Calabasas Civic Center
Constructed 2007-2008
Opened in July 2008

Archived Civic Center News

Calabasas, LEEDing By Design  - Click here to Watch it now with CTV Archiving
A 42 minute video, created in 2009, detailing the "green" friendly design of the Calabasas Civic Center.

Grand Opening Event Photos

Architect Robert A.M. Stern visits to the Calabasas Civic Center site on Thursday, March 27, 2008. 

Project Isaiah Rebar Placed in New City Hall by Injured Sheriffs Officer - Thursday, August 23, 2007

Civic Center "Topping Out" Ceremony Photos - Tuesday, August 7, 2007

Civic Center Ground Breaking Ceremony Photos - Saturday, January 6, 2007

PROJECT HISTORY

THE CIVIC CENTER GOES TO BID!

On March 31, 2006 Contractors began arriving to pick up plans and begin the initial effort of bidding on the Civic Center project.   The City Council considered the bids received on May 24, 2006 and did not accept any of them at that time due to cost concerns.

The City completed its value engineering efforts on the Civic Center in the summer of 2006.  The underground parking structure was removed, and all displaced parking is accommodated on either the Civic Center site or Park Serrano and Park Center Streets.  The project was re-bid in early September 2006, and were posted on the City’s web site, in the Acorn and Dodge Green Sheet.   Bernards Brothers submitted the winning bid for construction of the Calabasas Civic Center.

Civic Center Project Bid Results
Bernards Brothers, Inc.
Bernards Brothers, Inc - Supplemental Bids
Douglas E. Barnhart, Inc.
Douglas E. Barnhart, Inc. - Supplemental Bids
Emma Corporation
FTR International

Civic Center Project obtains Office of State Library Construction Approvals

On March 17, 2006, the City of Calabasas received approvals for the State Librarian, Susan Hildreth, to proceed into construction on the library project.  The approval culminated an 18 month effort with the Office of State Library Construction to design the facility.  As completed, the new library holds 90,000 volumes of reading material for the community.  A prominent feature of the library is the oval children’s reading room, which is lined in broad carpeted steps and pillows.  The library also features specialty collection areas, a young adult area, technology carols and a cozy fireside reading area for adults.  Outside, an outdoor amphitheater is a perfect venue for musical and theatrical performances, storybook reading or even a summer night movie series.

A Visit from the Richard Hall from the State Office of Library Construction

On Friday, May 13, 2005, the Civic Center Task Force was pleased to welcome Richard Hall, Program Director for the State Office of Library Construction (far right, with Council member Jonathon Wolfson and City CFO Gary Lysik).  Mr. Hall is the City’s liaison for our State Library Bond Grant, and oversees all of the drawing submittals made in order to meet the City's grant requirements.  For the first time, Mr. Hall was able to tour the site and got a first hand feel of the beautiful setting for this State Library.  While in Calabasas, he signed our ceremonial check proudly displayed on the wall of the CFO’s office.

Presentation by Treasurer Phil Angelides of First Installment from State Library Grant

California State Treasurer Phil Angelides was in Calabasas on Friday, February 18, 2005 to present the first installment of an $8.2 million grant to the City of Calabasas to help build a new State Library as part of the Calabasas Civic Center Project.  The theme of the event was “Investing in Calabasas” and Treasurer Angelides presented a check for $796,015 to members of the Calabasas City Council and other City officials.

"Libraries are a vital asset for our communities, providing learning opportunities for children and adults alike, a civic gathering place, and a reminder of the value of knowledge in a democratic society," said State Treasurer Angelides, a member of the California Public Library Construction and Renovation Board that awarded the library funds.  "I commend the Calabasas community for recognizing the importance of investing in the future and the new Calabasas library."

Mayor Michael Harrison presided over the ceremony which closed with Treasurer Angelides' remarks and the official check presentation.  Other speakers at the event included Mayor Pro Tem Barry Groveman, Councilmember James Bozajian, Councilmember Lesley Devine, Councilmember Dennis Washburn, former Calabasas Library Commission President Fred Gaines, Las Virgenes Unified School District Vice President Cindy Iser and Chief Architect Peter Devereaux.

Interim Design Development Plan Approval

On February 16, 2005, the City Council approved Interim Design Development plans for the Civic Center.  The plans represented the design concepts and themes to be utilized in the new City Hall, Public Library, and Assembly Hall.  The project features a mix of Mediterranean and Spanish Mission architectural styles to give the required civic prominence to the buildings.

The buildings have Gladden-McBean blended roof tiles with a Franciscan color and Italian pan with Cordova cover shape.  There are white stucco walls with midsummer night trim and Lafayette green wainscoting in the arcades.

Interim Design Development Plans (Adobe Acrobat required)

Architecture

City Hall
East (exterior) - North (exterior) - Council Chambers Vestibule - Council Chambers

Library
Arcade (exterior) - Children's Library - Gallery- Reference Area - Stacks

Landscaping

Landscape Images - Landscape Images II - Landscape Images III

Rendered Landscape Sections - Landscape Site Plan - Landscape Outline Specifications

Design Development Workshop

Three design development workshops were held featuring members of the Civic Center Task Force and the City Council.

        

PROJECT INFORMATION

The City of Calabasas purchased a 7.7 acre lot adjacent to the Commons on Park Sorrento.  This site is home to the Calabasas Civic Center featuring a City Hall, Assembly Hall, Library and Amphitheatre.

PROJECT DEFINITION
Within a 1.7 acre site; a 25,059 square foot Public Library with an Assembly Hall of approximately 3,000 square feet; a two-story 27,733 square foot City Hall; a Public Plaza with features such as fountains and monuments; an outdoor amphitheater; and associated landscaping, site work and pathways that will allow pedestrian access to the adjacent developments.

ARCHITECT/ENGINEERS
Harley Ellis Devereaux in association with Robert A. M. Stern & Associates provided design and construction documents and administration.  The design will include architectural, civil, structural, mechanical, plumbing, electrical, lighting, security, acoustics, audiovisual, fixtures, equipment, graphics and landscape.

OWNER’S REPRESENTATIVE

Jones and Jones Construction Management

The City’s Construction Manager for the project was Jones and Jones of Ojai, California.  They were selected due to their extensive prior experience in building projects such as ours, and for their reputations in going the extra mile to achieve success.  Their responsibilities included working with the City during the design phase to ensure the constructability of the project, and then directly managing the construction effort on site.  You can view their webpage at www.jonesandjonesusa.com

FURNITURE, FIXTURES AND EQUIPMENT
Interior Space International (ISI) provided interior design services for furniture, fixture & equipment (FF&E) for the Civic Center Project in coordination with the City and Architects/Engineers.

LIBRARY CONSULTANTS
Libris Design and Library Systems & Services assisted the City and Architects/Engineers in designing the Library Building in compliance with the Library Grant as monitored by the State Office of Library Construction.

GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEER
Geodynamics provided soils investigation and geotechnical services in coordination with the Architects/Engineers as required for the project design.

SURVEYING
W.R. Lind Incorporated provided site-surveying services to assist the Architects/Engineers during the design phase of the project.

                                                                                                           Rendering by Thomas Schaller

City of Calabasas © 2013