In the Intuit Dome blog series, we are taking a deep dive into each element of Intuit Dome with the leaders who made this project a reality. Throughout these pieces, we discuss features like community engagement, sustainability and visionary design/innovation to learn more about what makes Intuit Dome a game-changer in sports and entertainment.

A game-changer in sustainable arena design and community impact, Intuit Dome topples all categories in innovative sports architecture. Design features like a unique gridshell enclosure, a 38,375-square-foot halo-shaped LED board, five full-size courts, a commitment to carbon neutrality and much more make Intuit Dome an iconic sports and entertainment venue.

Although an extraordinary level of innovation and attention to detail has informed the design of the internal aspects of the Intuit Dome program, its connection to the surrounding neighborhood was also critical, both socially and sustainably. The LA Clippers worked with the City of Inglewood on a far-reaching benefits package— funding for schools, housing, infrastructure and jobs have all been part of the commitment to develop an arena with positive community impact. Intuit Dome naming rights partner Intuit is committed to making the arena a hub for programs that power economic prosperity and benefit the community.

As a native Angeleno born and raised in Inglewood, I understand the need for empowerment and investment for the long-term development of this community. ArchTam was given the opportunity to not only develop and design Intuit Dome, but the responsibility of ensuring that this project brought about positive social impact and economic inclusion. As Intuit Dome’s VP for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), my job was to lead the charge for community engagement to effect that ambitious goal.

The positive impact is already in motion. Local Inglewood businesses are getting their first opportunity to take part in a massive global project in their own backyard. Workforce development programs have given second chances to union workers with good pay and benefits. With these commitments also comes looking toward the future of infrastructure in Inglewood. Our team firmly believes in “leaving it better than how we found it.” We are interested in not just building the future of physical infrastructure but human infrastructure as well. For this project, that entails a dedication to the youth and prioritization of sustainable legacies.

You can design and build one of the most notable arenas in the world and create a vast impact and ensure there is a legacy to leave behind at the very same time.

For Intuit Dome, we have focused on four key pillars as they relate to community engagement and ArchTam’s commitment to the client and arena. The first is business inclusion, honing in on requirements, goals, and efforts so that minority and local businesses participate in the project’s success through subcontracting. The next pillar is workforce development, which involves setting goals to ensure that ArchTam prioritizes local community members in relation to the building trades. The third pillar is community and stakeholder engagement. For this pillar, I manage the relationships outside of the project, ranging from the mayor to city council to community organizations, nearby residents, and local businesses. Creating a foundation with these elements helps ArchTam to lean into the community and support local organizations and local community members and set up a good neighbor program.

The last pillar is youth education. We are deeply committed to including the local youth in the region— who are a large part of the overall success of the project. The team has programming ranging from student tours to youth career fairs. As part of the youth education pillar, ArchTam has built a strong partnership with the ACE (Architecture, Construction, Engineering) Mentor Program, which provides exposure to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) understanding, engagement and opportunities for students at a local high school, City Honors High School, as part of Inglewood Unified School District. The impact that ArchTam has on the community is one of the most impressive parts of the arena and this program showcases that. ArchTam also brought the first-ever pre-apprenticeship program to Inglewood Unified School District, ensuring that with the legacy left behind, there will be a more sufficient pipeline from high school to post-high school into the building trades.

The overall vital commitment to the community is also tangibly illustrated through Inglewood’s drop in unemployment rates. Prior to the construction of Intuit Dome and SoFi Stadium just to the north, the unemployment rate in Inglewood was around 17 percent. Now, as job creation in the area has increased, the unemployment rate has declined to around 4 percent.

We have the talent in our own backyards. Our investment in them is how we ensure that we tap into those resources and talents and bring them into the company to help move communities forward, in Los Angeles and beyond.

Learn more about Intuit Dome and how we are delivering a better world in Los Angeles and beyond. Get inside Intuit Dome.

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Ken Billups is the vice president of economic inclusion and social impact based in Los Angeles, California, where he is currently leading inclusion and community engagement for Intuit Dome. His strategic approach of actively engaging with the community to prioritize education, empower local businesses and foster transparent communication results in meaningful contributions to the city of Inglewood.

1. Tell us a bit about yourself – your role and career journey   

My journey began in my hometown of Los Angeles, where I was born and raised in a town called Inglewood. After completing my education, where I majored in business at Florida A&M University, a renowned historically black college and university, I returned to Los Angeles to embark on my career in the nonprofit sector. I started as a community organizer and leader, landing my first role overseeing the business inclusion and workforce development program for the Inglewood Unified School District (IUSD).

Subsequently, I transitioned into the private sector, focusing on inclusion initiatives in the construction and infrastructure sector.  Around two and a half years ago, I joined ArchTam Hunt to lead inclusion and community engagement initiatives for the Intuit Dome in my hometown of Inglewood, California and now as Vice President of Economic Inclusion and Social Impact for the LA Metro and Southern California area.

2. Talk to us about your work in the City of Inglewood, how have some of these projects and initiatives responded to the challenges and issues faced by the local communities there?

For our work in the City of Inglewood to be impactful, we first had to deeply understand the challenges, barriers, and needs of the local community. This involved active listening and learning in order to be responsive in our development and deployment of a business inclusion and workforce development strategy and ensure we really engaged with key stakeholders and community members. We prioritized education and youth support, to make sure our projects had a positive impact on future generations.

Our approach was highly strategic and inclusive, particularly in the empowerment of minority and local businesses. We made deliberate efforts to prioritize local residents, offering opportunities in the building trades and careers in construction. Open and transparent communication with the nearby community was vital to minimize construction-related disruptions. We also got actively involved in the community by supporting local block clubs that we call the ‘Good Neighbor’ program, which incentivizes and supports local neighbors, developed the first ever pre-apprenticeship program for IUSD — providing a starting point for local residents to enter skilled construction jobs, and supported the Inglewood Unified School District, by actively participating in after-school programs focused on architecture, construction, and engineering.

Our approach, emphasizing inclusion and community impact, was well-received by the local community. We continue to do great work, both within the projects we undertake and within the broader community. These efforts are instrumental in shaping a positive work culture in the communities we serve, aligning seamlessly with our commitment to ESG.

3. Community and stakeholder engagement is a vital part of urban renewal and regeneration, can you share any specific examples of successful community engagement strategies and their impact?

Successful community and stakeholder engagement starts with active listening and learning. At Intuit Dome, we organized various formal and informal events to understand the surrounding communities and cultures better. This insight influenced our decisions, including design choices and construction schedules that pertain to the sensitivity of the project that’s in the middle of the urban community.

Additionally, we were dedicated to being responsive to the needs and commitments that we had to the community. This included commitments to minority and local businesses, as well as ensuring the active participation of women in the trades related to our project. Our responsiveness extended to collaborating closely with key stakeholders, including faith-based organizations, city leaders, local businesses, and neighborhood block clubs, all of which contribute to the success of the project.

4. Business inclusion, workforce development and leadership are 3 vital ingredients in improving social equity. What are some of the best examples of these that you’ve seen across the industry?

At ArchTam, we take pride in our approach to business inclusion, workforce development and leadership. We’ve found ways to minimize barriers and maximize opportunities. We go a step further by investing in the marketplace and building capacity. When it comes to workforce development, we’ve identified strategic partners to collaboratively build opportunities for careers in construction. We focus on exposing the youth to various career paths within our industry and developing the future workforce.  We’ve also been very strategic about how we engage key stakeholders to ensure that they’re part of the success of the project.  

5. In your experience, what are some of the key elements in establishing successful strategic partnerships to advance equity, diversity and inclusion within a community?

We always say equity is a verb, but it starts with our leadership. Effective leadership is not only a commitment but an action. At Intuit Dome, we have a great leadership team that has embraced these commitments and ensured that our trade partners also adhere to these principles. So, equity is very much a part of leadership commitment.

Secondly, strategic partnerships are crucial. Equity is a team sport — it cannot thrive in isolation. It’s about leveraging expertise and resources to be able to identify the right trade partners that can work on the project because in this space, innovation happens through collaboration. The key elements — strong and accountable leadership coupled with strategic partnerships — create a framework where social equity can advance, leaving a lasting impact on projects and communities alike.

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