News | Archinect | February 2026

ShadeLA design contest winners envision a cooler Los Angeles (literally)

Hundreds of students across Los Angeles took on a timely brief this fall: Design modular shade structures that can be quickly deployed to protect Angelenos from extreme heat. 

The inaugural Shade Zones Design Competition, led by the USC School of Architecture as part of the broader ShadeLA coalition, drew 50 teams from 12 colleges, selected from more than 100 registered teams representing 17 institutions regionwide.

Created by USC Associate Professor of Architecture Bhavna Sharma and supported by USC Dornsife Public Exchange, the USC School of Architecture, and LA Metro, the challenge asked for adaptable, temporary shade solutions suited to a range of urban contexts. The resulting proposals explored diverse material, structural, and formal strategies.