In 1979, the angular intersection of Hoover St. and University Avenue (now Trousdale) was removed between 34th St. and Jefferson Boulevard to create a new campus entry for USC. Designed by Flewelling and Moody, the entire lot was cleared with a pedestrian plaza replacing the large intersection. The section of Hoover St. cutting diagonally across the campus would continue to be removed over the years with Leavey Library, McCarthy Quad, and eventually Lewis Hall, Popovich Hall, and the relocated Alumni House taking its place.

The entire lot was cleared, with some utilities remaining, including an easement that remains a constraint in the plaza’s design. Berms ranging from 4-6 feet high were constructed and covered in grass and trees to create a park-like atmosphere at the main student entrance to the University Park Campus. The plaza’s construction came shortly after the construction of the original University Village, as student housing was being built north of campus.

The plaza was designed on a dynamic offset radial grid, centered around the fountain, which became popularly known as the finger fountain. Original plans called for an add-alternate that would have added another walkway from the central plaza circle to 34th St., through the site of the JEP house. With this completion of an organically symmetrical form unbuilt, aspects of the plaza’s layout became awkward over time. Historic elements including the alumni memorial pylon and the existing fountain at the north end of the Trousdale median remained but were not particularly showcased.

In June 2016, the plaza and fountain were demolished, 75 trees were removed, and the lot was once again cleared to make way for a new plaza. This time, the new plaza is intended to tie in with the new USC Village and features the new campus standard paving elements that can be find in the redesigned Childs Way and McClintock St. Over time, additional pieces of the campus’ landscape and hardscape design will continue to be updated to this new style. For this plaza, the new landscape will include a similar tree palette in a more ordered layout, with Magnolias lining the new, symmetrical perimeter, trees new to the campus in a drought-friendly centerpiece, pine trees filling in the edges, and a few jacarandas in a small courtyard behind the JEP house. Perhpas the most notable change is the addition of a permanent gate, which seems to be one of the primary motivators for redesigning the plaza. I’ll post updates on the construction with my monthly USC Village posts, and a more complete look at the new plaza when it’s completed in the spring. For now, here’s a final look at the old plaza.