portfolio
kaitlyn lin Selected Works 2021-2023 Master of Urban & Regional Planning University of California, Los Angeles
Hello! I am a recent graduate from UCLA Luskin with a Master’s of Urban and Regional Planning with Concentrations in Urban Design & Development and Transportation Planning & Policy. As a born and raised San Franciscan, my childhood was defined by exploration of the diverse built and natural environment of the city. This exposure gave me my first taste of the beauty and possibilities that can occur when urban infrastructure is thoughtfully integrated with urban greening and renewal. The idea of the urban park as a public good and neccessity in the future of sustainable cities has remained in my conscience ever since. My work as a graduate student continued to drive a certain curiosity of how the confluence of planning, design, and neighborhood spaces can impact social well-being, community development, and safety; how design and visual graphics can effectively communicate planning and design improvement concepts. CONTACT kaitlyn.lin@gmail.com
SKILLS Geographic Information Systems (GIS) ArcGIS Pro ArcGIS Online QGIS Adobe Creative Suite
EDUCATION UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs 2023 Master of Urban and Regional Planning Emphasis in Urban Design & Development, Transportation Planning & Policy UCLA Institute of Transportation Studies Research Fellow UCLA Architecture & Urban Design Architecture Summer Institute University of California, Santa Cruz Bachelor of Arts, Legal Studies Dean’s Honors List
2020
EXPERIENCES Walt Disney Imagineering Master Planning Intern
01.23 - 06.23
Photoshop
UCLA Institute of Transportation Studies Research Fellow
11.22 - 06.23
3D Modeling AutoCAD
City of Beverly Hills Transportation Planning Intern
10.22 - 06.23 06.22 - 08.22
Sketchup
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) Quality Assurance & Internal Compliance Analyst Intern
Analytic Methods STATA
Susan M. Chung, Esq., Attorney-at-Law Executive Assistant
06.21 - Present
The East Cut Community Benefit District Urban Planning Intern
08.18 - 09.18
Illustrator InDesign
Rhino 3D VRay
StreetLight Qualitative Research Quantitave Analysis
PUBLISHED WORK Lin, K. (2023). Low-Stress Bikeway Analysis: Looking at the City of Beverly Hills’ Bicycle Network Post-Covid. UCLA Institute of Transportation Studies.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS American Planning Association California Chapter, Early Career Member WTS International, WTS-Los Angeles Chapter, Early Career Member
CONTENTS
01 PACIFIC PALISADES NEIGHBORHOOD REDEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL A Proposal for revitalized pedestrian and community infrastructure
02 A RADIATED, ROOTED, AND RESILIENT COMMUNITY A Proposal for a LEED Platinum Redevelopment Plan where Baldwin Hills meets West Adams and Crenshaw
03 URBAN_RESPITE A Los Angeles ADU to Bridge between Past & Future, Urban & Rural
04 OHIO & BUNDY TRIANGLE PARK REDEVELOPMENT Design of Public Spaces: Investigation of Spaces Between
05 CASE STUDY: STRATEGIC REAL ESTATE
The Future of In-Person work: To 2029 and Beyond!
06 PERSONAL WORK Selected watercolor paintings
Photograph overalaid with cutouts.
01 PACIFIC PALISADES NEIGHBORHOOD REDEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL A PROPOSAL FOR REVITALIZED PEDESTRIAN 1 AND COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE Spring 2022 / Physical Planning Studio / Vinit Mukhija Individual Work
This profile includes neighborhood figure ground maps and graphics to illustrate aspects of the neighborhood’s social life and built environment that I had identified. I conducted an institutional analysis, visually presenting findings from my analysis. I aim to see how the institutional, built, and social framework of physical planning shapes the built environment and its social life.
Apartment Density
PHASE ONE
Pedestrian Streets
Built environment analysis
Business Density
Figure ground maps.
PHASE TWO
Social life analysis
Hand/digital drawings overlayed with cutouts.
PHASE THREE
Institutional analysis
Watercolor materials palette of neighborhood pavement design.
Street-by-street Neighborhood plantlife analysis. Medium: Watercolor, pastels, ink pen
PROPOSAL ONE
Traffic Calming Infrastructure
after
before
Brick-paved crosswalks that provide a visual and textural traffic calming feature draws greater visibility to pedestrians in business district
Low-visibility crosswalks presents a danger to pedestrians on busy arterials streets
before Existing Standard
Scale: 1-in = 5-ft
Existing Standard
Scale: 1-in = 5-ft
Proposed
Scale: 1-in = 5-ft
after Proposed
Scale: 1-in = 5-ft
PROPOSAL TWO
insert JPG & fit content proportionally
Permeable Open Streets
insert JPG & fit content proportionally
insert JPG & fit content proportionally
insert JPG & fit content proportionally
Street Sections - Swarthmore Avenue, Neighborhood Enhanced with Permeable Streets
Insert Your Name
Street Sections - Swarthmore Avenue, Neighborhood Enhanced with Permeable Streets
Insert Your Name
Proposed redevelopment: Figure ground maps, cross sections, drawing&collage.
PROPOSAL THREE
Underutilized space
Social Infrastructure through Green Infrastructure
after
before
02 A RADIATED, ROOTED, AND RESILIENT COMMUNITY A PROPOSAL FOR A LEED PLATINUM REDEVELOPMENT PLAN WHERE BALDWIN HILLS MEETS WEST ADAMS & CRENSHAW Spring 2022 / Green Urban Studio / Walker Wells Team: Casey Leedom, Kaitlyn Lin, Mel Liu, Emma Ramirez, Aron Walker For this studio, my team and I strategized ways to revitalize a currently underutilized plot of land in Los Angeles for the betterment of the local community. We had to envision a new future for what could become a critical parcel for community, accessibility, amenities, and more in Baldwin Hills. I contributed to the project through field visits, research, and quantitative and qualitative analysis, which I synthesized to produce recommendations on greater connectivity and resiliency. I also created the maps/site plans and the majority of graphics and formatting featured throughout the project, as featured in this section.
LOS ANGELES, CA
Regional scale map.
gates restrict pedestrian and bike access
EXAMINATION OF CURRENT CONDITIONS
school kids hear low humming of power lines and substation
recreation center is fenced off and underutilized during certain times of the week
25 ACRES PUBLIC & COMMERCIAL
outdoor picnic area, sequestered in corner by power substation
21 ACRES SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL
Micro scale map & site analysis.
school yard is only asphalt pavement that traps heat and skins knees
home with lawns and non-native plants
HOW DOES THE COMMUNITY USE THIS SPACE? WHO IS THE COMMUNITY?
Baldwin Hills Elementary school was established by LAUSD in 1943 and racially integrated in 1962, and has been an anchor for community on the site.
In interviewing a longtime community member who attended kindergarten to 6th grade there in the 90s, we learned the school and surrounding neighborhood has been a vibrant gathering place for intergenerational communities that are predominantly Black and Latinx, with thriving public spaces of cultural exchange.
WHAT IS AT STAKE?
3R PROCESS : VISIONING TO REALIZING COMMUNITY-LED REDEVELOPMENT Vendor Area
Food & financial security
PHASE ONE: ROOTED
Proposed Senior Housing
Outdoor Seating Area Rooftop Solar Panels Site plan proposal.
PHASE TWO: RADIATED
Bike & pedestrian connectivity
Site plan proposal.
Community Garden
Micro scale connectivity proposal.
Redesigning school & recreation site
Macro scale connectivity proposal.
PHASE THREE: RESILIENT
Battery Storage
Additional learning spaces
Covered seating area
Pool Outdoor play spaces Boundary bioswales
Indoor/outdoor classrooms
Boundary bioswales Micro scale resiliency proposal.
Proposed redevelopment
BALDWIN HILLS PROPOSED SITE PLAN
W JEFF
ERSON
B LV D
O B A M A B LV D
Plaza / Vendor Space
Community Garden
Solar Battery Storage
Senior Housing
Modified School/Rec Center
Proposed Parking / Street Connection
Bike Lane Pedestrian Path
Outdoor Seating
03 URBAN_RESPITE
A LOS ANGELES ADU TO BRIDGE BETWEEN PAST & FUTURE, URBAN & RURAL Summer 2023 / Intro to Architecture Studio / Joel Kerner Individual Work As a decidedly indoor-outdoor space, the home opens itself to the outdoor realm by allowing free access and viewing of its external surroundings. The home encourages entertaining through its expansive living room that flows into the kitchen and dining area. The modular function of the home allows for the expansion of the surrounding outdoor space, allowing for gathering. Its high ceilings and bountiful windows bring streams of sunlight throughout the day. The configuration of the home allows for the perfect enjoyment of natural sunlight at all times of the day. The setting of the home relates to its surrounding landscape in its openness to the outdoors. Its open concept is ideal for those who enjoy interacting with nature, even if just its view.
Rendering of interior.
Model photo.
UCLA AUD
UCLA AUD
Kaitlyn Lin
Kaitlyn Lin
A2
A2
JumpStart 2023
JumpStart 2023 UCLA AUD
Figure Ground & Three-Dimensional Iterations
Figure Ground & Three-Dimensional Iterations Kaitlyn Lin UCLA AUD
A2
A2
JumpStart 2023
JumpStart 2023
Kaitlyn Lin
Figure Ground & Three-Di-
Figure Ground & Three-Dimensional Iterations
Figure ground and form iterations.
Section drawing.
Site plan.
04 OHIO & BUNDY TRIANGLE PARK REDEVELOPMENT DESIGN OF PUBLIC SPACES: INVESTIGATION OF SPACES BETWEEN Spring 2023 / Urban Design Seminar / Dr. Anastasia Loukaitou-Sideris Team: Antonia Izuogu, Kaitlyn Lin
Site documentation.
PHASE TWO
Development of the Site
PHASE ONE
Site Documentation & Analysis
For this assignment, we chose a small, closed park near Sawtelle, West Los Angeles. I took responsibility of imagining the redevelopment of the site. My process included site visits, finding comparables of similarly small plots of land that had been converted into“pocket parks“, and brainstorming with my teammate. The site photographs, comps, and before & after site plans, were taken/compiled/created by me.
Comparables.
before
after
Site plan existing & proposed.
05 CASE STUDY : STRATEGIC REAL ESTATE
THE FUTURE OF IN-PERSON WORK: TO 2029 AND BEYOND!
Case Study done as part of application for Gensler‘s DSD Program / Individual Work Prompt: A large consumer goods company is planning to expand their headcount by 20% over the next five years. However, the organization is expecting that advances in their industry could allow them to be more efficient in the future and require less employees in five to ten years time. They are currently 16 years into a 20 year lease at their headquarters building in the suburbs of Boston. How do you develop a series of scenarios to help the client make strategic real estate decisions?
THE SITE TODAY
DRIVING GOALS
Location: Suburbs of Boston
• optimize space utilization • improve operations & cost efficiency
Square Footage: 1 million SF
• streamline support teams • adopt best workplace practices
Capacity: 5,000 people
THE NEXT 10-YEARS
KEY RESEARCH Q’S
2029
20% growth (+1,000 employees)
2034
siz
e
gr ow th
%
x
in
20
%
expected downscale
flu
company headquarters
2024
10
HQ Ex Lea pi re se s
Fu In ll Re -P er turn so n
COMPARABLES
va
ca
nc y
hypothetical HQ
• promote innovation
employee headcount unknown headcount
present day
by 2029
beyond 2029
INTERNAL RESEARCH:
EXTERNAL RESEARCH:
( e g .: g ap s in c u b ic le usage, sp a c in g b e twe e n d e p ar t m e n t s )
What are t h e best practi ces?
H ow ef f iciently are p e op l e cu rren tl y usi n g the sp a c e ?
The Serena Williams Building at Nike Headquarters
Image courtesy of Nike.
current capacity
Wh a t a re o u r in du s t r y c o mpe t it o r s do in g i n t e r m s o f w o r k p l a c e s t r a t e g y?
Samsung Headquarters at Silicon Valley
Image courtesy of Samsung.
Google Headquarters at Kings Cross
Image courtesy of Google.
Location: Beaverton, OR Square Footage: 1 million SF
Location: San Jose, CA Square Footage: 1.1 million SF
Location: London, UK Square Footage: 1 million SF
• 200,000 SF of dedicated lab space
• open design intended to foster
• “a space curated by - and for - the
for testing & developing new ideas
impromptu collaboration
local community”
Vision: a workplace transition that accomodates the flux in size of the company in years to come
** hypothetical workplace
SCENARIO ONE
SCENARIO THREE
SCENARIO TWO “invest in space”
“the future of collaboration & innovation”
SPACE OPTIMIZATION
DENSIFY VACANT BUILDINGS
DENSIFY EXISTING WORKSPACES
headquarter buildings
densify vacant buildings to meet urgent capacity demands
densify workspaces by increasing teamspaces
“optimization & efficiency”
2024 - 2029
NEAR FUTURE
*
existing working spaces transformed...
more space for growth in departments
1 million sf total fluid shapes are representative of changing scales of different departments
company efficiency allows for departments to spread out & new uses of densified space
on-site support teams
...to MODULAR collaboration & innovation hubs to accomodate flux in company size and eventual move
continue to invest in the local area
one floor
MOVE TO THE CITY Downtown Boston, Massachusetts
location is rooted in history of the company & community
perimeter offices converted to team spaces
LONG-TERM VISION
**
A MIXED-USE COMMUNITY HUB
**
Beyond 2029
* hypothetical HQ
innovation hub
wellness center
CONTINUED EFFICIENCY
*
*
central location
Image courtesy of Google Earth.
grow with the city lease 1/2 of original lease
interwoven with urban fabric
no need for full relocation
**
surrounded by places of inspiration & innovation!
*
community space
(farmers markets, pop-ups)
GOALS MET
departments and workspace size can continue to shift and flow depending on need
Bus stop Transit hub
departments collaborate and take up space as needed
housing, grocery
support teams within building expedites project flow
Pedestrian path Bike path Bus route
1
operations & cost efficiency
1
best industry practices
1
foster innovation
2
streamline support teams
2
space utilization
2
best industry practices
3
space utilization
3
foster innovation
3
space utilization operations & cost efficiency streamline support teams
06 PERSONAL WORK As an avid landscape painter, my love for capturing nature’s beauty on canvas is an intimate journey that transcends the realms of mere artistic expression. Each stroke of my brush is a poetic conversation with the natural world, a dialogue where colors blend seamlessly to recreate the awe-inspiring vistas that stir my soul. Painting landscapes is my way of preserving fleeting moments of serenity and capturing the ephemeral beauty that often goes unnoticed in the hustle of daily life. It’s a celebration of nature’s ever-changing moods and a testament to the profound connection I feel with the world around me. Through the colors on my palette, I strive to convey not just what the eye sees but what the heart feels when surrounded by nature’s magnificence.
(on right) California landscapes. Medium: Watercolor
thank you for your time !
portfolio
kaitlyn lin Selected Works 2021-2023