In this episode, architect and urban planner Janet Marie Smith joins us to reflect on her career shaping some of baseball’s most beloved ballparks. Her work has redefined the role of sports venues as engines of urban vitality and cultural identity.
At Oriole Park, Janet Marie helped pioneer the “retro” ballpark movement that reconnected stadiums with their urban surroundings. In Boston, she led the modernization of Fenway Park, balancing preservation with progress.
Moving west to Dodger Stadium, Janet Marie honored a mid-century icon while creating a more vibrant, inclusive fan experience.
“A great ballpark,” she notes, “isn’t sustained by architecture alone but by the energy it inspires.”
Her challenge was to distinguish what made the stadium’s design timeless from what had simply become dated. The resulting updates, including the new Centerfield Plaza, created a lively fan experience that celebrates Los Angeles’ culture and diversity.
Now through The Canopy Team, Janet Marie continues to champion community-driven development, showing that great ballparks, like great cities, are defined not by their structures but by the people who bring them to life.
Interview by: Cherry Tang / MSRED Candidate 2026
Director: Denise DeLorey
Production: Cherry Tang / Lacey Cochran
Music from #Uppbeat:
https://uppbeat.io/t/mark-july/dance-with-me
License code: KQAWWN4CWQXDF01E
Learn more about The Canopy Team: https://canopyteam.com/