Los Angeles appoints its first chief design officer

Christopher Hawthorne, formerly an architecture critic for the Los Angeles Times, was named Los Angeles’s first chief design officer by Mayor Eric Garcetti.

Hawthorne is responsible for enhancing “the quality of civic architecture and urban design” citywide. He is one of the first to assume the title of “chief design officer” in a U.S. city.

Los Angeles faces tough challenges in transportation and housing. The city is also preparing to host the 2028 Summer Olympics, which will attract many visitors.

In an interview with Curbed LA, Hawthorne noted his interest in working to build more affordable housing and on how the city streetscape, including sidewalks, could be re-imagined.