Across 20 years, Karin Liljegren, FAIA, IIDA, has become synonymous with the resurgence of the urban core of Los Angeles. Her work has elevated the architect’s role in urban revitalization, creating a nationally applicable model for the practice of adaptive reuse by driving citywide policy innovations, strengthening industry expertise, and empowering community growth.
Liljegren is especially known for the creative conversion of historic structures. In 2009, she founded architecture and interiors firm, Omgivning. Today, she and her 40-person staff have touched 400+ buildings and spaces, drawing on a rich existing landscape to create programmatically and technically complex hotels, multi-family housing, restaurants, bars, creative offices, and theaters.
Liljegren is a thought leader in the downtown community and is active with city and county officials in crafting policies that ease the challenges of working on existing buildings.