Design-build team Perkins and Will and Webcor begins construction on new administration, police department and library facilities
NEWARK, CA – August 9, 2019 – Newark is one major step closer to realizing its vision for its new Civic Center. At a “golden shovel” event yesterday, officials from the City of Newark, Alameda County, State government and the project team – design firm Perkins and Will and general contractor Webcor – broke ground on the $72.3 million complex that will house city government, the police department and public library. The future Newark Civic Center is the first major redevelopment for its municipal offices in over half a century.
“This groundbreaking ushers in the newest chapter in Newark’s history,” said Mayor Alan Nagy. “While the original City Hall has served us well for more than 53 years, it is time for new facilities that will better meet the needs of our growing community. The people of Newark recognized the need and voted for a mechanism to fund the new facilities, so this is a wonderful occasion for our residents and businesses. Out of the ground we turn today will rise new facilities where the people’s business will be conducted far into the future.”
Voter approval of the funding for the project took place in light of projections that Newark – nestled at the edge of California’s fast-growing Silicon Valley – will undergo a wave of development over the next three decades. The new Civic Center will consist of three modern, safe, energy-efficient buildings housing the Council Chambers, administration services, library and police station, including an emergency dispatch center and training facility. A new plaza will serve as a multi-function community event space. Totaling 84,130 total square feet, the project is slated for completion in 2021.
The new Civic Center will create a cohesive public destination through the careful arrangement of the new buildings. Entries for all buildings will radiate out from a central plaza which will be used to host community events throughout the year. The design of the project stems from a careful analysis of the site and its history. As an homage to the history of Newark, stained-glass artwork from the existing City Hall will be reused at the entry to each of the new buildings. The project is targeting LEED Silver Certification.
“We want to create a healthy place that can be used and enjoyed by everyone,” says Perkins and Will Principal and Senior Project Manager Sarah Rege. “Perkins and Will’s design reflects a vision for the Civic Center as a source of community identification and pride for now and the future.”
Webcor and Perkins and Will partnered on this project utilizing design-build delivery, a highly collaborative and cost-effective method of commercial construction. Since the beginning, the architects, builders and engineers have been working together on project goals and processes to make possible a streamlined experience for the City of Newark.
“The city’s adoption of the progressive design-build approach to this project – the largest-ever in Newark – is proving very advantageous,” said Matt Rossie, Webcor vice president. “The design-build collaboration has allowed us to start construction a month earlier than planned, and our focus on the budget and the needs of the community has led to design and construction innovations that will make the new Civic Center dignified, welcoming and highly-efficient for city officials, employees and residents.”
About City of Newark
The City of Newark is located in Southern Alameda County at the east end of the Dumbarton Bridge, 30 miles south of Oakland and 15 miles north of San Jose, and on the edge of Silicon Valley. Newark was incorporated as a General Law City in 1955 and has a Council/Manager form of government. Newark’s population is approximately 48,712, with an encompassed area of approximately 13 square miles. Newark enjoys Bay Area benefits while maintaining a small town atmosphere.
About Webcor
Webcor is a premier provider of commercial construction services, known for its innovative and efficient approach, wide range of experience, cost-effective design-build methodology, skill in concrete construction, and expertise in building landmark projects. Webcor’s mission is to build structures of superior quality with integrity, continuously improve its processes by employing the best talent in the industry, and add social and economic value to its communities. Founded in 1971 and repeatedly honored as one of the Greenest Builders in California, Healthiest Employers, Top Corporate Philanthropists, Best Places to Work and Largest California Construction Firms, Webcor has offices in San Francisco, Alameda, San Jose and Los Angeles.
About Perkins and Will
Perkins and Will, an interdisciplinary, research-based architecture and design firm, was founded in 1935 on the belief that design has the power to transform lives. Guided by its core values—design excellence, diversity and inclusion, research, resilience, social purpose, sustainability, and well-being—the firm is committed to designing a better, more beautiful world. Fast Company named Perkins and Will one of the World’s Most Innovative Companies in Architecture, and industry rankings consistently place Perkins and Will among the world’s top design practices. With an international team of more than 2,700 professionals, the firm has over 20 studios worldwide, providing services in architecture, interior design, branded environments, urban design, and landscape architecture. Partners include Danish architects Schmidt Hammer Lassen; retail strategy and design consultancy Portland; sustainable transportation planning consultancy Nelson\Nygaard; healthcare technology planning firm Genesis; and luxury hospitality design firm Pierre-Yves Rochon (PYR).
