Attendees at the groundbreaking ceremony
Construction is officially underway on the La Kretz Innovation Campus in downtown LA’s Arts District, as the groundbreaking ceremony took place yesterday, June 19th, 2013 with over 700 attendees. Mayor Villaraigosa, LA City Councilmember Jose Huizar, LADWP President Ron Nichols, LA City Engineer Gary Lee Moore, and LACI Executive Director Fred Walti all spoke at the event to commemorate this important milestone in furthering LA’s green economy.
The 60,000 square foot state-of-the-art building will be the permanent home for LACI that includes 30,000 sf of incubation space, in addition to wet and dry labs, prototype manufacturing facilities, and a training center. In addition, the LADWP will test and demonstrate efficient technologies, many of which will come from LACI Portfolio Companies. The campus is scheduled to open in the spring of 2015 and will dramatically increase the number of entrepreneurs LACI can nurture under its roof. Additionally, the campus will include a public park, one of the few green areas in the Arts District.
Mayor Villaraigosa speaking about the new campus
The USC marching band providing toe-tapping tunes
Members of 360 Power Group giving a presentation
Hive Lighting demonstrating its products
Executive Director of LACI, Fred Walti
The ceremonial breaking of ground
Mr. Walti outlining LACI’s future plans
Ceremonial shovels in front of the official certificate from the City of Los Angeles
Portfolio Companies delivering presentations inside the facility
An overview of the speeches in front of the facility
