City invites Calabasas citizens to hear from civic center architects





In going forward with plans to build a new civic center, the Calabasas City Council will interview four design architects on Sat., Nov. 18 and they want the public to be a part of the process.


"We’d love to have the community come out and hear from these architects firsthand how they will approach our civic center complex," said Mark Persico, planning and building services director for the city.


The proposed civic center will include a 22,000 square-foot library, a 25,000 square-foot city hall and a 99-seat performing arts theater. The complex will be located just west of The Commons, at the corner of Park Sorrento and Park Center.


Choosing the architects for the project will bring a solid starting point to the project, which currently has no start or completion date.


The four architectural firms to give presentations a week from Saturday are: Fields Devereaux Architects, Gonzalez/Goodale Architects, Thirtieth Street Architects, and Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer Associates. Although none of the firms are local, they’re all from the greater Los Angeles area.


A review committee went through a very extensive process to choose these four firms, Persico said. The city first circulated "Request for Qualifications" from more than 100 firms. Of those, 17 submitted responses. After proposals were solicited, the field was narrowed to six and then four.


"We were looking for firms that had public experience and could really work with the community," said Persico.


The interviews will start at 9 a.m. in the council meeting room, and run until 1 p.m., allowing about one hour for each architectural firm to make its presentation.


Although the interviews will consist primarily of presentations from the architects with questions from council members … "at the end of the day, if the public has input or observations, we’re always willing to listen," Persico said.


"This is a true community event," he said.


Coffee and bagels will be available for everyone.


"In order to have a good meeting, you’ve got to serve good food," quipped Persico.


––Sharon Makokian



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