Company:
City of Lake Forest
Status:
Awarded
Awarded:
Parks & Recreation Project of the Year
Additional Files

Additional Information

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Lake Forest Civic Center Project

Project Location:

City of Lake Forest

Project Description:

The new $80 million Lake Forest Civic Center is set on a 6.4 acre campus and includes four buildings totally approximately 100,000 square feet centered around a 50-foot clock tower, reminiscent of those in early town squares. The Project includes a Senior Center, Community Center, Performing Arts Center/Council Chambers and City Hall/Police Services building and a parking deck overlooking a constructed wetlands. The campus incorporates a Craftsman-style architecture, highlighting the City’s ranch history with the use of natural elements such as stone and large-timber beams.  The campus is called the community’s “100 Year Home” because of the timeless architecture, extensive use of steel and stone construction and because it will become a gathering place for the community. The Civic Center’s design creates a place where residents can enjoy social programs, share special events, and participate in local government.  The project was built almost exclusively with developer funds without any debt.
The Civic Center completes a 20-year City vision, representing a partnership between residents, landowners and the City. For decades, the City was dominated by the adjoining Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, and noise from airport operations mandated that some properties in the City be zoned commercial/industrial. When the Marine base closed and plans for a public airport were rejected, the City negotiated with landowners who wanted to change their property zoning to residential. The resulting development agreements which produced impact fees that paid for an $80 million Sports Park and Recreation Center, which opened in 2014, and, finally, the Civic Center.
The Lake Forest Civic Center was designed and built to become a destination for residents through its location, architecture and landscaping. The campus provides new amenities for residents and maximizes multiple uses with meeting rooms, open spaces and even a movable City Council dais that slides more than 10 feet to create a stage for community plays or other events.  For the first time in the City’s history, the community will have a dedicated place for seniors, a large community center available for rent, a community theater, and a City Hall that is actually owned by the City.  The LEED rated campus is set next to the Serrano Creek trail and overlooks a restored wetlands area.
The $80 million project was put together through a series of 5 separate developer agreements which included impact fees, property swaps, traffic mitigation, and construction agreements.  This allowed the City to complete the Civic Center without incurring any debt. Because of that, Lake Forest remains the largest debt-free City in California.  The 6.4 acres on which the Civic Center is built was also acquired through a partnership with another agency, the Irvine Ranch Water District. The district had surplus property and requested a zoning change to residential to increase the land value. The City negotiated for the Civic Center property in exchange for the change in zoning.  The vision and negotiations for these transactions took years to accomplish, and withstood the great recession in the mid 2000s.

Project Justification:

The new $80 million Lake Forest Civic Center is set on a 6.4 acre campus and includes four buildings totally approximately 100,000 square feet centered around a 50-foot clock tower, reminiscent of those in early town squares. The Project includes a Senior Center, Community Center, Performing Arts Center/Council Chambers and City Hall/Police Services building and a parking deck overlooking a constructed wetlands.

Special Circumstances:

The City constructed the campus by managing a multiple prime approach with over 25 contracts managed by Bernard Brothers as the construction manager.

Project Attachments:

The new $80 million Lake Forest Civic Center is set on a 6.4 acre campus and includes four buildings totally approximately 100,000 square feet centered around a 50-foot clock tower, reminiscent of those in early town squares. The Project includes a Senior Center, Community Center, Performing Arts Center/Council Chambers and City Hall/Police Services building and a parking deck overlooking a constructed wetlands. The campus incorporates a Craftsman-style architecture, highlighting the City’s ranch history with the use of natural elements such as stone and large-timber beams.  The campus is called the community’s “100 Year Home” because of the timeless architecture, extensive use of steel and stone construction and because it will become a gathering place for the community. The Civic Center’s design creates a place where residents can enjoy social programs, share special events, and participate in local government.  The project was built almost exclusively with developer funds without any debt.

Award Citation::

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Suggested Award Summary:

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