Kathryn Firth has joined the Olympic Park Legacy Company as its Chief of Design.

Kathryn will lead the Legacy Company's Design Team as it embeds high standards of design quality and sustainability across the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park’s new neighbourhoods, venues, parkland and other open spaces. One of her key projects will be the Legacy Communities Scheme – a masterplan to develop the Park over the next 20 years.

A Masters graduate of Urban Design at Harvard University, Kathryn has 25 years experience in international urban design. Previous roles have included PLP Architecture as a Director, a Senior Associate at Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates PA and Head of Urban Design at the LSE Cities Programme.


The Design Team will be to ensure that design is integral to the planning and development of the Park. The team is working at the heart of the Legacy Company's plans, creating design guidelines that will shape the look and feel of the Park’s as it develops and evolves, and overseeing a major competition to create London’s newest public space sitting between the Olympic Stadium, the ArcelorMittal Orbit and the Aquatics Centre.

They are also helping to build valuable connections to the surrounding communities by improving the fringe areas around the Park through a series of innovative, community-focused design projects.

Kathryn Firth, Chief of Design, said: "Being able to influence one of the most important regeneration projects of the century is a truly extraordinary opportunity for any urban designer.

"The standards of design that we set out now will set the tone for all future development on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. It is vital that this area is seen as a blueprint for 21st century living and loved by all those who live, work and visit."

(CD/GK)