The Southern California Veterans Cemetery encompasses 125 acres of the City of Irvine’s Great Park. The project goal is to study the feasibility of the cemetery in this location. The conceptual plans demonstrate different planning layouts while achieving the CalVet’s goals of in-ground crypt, cremation, and columbarium counts for a 100-year build-out. RHAA’s role is to lead the team in the planning efforts in relation to the entrances, road layout, burial section sizes, building placement, planting, irrigation, signage, and phasing while meeting VA State cemetery requirements.

The team has balanced the needs of many stakeholders (DGS, CalVet, City of Irvine) by responding to State Cemetery Grant Program Plan requirements, phasing land transfers, providing access to easements, and working around environmentally sensitive areas. The final master plan layout is sensitive to the surrounding residential neighborhood concerns by providing visual privacy with soft perimeter walls and berms. 

• 125 acres of the City of Irvine's Orange County Great Park
• RHAA’s role is to lead the team in the planning efforts in relation to the entrances, road layout, burial section sizes, building placement, planting, irrigation, signage, and phasing while meeting VA State cemetery requirements
• The final plan celebrates the views of the surrounding mountains and adjacent habitat restoration stream while honoring the lives of the veterans