Pando Days brings colleges and universities together from across the Southland to implement the sustainability goals of Los Angeles County. Read more about the Pando Days program series.

Pando Days 2023 Projects

Twelve Southland colleges and universities designed innovations over the fall 2023 term to implement Los Angeles County’s sustainability plan.

ArtCenter College of Design

THE EMERGENCY WATER CHEST: Staying Clean When Disaster Strikes
A portable sanitizing solution for personal use during water-scarce emergencies.

ArtCenter College of Design

THE X FOLIATE SHOWER PROJECT: When Water Is in Short Supply
Water-efficient solutions that address cleansing needs during emergencies.

ArtCenter College of Design

FROM HERE TO THERE IN 2045: Reimagining Transportation
A bold vision to move away from a car centric culture through sustainable mobility solutions with Long Beach as a case study.

California Institute of the Arts

MUSHROOM LAB: Developing a Regenerative Future
Experimenting with mushrooms to expand circular and regenerative agriculture and product creation.

California State University, Fullerton

BAG/GET: Alleviating Food Insecurity Through Software
A software solution designed to help food banks and pantries get food faster to the people who need it most.

California State University, Los Angeles

KEEPING NATURE ACCESSIBLE
Helping a greater number of blind and visually impaired people get out in nature by removing obstacles to their participation.

California State University, Long Beach

CONFLUENCE: The Turtle Connection
A novel multi-sensory experience telling the story of endangered green sea turtles at the confluence of San Gabriel River and Coyote Creek.

California State University, Long Beach

S.H.A.P.E.: Sustainable Hubs and Public Engagement
Creating a trash-free Long Beach through community, research and technology.

California State University, Northridge

IT’S ELEMENTARY: Composting to Reduce Organic Waste
A science-based composting program for elementary schools.

Citrus College

THE STIRLING ENGINE: A Table-top Alternative to Solar Panels
A renewable energy solution designed to augment solar panel energy production for individual home and off-the-grid use.

Los Angeles Pierce College

THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT: Linking Pierce College to the LA River Through Biodiversity
A network of butterfly planters, bird boxes, and beehives designed to link the massive Pierce College campus to the LA River and rebuild biodiverse systems.

Los Angeles Trade-Technical College/Architecture

SUPER SHADE STRUCTURES: A Cool Solution
Cooling cities with innovative shade structures using nature-based designs.

Mount Saint Mary’s University of Los Angeles

PROBING FOR RESILIENCE PHASE 2: Planting the Garden
Implementing plans developed during last year’s Pando Days season to replace traditional landscaping with native plants.

UCLA/Counterforce Lab

BIOPHILIA TREEHOUSE PHASE 2: LA River Wildlife Corridor
A series of sculptural treehouses for birds fosters healthy ecosystems in an urban setting.

University of Southern California

A PILGRIMAGE TO THE RIVER
A contemplative journey along the LA River encouraging deep observation, reflection, and action on climate change.

University of Southern California

TEST PLOT: Green Ravine
An ongoing hands-on experiment in community-based ecological restoration.

Pando Days 2022 Projects

Fifteen Southland colleges and universities designed innovations over the fall 2022 term to implement Los Angeles County’s sustainability plan.

ArtCenter 1

COUNTY GOALS # 7 & #8
Mobilizing L.A.’s Transportation Future
Reimagining city space on a human scale, through a holistic transportation system that eliminates traffic, saves energy and provides equitable point to point access.

ArtCenter 2

COUNTY GOALS #4 & #9
Upping Our Recycling Game
Designing an innovative suite of products to reduce waste and promote sustainability through durability, longevity and repurposing.

Cal Lutheran

COUNTY GOALS #5
Safe Passages: Creating a Wildlife Corridor
Constructing a wildlife corridor connecting urban edges to wildlands by reintroducing native plants to attract local animals.

Cal State University Long Beach 1

COUNTY GOALS #1, #2, #5 & #6
Colorado Lagoon
Visitors engage in site-specific augmented reality experiences – interactions make the value of preserving coastal wetlands personal – heightening the desire to protect this essential resource.

Cal State University Long Beach 2

COUNTY GOALS #1, #2, #5 & #6
Visions of the Long Beach Breakwater
Community engagement through augmented reality – envisioning a sustainable future where natural waterway processes are disrupted.

Cal State University Northridge

COUNTY GOALS #1, #5, & #6
Restoring the Sepulveda Basin
Building broad-based support for a plan to transform the Sepulveda River Basin into an accessible green space featuring responsible water management.

CalArts

COUNTY GOALS #5 & #6
Sea Studio
Designing an immersive holding space for artists, scientists, and the greater public to create kinship with our oceans.

College of the Canyons

COUNTY GOALS #1, #2 & #3
Training the Next Generation
Producing a podcast series that shares the wisdom and experience of environmental leaders across generations.

Harvey Mudd/Pomona College/Cal Poly Pomona

COUNTY GOAL #7A
Zeroing in on Solar
Developing a strategic plan to place non-profit solar panel factories in LA County’s under served communities.

LACCD

COUNTY GOALS #2, #4, & #9
Design for a Sustainable Campus
Creating education modules promoting energy efficiency and water conservation – beginning with building design at community colleges.

LA Trade Tech / Architecture

COUNTY GOAL #6
Watts Next: The Nature Walk
Designing a three-mile green-space pedestrian walk along the Watts train tracks to improve the neighborhood microclimate and quality of life.

Mount Saint Mary’s University

COUNTY GOALS #1, #5, & #6
Probing for Resilience
Employing a data-driven approach to advocate for the replacement of traditional landscaping with native plants.

Pepperdine University

COUNTY GOALS #5, #7, & #11
Climate Migration and Faith
Developing a communication and action plan that church leaders can use to mobilize community engagement on the challenges of climate migration.

Santa Monica College

COUNTY GOALS #2 & #4
Altered District
Designing architectural prototypes to create a healthy and sustainable work environment.

USC

COUNTY GOAL #5
Test Plot: Elephant Hill
Creating a viable ecosystem managed by local community stewardship on once-neglected land.

Pando Days 2021 Projects

Eleven projects from ten higher educational institutions in the LA basin were developed over the fall 2021 term and premiered in December.

Cal Poly Pomona

COUNTY GOAL #10
Foodways Connection: Mapping food resources to build food security in LA.

Cal State University Long Beach

COUNTY GOALS #7B, #8A, & #11
Systems Approach: A solution for local transportation with global impact.

Cal State University Northridge

COUNTY GOAL #10
Open Garden: Download App. Unlock Gardens. Reimagine equitable foodscapes in Pomona.

CalArts

COUNTY GOALS #3 & #6
CREATING ECOLIBRIUM: A mobile performance stage for community engagement.

LA Trade Tech / Architecture

COUNTY GOALS #3 & #6
Design by Community: A unique tool kit to catalyze community participation in the design of public space.

Mount Saint Mary’s University

COUNTY GOALS #7B, #8A, & #11
Mapping Cudahy’s Air: Portable air sensors map patterns of air quality.

Otis College of Art and Design – EV

COUNTY GOALS #7B, #8A, & #11
CHARGE TO CHANGE: Marketing EV in Cudahy.

Otis College of Art and Design – P3

COUNTY GOALS #3 & #6
P3: An architectural green print.

SCI-Arc

COUNTY GOAL #2
MEGA MICROS: Small housing on a large urban scale for an underserved population.

USC

COUNTY GOAL #2
COOLING TIME: Bringing climate justice to Skid Row.

Woodbury University

COUNTY GOAL #2
Mobile Cooling Rooms of Los Angeles: Mobile cooling walls employ an ancient technology in a modern application.

Pando Days 2019/20 Projects

Ten projects were developed by Southland colleges and universities for the inaugural Pando Days program, 2019-20. Four projects were picked up by outside funders; an additional three were moved forward by community partners.

Pasadena City College

COUNTY GOAL #1
RESILIENCE PROJECT: A virtual landscape for resilience learning.

Woodbury University

COUNTY GOAL # 2
SALTWATER GARDENS: Innovations for the twin threats of underground saltwater incursion and food scarcity.

SCI-Arc

COUNTY GOAL # 3
AI: FUTURE OF HOUSING: Employing artificial intelligence to map affordable housing opportunities and match construction resources.

LA Trade Tech / Architecture

COUNTY GOAL # 4
REPURPOSING LAND: Transforming back-alley wasteland into thriving community space

UCLA

COUNTY GOAL # 5
BIOPHILIA TREEHOUSE: Linking birds and people at the tree level.

Cal State Long Beach

COUNTY GOAL #6
WE ARE THE SEA: Engaging families and neighborhoods with local waterways.

USC

COUNTY GOAL # 8
CAR SICK: Getting us on track for life without cars.

Cal Poly Pomona

COUNTY GOAL #10
FOOD WITHIN REACH: Foodways every quarter mile across the County.

Otis College of Art and Design

COUNTY GOAL # 11
GREEN MAP & GO: Map and engage green resources.

CALTECH/Sustainability

COUNTY GOAL: OurCountyLA plan
INNOVATION ENGINE: Identifies strategic sustainability needs, fosters collaboration, and predicts impact.

The good news.
Pando Days is succeeding.

Go here to see the best news.