Greening L.A.’s hottest streets
Bringing more trees, shade, and fresh air to L.A. by identifying where, what kind, and how many trees to plant for the biggest impact.
USC Launched 2020
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Since 2020, we’ve published reports, briefs, and created interactive tools to share our findings.
Learn more below about our work understanding and engaging community members on big questions: How do trees impact Air Quality? How might Urban Planning policy changes expand tree canopy?
Illustration by Esther Margulies and Yuliang Jiang
Trees are critical to helping clean our air, but some do it much better than others. We tracked how air quality shifts throughout L.A.—and explored how intentional planting can lead to cleaner air and healthier communities.
We wanted to know: how could small shifts in street tree spacing create space for more trees across L.A.? Our work modeled changes to spacing rules—and revealed how better guidelines can spread shade, cool neighborhoods, and close gaps in environmental access.
Through workshops, focus groups, symposia, and community meetings, we have always prioritized engaging residents in our research and design process.
Recent Updates
USC Architecture unveils jury and awards for ShadeLA and Shade Zones Competition
California’s first solar-covered canal comes online
Homeowners trying to rebuild after Altadena’s Eaton Fire face concerns over lead levels in soil
Community Comes Together for Access to Free Lead Soil Testing
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