Studio MLA - MUTUO is an award winning Los Angeles-based architecture firm designing for meaningful social impact. Designers of landmark and iconic projects that promote identity & pride, equity and inclusion. MUTUO finds opportunities to foster collaborations and expand the traditional role of architecture into a more dynamic role with more influence on creating built environments and solving complex city challenges. Studio-MLA is a full service, international land-scape architecture practice with offices in Los Angeles and San Francisco. Under the leadership of Mia Lehrer, FASLA, the firm has led the design and implementation of a diverse range of public and private projects. The firm designs and advocates for landscapes that inspire human connection, cultural expression, and reverence for nature through landscape architecture, urbanism, and planning.

• Perkins and Will - An international architecture and design firm with a Los Angeles-based office for over 25 years. Known to create forward-thinking master planning and urban design, Perkins and Will works with local partners to make progress on the all-important issues of sustainability, resilience, and equity on every project.

• Rios - A Los Angeles-based design collective that creates environments and experiences. Rios has extensive experience in the design of complex civic, cultural, and commercial projects as well as in urban design and planning, placemaking, community engagement, and experiential graphic design. In addition, Rios is well versed in working on complex projects while partnering with multiple subconsultant teams.

Selection of Preferred Team 

The gateway design proposals were reviewed by an inter-departmental Selection Committee, consisting of staff from the Urban Design and Architecture Studio, Long Range Planning, Public Works, Arts, Innovation, and Economic Development Divisions. The committee also included a representative from the Sunset Business Improvement District and Gehl Studio who developed the conceptual gateway framework.

Following the submission of their deliverables, each team presented to the Selection Committee and the Sunset Business Improvement District (BID) Board. After the consultant presentations and detailed review of each submission, the Committee recommends that the City Council direct that the conceptual designs from the Perkins and Will Team move forward with Phase Two of the project, which includes schematic design, design development and community engagement.

Perkins and Will Gateway Concept Proposals

Relevant Documents

Sunset Strip Gateway Conceptual Framework

September 6, 2021 City Council Staff Report

For any questions, please contact Garen Yolles, Project Manager, at gyolles@weho.org or 323-848-6827.