Agenda packet, second session — Berkeley City Council, July 25, 2023

Tuesday, July 25, 2023 AGENDA Page 1

P R O C L AM AT I O N

C AL L I N G A S P E C I AL M EE TI NG O F T HE

B E R K E LE Y CI T Y C O U N CIL
In accordance with the authority in me vested, I do hereby call the Berkeley City Council in special session as follows:

Tuesday, July 25, 2023
4:00 PM
SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD ROOM - 1231 ADDISON STREET, BERKELEY, CA 94702 TELECONFERENCE LOCATION - 1404 LE ROY AVE, BERKELEY, CA 94708

JESSE ARREGUIN, MAYOR
Councilmembers:

DISTRICT 1 – RASHI KESARWANI DISTRICT 5 – SOPHIE HAHN
DISTRICT 2 – TERRY TAPLIN DISTRICT 6 – SUSAN WENGRAF
DISTRICT 3 – BEN BARTLETT DISTRICT 7 – RIGEL ROBINSON
DISTRICT 4 – KATE HARRISON DISTRICT 8 – MARK HUMBERT
This meeting will be conducted in a hybrid model with both in -person attendance and virtual participation . For in- person attendees, face coverings or masks that cover both the nose and the mouth are encouraged. If you are feeling sick, please do not attend the meeting in person.

Live captioned broadcasts of Council Meetings are available on Cable B -TV (Channel 33) and via internet accessible video stream at http://berkeley.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?publish_id=1244.

Remote participation by the public is available through Zoom. To access the meeting remotely: Join from a PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone, or Android device: Please use this UR L: https://cityofberkeley- info.zoomgov.com/j/1606074224. If you do not wish for your name to appear on the screen, then use the drop down menu and click on "rename" to rename yourself to be anonymous. To request to speak, use the “raise hand” icon by rolling over the bottom of the screen. To join by phone: Di al 1-669-254-5252 or 1 -833-568-8864 (Toll Free) and enter Meeting ID: 160 607 4224. If you wish to comment during the public comment portion of the agenda, Press *9 and wait to be recognized by the Chair.

Please be mindful that the meeting will be recorde d and all rules of procedure and decorum apply for in-person attendees and those participating by teleconference or videoconference.

To submit a written communication for the City Council’s consideration and inclusion in the public record , email [email protected].

This meeting will be conducted in accordance with the Brown Act, Government Code Section 54953 and applicable Executive Orders as issued by the Governor that are currently in effect . Any member of the public may attend this meeting. Questions regarding this matter may be addressed to Mark Numainville, City Clerk, (510) 981-6900. The City Council may take action related to any subject listed on the Agenda. Meetings will adjourn at 11:00 p.m. - any items outstanding at that time will be carried over to a date/time to be specified.

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Tuesday, July 25, 2023 AGENDA Page 2
Preliminary Matters
Roll Call:

Action Calendar
The public may comment on each item listed on the agenda for action as the item is taken up. For items moved to the Action Calendar from the Consent Calendar or Information Calendar, persons who spoke on the item during the Consent Calendar public comment period may speak again at the time the matter is taken up during the Action Calendar.

The Presiding Officer will request that persons wishing to speak line up at the podium, or use the "raise hand" function in Zoom, to determine the number of persons interested in speaking at that time. Up to ten (10) speakers may speak for two minutes. If there are more than ten persons interested in speaking, the Presiding Officer may limit the public comment for all speakers to one minute per speaker. Speakers are permitted to yield their time to one other speaker, however no one speaker shall have more than four minutes. The Presiding Officer may, with the consent of persons representing both sides of an issue, allocate a block of time to each side to present their issue.

Action items may be reordered at the discretion of the Chair with the consent of Council.

1. Civic Center Phase II - Design Concept (Continued from July 11, 2023) (Item contains revised material.)
From: City Manager
Recommendation: Adopt a Resolution approving Berkeley’s Civic Center Design Concept, and declaring Council’s intention to support the preferred design concept and necessary future studies articulated in the plan and directing staff to pursue the next steps identified in the plan, including seeking funding and conducting further studies.

Financial Implications: See report
Contact: Liam Garland, Public Works, (510) 981-6300
Adjournment
I hereby request that the City Clerk of the City of Berkeley cause personal notice to be given to each member of the Berkeley City Council on the time and place of said meeting, forthwith.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the official seal of the City of Berkeley to be affixed on this 20th day of July, 2023.

Jesse Arreguin, Mayor
Public Notice – this Proclamation serves as the official agenda for this meeting.

ATTEST:

Date: July 20, 2023
Mark Numainville, City Clerk

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Tuesday, July 25, 2023 AGENDA Page 3

NOTICE CONCERNING YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS : If you object to a decision by the City Council to approve or deny a use permit or variance for a project the following requirements and restrictions apply:
1) No lawsuit challenging a City decision to deny (Code Civ. Proc. §1094.6(b)) or approve (Gov. Code 65009(c)(5)) a use permit or var iance may be filed more than 90 days after the date the Notice of Decision of the action of the City Council is mailed. Any lawsuit not filed within that 90 -day period will be barred. 2) In any lawsuit that may be filed against a City Council decision to approve or deny a use permit or variance, the issues and evidence will be limited to those raised by you or someone else, orally or in writing, at a public hearing or prior to the close of the last public hearing on the project.

Archived indexed video streams are available at:
https://berkeleyca.gov/your-government/city-council/city-council-agendas.

Channel 33 rebroadcasts the following Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. and Sunda y at 9:00 a.m.

Communications to the City Council are public record and will become part of the City’s electronic records, which are accessible through the City’s website. Please note: e-mail addresses, names, addresses, and other contact information are not required, but if included in any communication to the City Council, will become part of the public record. If you do not want your e-mail address or any other contact information to be made public, you may deliver communications via U.S. Postal Service to the City Clerk Department at 2180 Milvia Street. If you do not want your contact information included in the public record, please do not include that information in your communication. Please contact the City Clerk Department for further information.

Any writings or documents provided to a majority of the City Council regarding any item on this agenda will be made available for public inspection at the public counter at the City Clerk Department located on the first floor of City Hall located at 2180 Milvia Street as well as posted on the City's website at https://berkeleyca.gov/.

Agendas and agenda reports may be accessed via the Internet at:
https://berkeleyca.gov/your-government/city-council/city-council-agendas and may be read at reference desks at the following locations:

City Clerk Department - 2180 Milvia Street, First Floor Tel: 510-981-6900, TDD: 510-981-6903, Fax: 510-981-6901 Email: [email protected]

Libraries: Main – 2090 Kittredge Street,
Claremont Branch – 2940 Benvenue, West Branch – 1125 University, North Branch – 1170 The Alameda, Tarea Hall Pittman South Branch – 1901 Russell

COMMUNICATION ACCESS INFORMATION:

This meeting is being held in a wheelchair accessible location.

To request a disability-related accommodation(s) to participate in the meeting, including auxiliary aids or services, please contact the Disability Services specialist at (510) 981-6418 (V) or (510) 981-6347 (TDD) at least three business days before the meeting date.

Please refrain from wearing scented products to this meeting.

Captioning services are provided at the meeting, on B -TV, and on the Internet. In addition, assisted listening devices for the hearing impaired are available from the City Clerk prior to the meeting, and are to be returned before the end of the meeting.

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Office of the City Manager
2180 Milvia Street, Berkeley, CA 94704 ● Tel: (510) 981-7000 ● TDD: (510) 981-6903 ● Fax: (510) 981-7099 E-Mail: [email protected] Website: http://www.CityofBerkeley.info/Manager

REVISED

AGENDA MATERIAL
for Supplemental Packet 1
Meeting Date: July 11, 2023
Item Number: 33
Item Description: Civic Center Phase II – Design Concept Submitted by: Eleanor Hollander, Office of Economic Development The attached supplemental item provides edits to the original item that are not intended to change the substance of the item, but just clarify (1) that Council is asked to only affirm a high-level design concept for Civic Center with this item, and (2) that all subsequent project decisions will be subject to the proper environmental review.

The edits contained herein also ensure that terminology in the report is used precisely; as the word “project” has a specific definition with respect to environmental review.

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ACTION CALENDAR
July 11, 2023
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Dee Williams-Ridley, City Manager
Submitted by: Liam Garland, Public Works Director
Subject: Adoption - Civic Center Phase II - Design Concept

RECOMMENDATION
Adopt a Resolution approving Berkeley’s Civic Center Design Concept Plan, and declaring Council’s intention to support the preferred design concept and necessary future studies and projects articulated in the plan and directing staff to pursue the next steps identified in the plan, including seeking funding and conducting further studies.

SUMMARY
This item presents City Council with the culmination of the work to build on the adopted Civic Center Vision and Implementation Plan for Berkeley’s Civic Center area (“Vision”), which
includes a vision for the following:
 Veterans Memorial Building;
 Maudelle Shirek Building (“Old City Hall”); and
 Martin Luther King Jr. Civic Center Park (“Civic Center Park”).

The vVision for Berkeley’s Civic Center is: Civic Center will be the heart of Berkeley’s community. Civic Center will be the prime space for civic life, culture, and the arts. It will reflect the city’s diverse identities, celebrating its history, and contributing to shaping its future. A place of shared resources and a platform for free expression accessible to all, Civic Center aims to manifest the city’s values, advance social justice, and demonstrate the power of true public space.

The City’s Veterans Memorial Building, Maudelle Shirek Building, and Civic Center Park are important cultural resources, not only due to their age, but also their architectural significance, central location, and history as the center of City government. Adopting a shared Vision for Civic Center was an important Phase 1 accomplishment. Phase II of the Civic Center project sought to sharpen the vision-aligned consensus design concept for Civic Center and set a describe a potential course for the next steps of implementation. Phase I (Vision) of the project commenced in summer 2019 and was funded through Phase 1 of the Measure T1 infrastructure bond designated to repair, renovate, replace, or reconstruct the City’s infrastructure, facilities, and buildings. Phase

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II (Design Concept Plan) of the Civic Center project was funded via a General Fund budget referral approved in the City Council’s adoption of the FY 2022 Budget. Staff work on Phase II began in September of 2022. The 156-page final report entitled Berkeley’s Civic Center Design Concept Report (May 2023) is presented as Exhibit A in Attachment 1. The accompanying resolution adopting Berkeley’s Civic Center Vision Aligned Design Concept Plan provides direction for the Civic Center’s next act.

The Public Works Department and Office of Economic Development (OED) worked with a consultant team led by Siegel & Strain Architects. The consultant team spent the fall of 2022 and winter/early spring of 2023 conducting a public workshop about Civic Center, holding focus group interviews, hosting site tour(s), facilitating two “youth focused” workshops, and an in-depth session with Berkeley’s art and culture organizations, attending approximately eight briefings with the Community for a Cultural Civic Center (CCCC) group, and engaging with five city commissions and the project’s technical advisory group composed of city staff in a wide variety of departments. In March of 2023, the team presented a draft design concept for Civic Center to Berkeley’s City Council for feedback.1
The consultant team continued to work throughout the spring of 2023 to deliver a refined conceptual design, update cost estimates, provide an in-depth set of funding strategies, and develop a robust implementation plan or “next steps” for further study.

This report presents the final report from the consultant team (Attachment 1) which includes a design concept for Berkeley’s Civic Center, a summary of the community engagement conducted through May of 2023 and the resulting design drivers, next steps including future studies needed to accommodate a design with a daylit creek, and an appendix with the updated cost estimate for this once-in-a-generation project.

Design Concept – Recommendations
Integrating the input received through the engagement efforts, additional study on the changing context of the Civic Center, and the programmatic requirements heard from current and potential users, the Civic Center Ddesign Cconcept Plan (“Plan”) proposes includes the following vision:
• Maudelle Shirek Building - seat of Berkeley’s democracy with flexible meeting spaces and supportive and vision-aligned city services and educational uses. • Veterans Memorial Building – a Community Arts Center, run by the City, with performance venues, teaching and exhibit space, accessible by all in the community.
• Civic Center Park & Surrounding Streets - a safe nature-based urban oasis for all of Berkeley, supporting community use throughout the day and strolling, relaxing, having lunch, visiting, and attending an impromptu gathering or organized event on evenings or weekends.
1 Berkeley City Council Agenda Worksession, Civic Center Phase II - Design Concept, Item #2 March 21, 2023.

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The preferred design concept, visualized on pages 70-71 of the Plan is detailed in Section 5: Design Concept (Attachment 1).

FISCAL IMPACTS OF RECOMMENDATION
Adoption of the Plan does not commit Council to completing the design elements described therein. The exact fiscal impacts of the finalized design concept plan for Civic Center are to be determined. Preliminary construction cost estimates to achieve the design concepts discussed in the final report range from $103,753,000 to $131,587,000.

These estimates assume additions and improvements that support the desired uses for the buildings, associated required seismic upgrades, and other park and street improvements.2

CURRENT SITUATION AND ITS EFFECTS
Project Timeline
Phase II (development of the Plan) of the Civic Center project began in September 2022 and will be completed by June of 2023:
❑ Phase II Funding for Conceptual Design Plan Authorized by Council June 29, 2021
❑ Project Phase II Commencement Sept. 1, 2022
❑ Public and City Engagement: Design Approach
o Technical Advisory Committee Sept. 29, 2022
o “Super” Subcommittee Meeting of the Public Works/Transportation, Landmarks, Parks and Civic Arts Commissions Sept. 29, 2022 o 25+ Small Focus Group Interviews Sept. ‘22 – Feb. ‘23 o Monthly meetings with Community for a Cultural Civic Center (CCCC) Sept. ‘22 – Feb. ‘23
o Workshop #1: Open House (Berkeley Public Library) Nov. 16, 2022 o Online Community Survey: Berkeley Civic Center Vision Project Nov. ‘22 – Jan. ’23
o Art Organizations Survey: Berkeley Arts Space Needs Assessment Jan. ’23 – Feb. ‘23
❑ Public and City Engagement: Draft Design Concept
o Technical Advisory Committee Meeting #2 Feb. 9, 2023
2 Berkeley’s Civic Center Design Concept, Attachment 1, Sections 5.3, 5.4. The design concept recommends a Building Performance Objective for New Buildings Plus (BPON+) seismic upgrade scheme for the Veterans Memorial Building (Attachment 1, Section 5.4). A combined Damage Control Plus (DC+) / Immediate Occupancy (IO) scheme, abbreviated as “DC+/IO” is recommended for the Maudelle Shirek building (Attachment 1, Section 5.3).

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o Commission Engagement - Super Subcommittee Meeting #2 Feb. 9, 2023
o Workshop #2: Youth Focus at Berkeley High Feb. 15, 2023 o Workshop #3: Education Focus at Berkeley City College Feb. 15, 2023 o Veterans Memorial Building Arts Space Focus Group Meeting Feb. 24, 2023
❑ Council Work Session - Emerging Preferred Design Concept March 21, 2023 ❑ Monthly meeting with CCCC group April 25, 2023
❑ Four Arts Organization Meetings April - May 2023
❑ Super Sub Committee of the Commissions Briefing May 16, 2023 ❑ Council Adoption (anticipated) - Design Concept July 11, 2023 Summary of Meetings and Outreach
The consultant team, led by Sigel & Strain Architects and supported by staff from PW, OED, and other City departments, kicked off this phase with a series of public meetings in September 2022. The public outreach effort is described in more detail in Attachment 1, Section 2.

Technical Advisory Committee (TAC). The TAC is composed of City of Berkeley staff from a variety of departments, and its purpose is to provide subject matter expertise and feedback throughout the process. TAC members represent a cross-section of knowledgeable participants with an interest and stake in the Civic Center. The TAC met for the first time prior to releasing the RFQ for the Vision Plan project RFQ in late 2018, and has since gathered formally in this project phase twice with the consultant team: at the Phase II project kick- off meeting in September 2022, and to review the draft consensus design concept in February 2023. In addition to formal meetings, ad hoc consultations with individual TAC members (e.g., the City’s special events coordinator, real estate manager, City Clerk, Public Safety, and PW Facilities Maintenance) have made essential contributions to the projectPlan.

Super Subcommittee of City Commissions. To efficiently engage with City Commissions that have an interest in this projectPlan, a “super” subcommittee meeting structure was established. Three City of Berkeley Commissions—the Public Works, Parks Recreation and Waterfront, and the Landmarks Preservation Commissions— already had established ad-hoc subcommittees to address projects funded by Measure T1 bond improvements, and the Civic Arts Commission established an ad-hoc standing subcommittee for the Civic Center visioning process. During Phase II of the Civic Center project, the super sub-committee structure continued. This larger group of subcommittees met twice in publicly noticed meetings on Zoom in the webinar format, first to kick off the projectPhase II and discuss design approaches in September of 2022 and then to review and comment on the draft design concept in February 2023. The Super Subcommittee of the Commissions, and representatives of a fifth commission,

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the Commission on Disability, had an in-person briefing in May 2023 to go over the final design concept report and discuss engagement of their “home” commissions prior to the final report publication in June of 2023. See https://berkeleyca.gov/your- government/our-work/capital-projects/civic-center-vision-plan-project for a complete list of materials presented at the Super Subcommittee meetings during Phase II.

Site Tours. City staff members have received many requests to tour the two buildings.

During this project Pphase II, the consultant team has toured the buildings with PW, and the park with the City’s urban forester and arborist. Members of CCCC, TAC, Super Subcommittee of the commissions, and arts organizations have also toured the buildings to help envision programmatic uses. Several site tours were also conducted in the Vision phase of this planning effort (2019-2020).

Focus Groups and Interviews. From September 2022 through February 2023, staff and the consultant team conducted 25+ one-on-one or small group interviews with Civic Center stakeholders, including the current Civic Center tenants, several City Council Members (and/or their staff) and the Mayor’s office, representatives from the Berkeley Unified School District including the principal of Berkeley High School, planners of annual community events that occur in Civic Center, arts organizations, business associations, local media outlets, ecological and riparian experts, city staff, and local community groups including the CCCC. See Attachment 1, Section 2.2 for a complete list of interviewees.

Open House, Workshops & Survey. On November 16, 2022, staff and the consultant team hosted an in-person Open House Workshop at the Berkeley Public Library.

Approximately 40 community members attended the session, which was designed to generate thoughts about the underlying purposes and functions of our Civic Center, and to inform the project’s Preferred Design Concept development. The consultant team organized the session into stations, with opportunities for discussion in small groups and written feedback on postcards at each station. This was supplemented with an Online Survey that asked the same questions of respondents as the in-person workshop did. The online survey recorded 694 responses, far exceeding the stated survey goal of 400 responses. Highlights of the survey responses are summarized in Attachment 1, Section 2.2. On February 15, 2023, staff and the consultant team hosted two Youth-Focused Workshops, one at Berkeley High School and one at Berkeley City College. Staff led students through a series of activities where participants were asked to identify what they liked and disliked about the draft design concept for Civic Center and asked participants to complete comment cards about their opinions related to the park and street design approach. Highlights and key takeaways of the youth focused workshops are summarized in Attachment 1, Section 2.2.

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program to help determine if the Veterans Memorial Building has sufficient spaces to serve the programmatic needs of the community. This workshop was not open to the general public, but instead sought to elicit targeted feedback from individuals that are representative of Berkeley’s diverse arts community. Sixteen arts professionals from the disciplines of theater, dance, music, visual arts, and literary arts participated in the focus group meeting with the aim to have representation from various areas of Berkeley, racial and ethnic diversity, and a wide range of arts disciplines and organization sizes.

Feedback gathered from this workshop is summarized in Attachment 1, Section 2.2.

City Council Worksession. The consultant team, in consultation with staff, developed an emerging preferred design concept, and draft concept design report that was presented to the Berkeley City Council members and the general public for feedback at a Berkeley City Council Worksession on March 21, 2023. The final report (Attachment 1) incorporates feedback received at the March 2023 Council Worksession and hews closely to the draft concept design presented in March 2023. The construction cost estimates and the Implementation chapters (Sections 6 and 7) are the areas of the report with the most updates since March 21, 2023.

Civic Center Design Concept
The outreach effort during this phase of the projectPhase II (2022-23) affirmed the Vision Statement adopted in 2020. With the adopted Civic Center Vision serving as the north star for this projectPlan, four points on a compass emerged to further guide the design concept:
 Community – an inclusive and caring community;
 The Arts – expressive artistic and cultural events;
 Governance – good governance demonstrated through progressive policies;  Education – powerful educational activities tied directly to history and nature.

Integrating the input received through outreach efforts, and the programmatic requirements heard from current and future users of the Civic Center, the project Plan proposes the following current and potential future uses for each project element:

Maudelle Shirek Building will be the seat of Berkeley’s democracy with flexible meeting spaces and supportive and vision-aligned city services and educational uses, accessible by all in the community. As the historic seat of government in Berkeley, this project Plan proposes returning city functions back to the Maudelle Shirek Building. In the public engagement efforts, Hearing & Meeting Rooms, Council Chambers, and flexible spaces for public-facing city services all scored high as priority uses for the building. Adding these functions to the heart of Berkeley’s Civic Center will bring residents to the area throughout the day and into the evenings, to attend meetings, speak at hearings, and organize with their community.

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of improvements to the building will be required, including accessible improvements to the main entry and throughout, upgraded mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems, improved fire and egress systems, seismic retrofit, and an addition to provide space for the uses. For further discussion of the proposed uses, improvements, and management structure for the Maudelle Shirek building see Attachment 1, Sections 5.3 and 7.1.

Veterans Memorial Building will be a community Arts Center, run by the city, with performance venues, teaching and exhibit space, accessible by all in the community.

This project identifies the building as a future Community Arts Center for the City of Berkeley, a use broadly supported by the public, Civic Arts Program, and the Community for a Cultural Civic Center. In a survey and workshop with local arts organizations who expressed interest in using the building, they identified exhibition and performance space as priorities, which aligns with the perception of need discovered in the public engagement process. Further, arts survey respondents identified a need for flexible multi-disciplinary spaces that are available to rent by the larger community, rather than controlled by a single anchor tenant.

The arts functions will require improvement to the Veterans Memorial building including accessible improvements throughout, upgraded mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems, improved fire and egress systems, seismic retrofit, and possibly additions to the sides of the main stage, and at the rooftop. For further discussion of the approach to this building, see Attachment 1, Sections 5.4 and 7.1.

Civic Center Park & Surrounding Streets will become a safe nature-based urban oasis for all of Berkeley. The park design will support community use throughout the day, evening and weekend for strolling, relaxing, sharing or having a meal, visiting, and attending an impromptu gathering or organized event.

Park Uses & Improvements
The design concept for MLK Jr. Civic Center Park builds from the existing condition of the park, and layers in new design elements and programs that support the desired everyday vibrancy of the park. It simplifies the path layout and reclaims underutilized space to fit new activity areas where possible. The proposed design preserves and builds upon the existing structure of the park, including the mature tree canopy, the central green open space, and the planned Turtle Island Monument terrace.

Recommended improvements include simplified and widened path systems, native and biodiverse planting areas, a multi-use plaza with skate-able elements, a multi-age playground, an arts and market plaza to support the Farmers Market, expanded seating opportunities, and food and beverage vendors. For further discussion of the proposed park improvements, see Attachment 1, Section 5.2.

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from others about cost, maintenance, and safety of a daylight creek. An alternate design concept layout (Attachment 1, Section 5.2, pages 104-107) illustrates a partial-flow daylighting scenario. The placement of the creek along Center Street aligns with the current location of the culvert under the park, and minimizes disruption to the overall park layout and monuments. However, it does have a number of impacts that need to be considered more carefully through additional study:
 Center Street – The daylit creek reduces the width of Center Street to 26’ travel path, allowing for emergency vehicle access. Parking and other vehicular traffic flow is removed. A parking & traffic study should be completed to understand the impact of closing Center Street to public traffic, and design solutions will need to be developed for providing delivery/drop-off to the buildings along Center Street.

The Farmers Market also may need to be relocated to a new site with sufficient width for the market.
 Hydrology – The partial flow scenario is based on the 1999 Creek Study by Wolf Mason Associates. This report notes that the culvert is likely 18’ under the surface of the park, sloping down to the west. A full restoration of the creek would require 150’ in width and was determined infeasible. A partial flow scenario would require that the existing culvert remain, and that water is diverted through a flow control structure somewhere upstream of the park and downstream from the BART station to bring water closer to the surface. The exact width, depth, and design of a partial flow creek would need to be developed through a detailed hydrological study and will likely call for an engineered solution.  Maintenance – any creek feature would involve new maintenance requirements, flooding mitigation considerations, and associated costs.

Parking and Circulation
In addition to the pedestrian pathway changes within the park, the concept design proposes changes to parking and circulation at both Center Street and Martin Luther King Jr Way.
 Center Street – aligned with the City’s goal of a Green Center Street, the design proposes making this a pedestrian priority shared street, with a flush, curb-less transition from street to sidewalk, along with adding additional street trees and bioswales for stormwater management. A curve has been introduced in the road to create a more gracious entry plaza for the Veterans Memorial Building. The proposal shows 16 parallel parking spaces, in place of the 59 paid parking spaces currently on Center Street. These parking spaces generated $156,860 in calendar year 2022 (at a rate of $3.50/hour). There are also currently reserved parking spaces on this block – five for judges at the Alameda County Courthouse, one loading spot for the City mail truck, and four accessible “blue curb” spaces. The remaining 16 parallel spaces articulated in the plan could

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serve as reserved parking, or a small number of paid parking spaces could be maintained.
 Martin Luther King Jr Way – the primary concern at this road is pedestrian safety crossing between the park and the Maudelle Shirek Building. Currently, the edge of the curb between Allston and Center does not align with the curb on the blocks to the north or the south – the road widens along the park’s edge. The concept design proposes reclaiming the portion of the road currently used as parallel parking to re-align the curbs in this area, and to create pedestrian bulb-outs at the street crossings. While the traffic lanes are not impacted, eight parking spaces would be removed. Another consideration for a future design phase will be raised pedestrian crosswalk or tables at Center and Allston.

In a next planning phase of work, a full traffic study should be implemented for this area to understand the impacts of the proposed improvements on traffic flow, circulation delays, intersection capacity, parking, and emergency response times.

Project Costs
The following high-level construction cost range estimations (Table 1) have been developed by staff and the consulting team (TBD Consultants working with Siegel & Strain) based on the design concept as presented in Attachment 1, Section 5. The total construction costs from TBD Consultants are very similar to the draft report presented at the March 21, 2023 Council Worksession. Additional cost information has been provided; including the construction costs of photovoltaic panels at both buildings and an addition at the Veterans Memorial building. In addition, a discussion on Operations & Maintenance Costs, a 10% construction contingency and 20% City costs have been added to the report (Section 6.1).

Other Costs
With an approved design concept, this projectthe City can move into its the next phase of additional recommended studies, environmental reviews, and initiating specific design projects. This work, to get to the “shovel ready” stage is estimated to cost approximately $15 million dollars and take 2-3 years to complete (Attachment 1, Sections 0.2 and 7.2).

Table 1: High-Level Construction Cost Estimate Range

SUMMARY PROJECT COSTS SITE AREA
(Total
Square
Foot, or SF)
$/SF

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Veterans Memorial Building
(Assumes 28,000 GSF Existing + 5,950 GSF
addition, BPON+ seismic retrofit, upgraded
building envelope & systems)
33,950 $987 $33.5 $26.3 $36.9
MLK Jr Civic Center Park & Streets
(4.6 acres including park & streets with
improved paths/paving,
planting/irrigation, trees/tree protection,
utilities, furnishings, lighting, public
restroom improvements)
223,000 $82 $18.3 $16.47 $20.13
SUBTOTAL CONSTRUCTION COST $1,413 $108.7 $93.97 $119.63 CONTINGENCY Cost (Construction) 10% $141 $10.87 $9.783 $11.957 CONSTRUCTION COST (with contingency) $1,554 $119.570 $103.753 $131.587

SUMMARY PROJECT COSTS,
continued

SITE AREA
(Total
Square
Foot, or SF)
$/SF

MIDRANGE
MID-
RANGE
($ in
Millions)
LOW
(-10%)
$ in Millions
HIGH (+10%)
$ in Millions
CITY COSTS (including permitting,
inspections, design fees, technical reports,
consultants, Construction Management
and Project Management)
20% $311 $23.914 $21.523 $26.305
TOTAL PROJECT COST Including
contingency (10%) and city costs (20%)
$1,865 $143.484 $125.276 $157.892
Project Funding Plan
A variety of funding sources could contribute to the City’s approach to funding. The first approach would involve many different sources of funding all leading to one large project, phased in over the course of years. If full project funding isn’t secured quickly, an opportunistic approach might be available. Instead, City staff would identify discrete project components that could be built without the entire project moving forward. When successful in gaining grants of other funding for these components, work could proceed.

This approach would likely take more time and involve more project cost overall, given fewer opportunities for efficiencies of scale. See Attachment 1, Section 7.2 for a detailed discussion of funding strategies. In any case, the Civic Center projectimplementing the Vision will be significantly more attractive for funding with an adopted conceptual design. Strong plans need funding, and funding is attracted to strong plans.

Next Steps
The next steps for project implementationfor implementing the Civic Center Vision are outlined below and described in greater detail in Attachment 1, Section 7.3. They include:
 Identify, fund and realize early activation projects.  Initiate efforts for next phase of work including further studies and specific designs including environmental review as appropriate.
 Develop funding and phasing plans for each of the project components.

Effect of Approving the Design Concept Plan

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The proposed Design Concept Plan is not a “project” for purposes of CEQA or NEPA because it does not commit the City to a definite course of action. Council retains full discretion to mitigate environmental impacts, select other feasible alternatives that will avoid environmental impacts, balance the benefits of any future actions against the environmental impacts, or decline to carry out any of the design concept elements, all based upon information generated by the environmental review process.

BACKGROUND
Originally conceived at the turn of the 20th Century, the Civic Center was planned and molded by City Beautiful Movement principles, and anchored by the 1909 construction of Berkeley’s second City Hall (now known as the Maudelle Shirek Building at 2134 Martin Luther King Jr Way). The plan transformed the City’s center into a cohesive group of civic buildings surrounding a central park by the 1940s. Today the Civic Center comprises portions of the area surrounding Martin Luther King Jr. Civic Center Park including the Maudelle Shirek Building ‘Old City Hall’ (1909) and the Veterans Memorial Building (1928) which flank the Park on the west and north sides. The larger Berkeley Civic Center District (codified by the Civic Center Overlay Zone, 2014) itself was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998. In addition, many of the buildings in the Civic Center District, including the Maudelle Shirek Building, the Veterans Memorial Building, and the Park itself, have been individually recognized as City Landmarks.

Since the 1940s seismic building codes have evolved, requiring different thresholds of required maintenance and upkeep depending on use, and presently the historic buildings show signs of deferred maintenance.

Seismic Safety and Analysis
The Maudelle Shirek Building and the Veterans Memorial Building were evaluated in 2002 for seismic safety. The assessment included rough cost estimates for retrofitting the structures. In 2019, the 2002 figures were updated for consideration of current building code. In 2022, City Council received further information on both the buildings’ seismic analysis and costing, and the buildings’ leak study. The seismic analysis from Tipping Engineering and the costing from Public Works Department have contributed to the development the high-level cost estimates presented in Table 1 above. Public Works’ leak study identified $1.48 million in necessary repairs for the Maudelle Shirek Building and $1.9 million in repairs for the Veterans Building. These repairs primarily involve roof replacements and spot repairs to better prevent water intrusion.

Based on the adopted Vision Plan, and the proposed design concept and building programPlan, the following building seismic retrofit levels are recommended:

Veterans Memorial Building is a three story, heavy concrete perimeter wall building with wood framed floors and roof that is seismically deficient and could pose life safety hazards to building occupants. For the design concept, the City’s Public Works Department recommends a seismic upgrade for the Veterans Memorial Building to the level of Building Performance Objective for New Buildings Plus (BPON+). At this level of seismic retrofit, the building would be reoccupied several months to a year after a major seismic event.

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Maudelle Shirek Building is a three story, non-ductile concrete building that is seismically deficient and could pose life safety hazards to building occupants, as the building could collapse or partially collapse in a major earthquake proximate to the site.

For the proposed design concept, the City’s Public Works Department recommends a seismic upgrade for the Maudelle Shirek Building to the level of Damage Control Plus (DC+) at the historic structure and the new addition be built to the Immediate Occupancy (IO) level. At the DC+ level of seismic retrofit, the Maudelle Shirek Building would be occupiable weeks to months after a major seismic event. The addition, built at the IO level, could be re-opened days after a major seismic event.

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
Successful initiatives that repurpose existing buildings and civic space for subsequent generations’ fruitful use promotes beneficial environmental, civic, and economic sustainability. In addition, future action to renovate the existing buildings and park will incorporate specific sustainable measures into the design concept. These will include but are not limited to: electrifying buildings, installing solar systems, incorporating native/pollinator friendly plantings, deploying best practices in bioswales & stormwater management, permeable paving, and the protection of mature tree canopy.

Any required environmental review under California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), including consideration of mitigation measures and alternatives, will be conducted prior to committing to construct any of the above Plan elements.

RATIONALE FOR RECOMMENDATION
The preferred design concept for the adaptive reuse of both buildings and the Park articulates how the Veterans Memorial Building, the Maudelle Shirek Building, and Civic Center Park can be used going forward. The accompanying research includes cost estimates and potential revenue strategies to support renovation and ongoing operations for programs in Civic Center. By adopting the Civic Center Design Concept Plan the City Council sets a clear direction for achieving the Vision.

ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS CONSIDERED
None.

CONTACT PERSON
Liam Garland, Public Works Director, (510) 981-6303
Eleanor Hollander, Economic Development Manager, (510) 981-7536 Elmar Kapfer, Supervising Civil Engineer, Public Works, (510) 981-6435 Attachments:
1: Resolution Adopting Berkeley’s Vision Aligned Civic Center Design Concept Exhibit A: Final Report: Berkeley Civic Center Design Concept, May 2023.

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RESOLUTION NO. ##,###-N.S.

APPROVING BERKELEY’S VISION-ALIGNED CIVIC CENTER DESIGN CONCEPT WHEREAS, in September 2020, the Berkeley City Council adopted a Vision for Berkeley’s Civic Center to, “be the heart of Berkeley’s community. Civic Center will be the prime space for civic life, culture, and the arts. It will reflect the city’s diverse identities, celebrating its history, and contributing to shaping its future. A place of shared resources and a platform for free expression accessible to all, Civic Center aims to manifest the city’s values, advance social justice, and demonstrate the power of true public space.” ; and
WHEREAS, the development of the Civic Center Vision Plan (2019-2020) was underwritten by the T1 Bond Funding for Infrastructure and Facilities, to repair, renovate, replace, or reconstruct the City’s aging infrastructure and facilities, including the Veterans Memorial Building, the Maudelle Shirek Building, and Civic Center Park, to help determine a direction for future capital improvements to restore and secure these facilities to maximize their community benefit; and
WHEREAS, in August of 2022, the city engaged a qualified project consultant team underwritten by general fund dollars to assist in the completion of Phase II, of the project and the development of a consensus design concept aligned with the adopted vision for Civic Center; and
WHEREAS, the City of Berkeley’s project team has conducted an inclusive and transparent community process, engaged meaningfully with stakeholders, and provided a compelling and shared design concept for the Civic Center area that supports current and future community needs while respecting and celebrating the area’s rich past and historically significant structures; and
WHEREAS, Berkeley’s Civic Center Design Concept Plan determines describes a direction for future capital improvements to restore and secure these facilities, park, and surrounding area to maximize their community benefit; and NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Berkeley that the City Council approves and adopts Berkeley’s Civic Center Design Concept Plan (Exhibit A) and declares its intent to support the vision and design concept articulated in the plandirects staff to pursue the next steps identified in the Plan, including any necessary environmental review.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Berkeley that Council retains full discretion to mitigate environmental impacts, select other feasible alternatives that will avoid environmental impacts, balance the benefits of any future actions against the environmental impacts, or decline to carry out any of the design concept elements, all based upon information generated by the environmental review process.

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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Berkeley that, to the extent that prior environmental review is not required, the City Manager is hereby authorized to further the implementation of the design concept as it embodies, reflects, and advances Berkeley’s ambitious vision for its Civic Center.

Exhibits:

A: Final Report: Berkeley’s Civic Center Design Concept, May 25, 2023 1660866.1

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ACTION CALENDAR
July 25, 2023
(Continued from July 11, 2023)
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Dee Williams-Ridley, City Manager
Submitted by: Liam Garland, Public Works Director
Subject: Adoption - Civic Center Phase II - Design Concept

SUMMARY
This item presents City Council with the culmination of the work to build on the adopted Civic Center Vision and Implementation Plan for Berkeley’s Civic Center area, which includes the following:
 Veterans Memorial Building;
 Maudelle Shirek Building (“Old City Hall”); and
 Martin Luther King Jr. Civic Center Park (“Civic Center Park”).

The Vision for Berkeley’s Civic Center is: Civic Center will be the heart of Berkeley’s community. Civic Center will be the prime space for civic life, culture, and the arts. It will reflect the city’s diverse identities, celebrating its history, and contributing to shaping its future. A place of shared resources and a platform for free expression accessible to all, Civic Center aims to manifest the city’s values, advance social justice, and demonstrate the power of true public space.

The City’s Veterans Memorial Building, Maudelle Shirek Building, and Civic Center Park are important cultural resources, not only due to their age, but also their architectural significance, central location, and history as the center of City government. Adopting a shared Vision for Civic Center was an important Phase 1 accomplishment. Phase II of the Civic Center project sought to sharpen the vision-aligned consensus design concept for Civic Center and set a course for the next steps of implementation. Phase I (Vision) of the project commenced in summer 2019 and was funded through Phase 1 of the Measure T1 infrastructure bond designated to repair, renovate, replace, or reconstruct the City’s infrastructure, facilities, and buildings. Phase II (Design Concept) of the Civic Center project was funded via a General Fund budget referral approved in the City

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Council’s adoption of the FY 2022 Budget. Staff work on Phase II began in September of 2022. The 156-page final report entitled Berkeley’s Civic Center Design Concept Report (May 2023) is presented as Exhibit A in Attachment 1. The accompanying resolution adopting Berkeley’s Civic Center Vision Aligned Design Concept sets a clear direction for the Civic Center’s next act.

Design Concept – Recommendations
Integrating the input received through the engagement efforts, additional study on the changing context of the Civic Center, and the programmatic requirements heard from current and potential users, the Civic Center design concept proposes the following:
• Maudelle Shirek Building - seat of Berkeley’s democracy with flexible meeting spaces and supportive and vision-aligned city services and educational uses. • Veterans Memorial Building – a Community Arts Center, run by the City, with performance venues, teaching and exhibit space, accessible by all in the community.
• Civic Center Park & Surrounding Streets - a safe nature-based urban oasis for all of Berkeley, supporting community use throughout the day and strolling, relaxing, having lunch, visiting, and attending an impromptu gathering or organized event on evenings or weekends.

The preferred design concept, visualized on pages 70-71 of the Plan is detailed in Section 5: Design Concept (Attachment 1).
1 Berkeley City Council Agenda Worksession, Civic Center Phase II - Design Concept, Item #2 March 21, 2023.

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FISCAL IMPACTS OF RECOMMENDATION
The exact fiscal impacts of the finalized design concept plan for Civic Center are to be determined. Preliminary construction cost estimates to achieve the design concepts discussed in the final report range from $103,753,000 to $131,587,000. These estimates assume additions and improvements that support the desired uses for the buildings, associated required seismic upgrades, and other park and street improvements.2

CURRENT SITUATION AND ITS EFFECTS
Project Timeline
Phase II of the Civic Center project began in September 2022 and will be completed by June of 2023:
❑ Phase II Funding Authorized by Council June 29, 2021
❑ Project Commencement Sept. 1, 2022
❑ Public and City Engagement: Design Approach
o Technical Advisory Committee Sept. 29, 2022
o “Super” Subcommittee Meeting of the Public Works/Transportation, Landmarks, Parks and Civic Arts Commissions Sept. 29, 2022 o 25+ Small Focus Group Interviews Sept. ‘22 – Feb. ‘23 o Monthly meetings with Community for a Cultural Civic Center (CCCC) Sept. ‘22 – Feb. ‘23
o Workshop #1: Open House (Berkeley Public Library) Nov. 16, 2022 o Online Community Survey: Berkeley Civic Center Vision Project Nov. ‘22 – Jan. ’23
o Art Organizations Survey: Berkeley Arts Space Needs Assessment Jan. ’23 – Feb. ‘23
❑ Public and City Engagement: Draft Design Concept
o Technical Advisory Committee Meeting #2 Feb. 9, 2023
o Commission Engagement - Super Subcommittee Meeting #2 Feb. 9, 2023
o Workshop #2: Youth Focus at Berkeley High Feb. 15, 2023 o Workshop #3: Education Focus at Berkeley City College Feb. 15, 2023 2 Berkeley’s Civic Center Design Concept, Attachment 1, Sections 5.3, 5.4. The design concept recommends a Building Performance Objective for New Buildings Plus (BPON+) seismic upgrade scheme for the Veterans Memorial Building (Attachment 1, Section 5.4). A combined Damage Control Plus (DC+) / Immediate Occupancy (IO) scheme, abbreviated as “DC+/IO” is recommended for the Maudelle Shirek building (Attachment 1, Section 5.3).

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o Veterans Memorial Building Arts Space Focus Group Meeting Feb. 24, 2023
❑ Council Work Session - Emerging Preferred Design Concept March 21, 2023 ❑ Monthly meeting with CCCC group April 25, 2023
❑ Four Arts Organization Meetings April - May 2023
❑ Super Sub Committee of the Commissions Briefing May 16, 2023 ❑ Council Adoption (anticipated) - Design Concept June 27, 2023 Summary of Meetings and Outreach
The consultant team, led by Sigel & Strain Architects and supported by staff from PW, OED, and other City departments, kicked off this phase with a series of public meetings in September 2022. The public outreach effort is described in more detail in Attachment 1, Section 2.

Technical Advisory Committee (TAC). The TAC is composed of City of Berkeley staff from a variety of departments, and its purpose is to provide subject matter expertise and feedback throughout the process. TAC members represent a cross-section of knowledgeable participants with an interest and stake in the Civic Center. The TAC met for the first time prior to releasing the Vision Plan project RFQ in late 2018, and has since gathered formally in this project phase twice with the consultant team: at the Phase II project kick off meeting in September 2022, and to review the draft consensus design concept in February 2023. In addition to formal meetings, ad hoc consultations with individual TAC members (e.g., the City’s special events coordinator, real estate manager, City Clerk, Public Safety, and PW Facilities Maintenance) have made essential contributions to the project.

Super Subcommittee of City Commissions. To efficiently engage with City Commissions that have an interest in this project, a “super” subcommittee meeting structure was established. Three City of Berkeley Commissions—the Public Works, Parks Recreation and Waterfront, and the Landmarks Preservation Commissions— already had established ad-hoc subcommittees to address projects funded by Measure T1 bond improvements, and the Civic Arts Commission established an ad-hoc standing subcommittee for the Civic Center visioning process. During Phase II of the Civic Center project, the super sub-committee structure continued. This larger group of subcommittees met twice in publicly noticed meetings on Zoom in the webinar format, first to kick off the project and discuss design approaches in September of 2022 and to review and comment on the draft design concept in February 2023. The Super Subcommittee of the Commissions, and representatives of a fifth commission, the Commission on Disability, had an in-person briefing in May 2023 to go over the final design concept report and discuss engagement of their “home” commissions prior to the final report publication in June of 2023. See https://berkeleyca.gov/your- government/our-work/capital-projects/civic-center-vision-plan-project for a complete list of materials presented at the Super Subcommittee meetings during Phase II.

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Site Tours. City staff members have received many requests to tour the two buildings.

During this project phase, the consultant team has toured the buildings with PW, and the park with the City’s urban forester and arborist. Members of CCCC, TAC, Super Subcommittee of the commissions, and arts organizations have also toured the buildings to help envision programmatic uses. Several site tours were also conducted in the Vision phase of this planning effort (2019-2020).

Open House, Workshops & Survey. On November 16, 2022, staff and the consultant team hosted an in-person Open House Workshop at the Berkeley Public Library.

Arts Organizations. A tailored workshop, the Veterans Memorial Building Arts Space Focus Group Meeting, was hosted by the City of Berkeley’s Civic Arts team on February 24, 2023 and included a detailed tour of the Veterans Building and dedicated focused discussions by artistic discipline. The goal of the meeting was to identify priority space needs for the Community Arts Center and to get input on the development of a spatial program to help determine if the Veterans Memorial Building has sufficient spaces to serve the programmatic needs of the community. This workshop was not open to the general public, but instead sought to elicit targeted feedback from individuals that are representative of Berkeley’s diverse arts community. Sixteen arts professionals from the disciplines of theater, dance, music, visual arts, and literary arts participated in the focus

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group meeting with the aim to have representation from various areas of Berkeley, racial and ethnic diversity, and a wide range of arts disciplines and organization sizes.

Feedback gathered from this workshop is summarized in Attachment 1, Section 2.2.

Civic Center Design Concept
The outreach effort during this phase of the project (2022-23) affirmed the Vision Statement adopted in 2020. With the adopted Civic Center Vision serving as the north star for this project, four points on a compass emerged to further guide the design concept:
 Community – an inclusive and caring community;
 The Arts – expressive artistic and cultural events;
 Governance – good governance demonstrated through progressive policies;  Education – powerful educational activities tied directly to history and nature.

Integrating the input received through outreach efforts, and the programmatic requirements heard from current and future users of the Civic Center, the project proposes the following current and potential future uses for each project element:

Maudelle Shirek Building will be the seat of Berkeley’s democracy with flexible meeting spaces and supportive and vision-aligned city services and educational uses, accessible by all in the community. As the historic seat of government in Berkeley, this project proposes returning city functions back to the Maudelle Shirek Building. In the public engagement efforts, Hearing & Meeting Rooms, Council Chambers, and flexible spaces for public-facing city services all scored high as priority uses for the building.

Adding these functions to the heart of Berkeley’s Civic Center will bring residents to the area throughout the day and into the evenings, to attend meetings, speak at hearings, and organize with their community.

Public outreach also showed strong support for vision-aligned organizations finding a home in the Maudelle Shirek Building, including the Berkeley Historical Society & Museum and Berkeley Community Media. In order to support these functions, a number of improvements to the building will be required, including accessible improvements to the main entry and throughout, upgraded mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems, improved fire and egress systems, seismic retrofit, and an addition to provide space for the uses. For further discussion of the proposed uses, improvements, and management structure for the Maudelle Shirek building see Attachment 1, Sections 5.3 and 7.1.

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Veterans Memorial Building will be a community Arts Center, run by the city, with performance venues, teaching and exhibit space, accessible by all in the community.

Creek Daylighting Considerations
Throughout the public engagement process in Phase II, the project team heard a consistent desire from some members of the community to “daylight” or bring Strawberry Creek to the surface area of Civic Center Park, and consistent concerns from others about cost, maintenance, and safety of a daylight creek. An alternate design concept layout (Attachment 1, Section 5.2, pages 104-107) illustrates a partial-flow daylighting scenario. The placement of the creek along Center Street aligns with the current location of the culvert under the park, and minimizes disruption to the overall

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park layout and monuments. However, it does have a number of impacts that need to be considered more carefully through additional study:
 Center Street – The daylit creek reduces the width of Center Street to 26’ travel path, allowing for emergency vehicle access. Parking and other vehicular traffic flow is removed. A parking & traffic study should be completed to understand the impact of closing Center Street to public traffic, and design solutions will need to be developed for providing delivery/drop-off to the buildings along Center Street.

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to the north or the south – the road widens along the park’s edge. The concept design proposes reclaiming the portion of the road currently used as parallel parking to re-align the curbs in this area, and to create pedestrian bulb-outs at the street crossings. While the traffic lanes are not impacted, eight parking spaces would be removed. Another consideration for a future design phase will be raised pedestrian crosswalk or tables at Center and Allston.

In a next phase of work, a full traffic study should be implemented for this area to understand the impacts of the proposed improvements on traffic flow, circulation delays, intersection capacity, parking, and emergency response times.

Other Costs
With an approved design concept, this project can move into its next phase of additional recommended studies, environmental reviews, and initiating specific design projects.

This work, to get to the “shovel ready” stage is estimated to cost approximately $15 million dollars and take 2-3 years to complete (Attachment 1, Sections 0.2 and 7.2).

Table 1: High-Level Construction Cost Estimate Range

SUMMARY PROJECT COSTS SITE AREA
(Total
Square
Foot, or SF)
$/SF

MIDRANGE
MID-
RANGE
($ in
Millions)
LOW
(-10%)
$ in
Millions
HIGH
(+10%)
$ in
Millions
Maudelle Shirek Building
(Assumes 27,000 Gross Square Feet (GSF)
Existing + 15,500 GSF Addition, DC+/IO
seismic retrofit, upgraded building
envelope & systems)
43,000 $1,323 $56.9 $51.2 $62.6
Veterans Memorial Building
(Assumes 28,000 GSF Existing + 5,950 GSF
addition, BPON+ seismic retrofit, upgraded
building envelope & systems)
33,950 $987 $33.5 $26.3 $36.9

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MLK Jr Civic Center Park & Streets
(4.6 acres including park & streets with
improved paths/paving,
planting/irrigation, trees/tree protection,
utilities, furnishings, lighting, public
restroom improvements)
223,000 $82 $18.3 $16.47 $20.13
SUBTOTAL CONSTRUCTION COST $1,413 $108.7 $93.97 $119.63 CONTINGENCY Cost (Construction) 10% $141 $10.87 $9.783 $11.957 CONSTRUCTION COST (with contingency) $1,554 $119.570 $103.753 $131.587

SUMMARY PROJECT COSTS,
continued

SITE AREA
(Total
Square
Foot, or SF)
$/SF

This approach would likely take more time and involve more project cost overall, given fewer opportunities for efficiencies of scale. See Attachment 1, Section 7.2 for a detailed discussion of funding strategies. In any case, the Civic Center project will be significantly more attractive for funding with an adopted conceptual design. Strong plans need funding, and funding is attracted to strong plans.

Next Steps
The next steps for project implementation are outlined below and described in greater detail in Attachment 1, Section 7.3. They include:
 Identify, fund and realize early activation projects.  Initiate efforts for next phase of work including further studies and specific designs.
 Develop funding and phasing plans for each of the project components.

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comprises portions of the area surrounding Martin Luther King Jr. Civic Center Park including the Maudelle Shirek Building ‘Old City Hall’ (1909) and the Veterans Memorial Building (1928) which flank the Park on the west and north sides. The larger Berkeley Civic Center District (codified by the Civic Center Overlay Zone, 2014) itself was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998. In addition, many of the buildings in the Civic Center District, including the Maudelle Shirek Building, the Veterans Memorial Building, and the Park itself, have been individually recognized as City Landmarks.

Based on the adopted Vision Plan, and the proposed design concept and building program, the following building seismic retrofit levels are recommended:

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RATIONALE FOR RECOMMENDATION
The preferred design concept for the adaptive reuse of both buildings and the Park articulates how the Veterans Memorial Building, the Maudelle Shirek Building, and Civic Center Park can be used going forward. The accompanying research includes cost estimates and potential revenue strategies to support renovation and ongoing operations for programs in Civic Center. By adopting the Civic Center Design Concept the City Council sets a clear direction for subsequent phases of this keystone project.

ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS CONSIDERED
None.

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RESOLUTION NO. ##,###-N.S.

APPROVING BERKELEY’S VISION-ALIGNED CIVIC CENTER DESIGN CONCEPT WHEREAS, in September 2020, the Berkeley City Council adopted a Vision for Berkeley’s Civic Center to, “be the heart of Berkeley’s community. Civic Center will be the prime space for civic life, culture, and the arts. It will reflect the city’s diverse identities, celebrating its history, and contributing to shaping its future. A place of shared resources and a platform for free expression accessible to all, Civic Center aims to manifest the city’s values, advance social justice, and demonstrate the power of true public space.” ; and
WHEREAS, the development of the Civic Center Vision Plan (2019-2020) was underwritten by the T1 Bond Funding for Infrastructure and Facilities, to repair, renovate, replace, or reconstruct the City’s aging infrastructure and facilities, including the Veterans Memorial Building, the Maudelle Shirek Building, and Civic Center Park, to help determine a direction for future capital improvements to restore and secure these facilities to maximize their community benefit; and
WHEREAS, in August of 2022, the city engaged a qualified project consultant team underwritten by general fund dollars to assist in the completion of Phase II of the project and the development of a consensus design concept aligned with the adopted vision for Civic Center; and
WHEREAS, the City of Berkeley’s project team has conducted an inclusive and transparent community process, engaged meaningfully with stakeholders, and provided a compelling and shared design concept for the Civic Center area that supports current and future community needs while respecting and celebrating the area’s rich past and historically significant structures; and
WHEREAS, Berkeley’s Civic Center Design Concept Plan determines a direction for future capital improvements to restore and secure these facilities, park, and surrounding area to maximize their community benefit; and
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Berkeley that the City Council approves and adopts Berkeley’s Civic Center Design Concept (Exhibit A) and declares its intent to support the vision and design concept articulated in the plan.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Berkeley that the City Manager is hereby authorized to further the implementation of the design concept as it embodies, reflects, and advances Berkeley’s ambitious vision for its Civic Center.

Exhibits:

A: Final Report: Berkeley’s Civic Center Design Concept, May 25, 2023

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Berkeley’s
May 25, 2023
Civic
Center
+ +
Design Concept
Report
+

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A Vision for
Berkeley’s
Civic Center
Siegel & Strain Architects

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DRAFT FINAL REPORT
May 2023
1 Civic Center will be the heart of
Berkeley’s community. Civic Center
will be the prime space for civic life,
culture, and the arts. It will reflect the
city’s diverse identities, celebrating
its history, and contributing to shaping
its future. A place of shared resources
and a platform for free expression
accessible to all, Civic Center aims to
manifest the city’s values, advance
social justice, and demonstrate
the power of true public space.
1 Berkeley’s Civic Center Design Concept

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Siegel & Strain Architects
Section
Siegel & Strain Architects
6201 Doyle Street Suite B
Emeryville, CA 94608
www.siegels
train.com
[email protected]
T +1 (510) 547 8092
City of Berkeley Steering Team
Eleanor Hollander, Office of Economic Development
Liam Garland, Public Works Department
Elmar Kapfer, Public Works Department
Uriel Gonzalez, Public Works Department
Jen Lovvorn, Civic Arts Program
Siegel & Strain Architects
Susi Marzuola
Amanda Knowles
Lindsey Moder
Colin Searles
Ege Yener
Gehl
Ghigo DiTommaso
Mayra Madriz
Derek Magee
Equity Community Builders
Suzanne Brown
Joseph Mutter
TBD Cost Consultants
Andy Beyer
Asia Kan

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3 Berkeley’s Civic Center Design Concept
Contents

1. Existing Conditions

1.1 Base Maps

1.2 Site Assessments

2. Community Engagement

2.1 Engagement Plan

2.2 Engagement Summary

2.3 Key Design Drivers

3. Vision

3.1 Vision Statement

4. Design Considerations

4.1 Opportunities

4.2 Programs & Uses

5. Design Concept

5.1 Preferred Design Concept

5.2 MLK Jr Civic Center Park
and Surrounding Streets

5.3 Maudelle Shirek Building

5.4 Veterans Memorial Building

6. Cost Summary

6.1 Preliminary Cost Ranges

7. Implementation

7.1 Organizational
Management Structure

7.2 Funding Strategies

7.3 Recommended Next Steps
Appendix
A. Design Concept ROM Cost Plan,
TBD Consultants
11 12
14 25
26 28
42 53
54 57
58 60
69 70
73 109
127
139
140
143
144
150
152

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Siegel & Strain Architects
Executive Summary
Executive Summary

0.1 Design Concept Phase
The Berkeley Civic Center is a place in Downtown Berkeley of great community and historic significance. The 6-acre project area, set within the Berkeley Civic Center Historic District and comprised of Martin Luther King Jr. Civic Center Park, the Maudelle Shirek Building, and the Veterans Memorial Building, is located at a physical crossroads between downtown Berkeley and residential neighborhoods amid well-established educational, cultural and civic institutions. The Berkeley Civic Center is also at a crossroads in time, awaiting a re- invigoration for use by its community as an updated civic space that embodies the values the community lives by.

This design concept effort is a continuation of the work completed in 2019/20 on the Berkeley Civic Center Vision and Implementation Plan. The purpose of this work is to document a design concept that reflects a synthesis of the shared aspirations captured in the vision statement and illustrates design ideas borne out of ongoing engagement with the Berkeley community. As with the previous Berkeley Civic Center effort, members of the community turned up in high numbers to work collaboratively for a common purpose, and the resulting design concept reflects their shared vision.

Berkeley Civic Center
On September 22, 2020, Berkeley City Council adopted
the Vision Statement articulated in the 2020 Vision &
Implement
ation Plan Report for the Berkeley Civic Center
project. This vision statement remains the north star for the project.

On June 1, 2021 and related to City Center District
Visioning Resolution No. 69,579-N.S., the Berkeley City Council allocated funding and directed City Staff to
provide additional public process, planning and design to develop a preferred design concept based on input from
the community, City Commissions, and City Council.

The project’s Steering Team, comprised of Berkeley City Staff from Public Works, Office of Economic Development, and Civic Arts, and design consultants began work on the 2022/23 Berkeley Civic Center Design Concept effort in
September 2022.
→ Timeline

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5 Berkeley’s Civic Center Design Concept
The key components of the project team’s
effort for this phase are research, community
engagement and dev
elopment of a high-level
design concept.

The design team began this current effort
by researching policies and improvements
implemented since the conclusion of the
2019/20 Vision and Implementation Plan.

Working collaboratively with the project’s
Steering Team and with input from the
Community for a Cultural Civic Center
(CCCC), the design team developed an
approach to community engagement with the
goal of collecting input to inform a preferred
design concept for the Martin Luther King
Jr. Civic Center Park, the Maudelle Shirek
Building and the Veterans Memorial Building.

The engagement effort was organized into
two major efforts:
• General Public Engagement, including
an open house, workshops and an online
survey
• Focused Engagement, including
meetings and work sessions with
specific organizations and entities who
are currently active in the Berkeley
Civic Center and/or whose missions
and interests align with and support the
adopted Vision Statement.
→ Methodology
Based on the engagement effort, which
included input from over 700 individuals and
36 separat
e entities and organizations, the
design team developed key design drivers
that informed the emerging preferred design
concept. The design concept was reviewed
by the CCCC, Commissioners on the Super
Sub-Committee, City of Berkeley staff
representatives, students from Berkeley
High School and Berkeley City College,
and was presented to City Council and the
general public at a Work Session on March
21, 2023. Comments from these groups were
integrated in the preferred design concept
described in the pages that follow.

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Siegel & Strain Architects
Executive Summary
The outreach effort uncovered the following
key design drivers that advance the vision
statement, capture the unique identity and
spirit of the Berkeley community, and inform
the design concepts illustrated in the plan:

1. The Civic Center park and buildings
should be a place to gather as a
community.

2. MLK Jr Civic Center Park should be
natural in character, preserving mature
trees and enhancing native biodiversity.

3. The Park and open space should offer a
safe, clean, and comfortable place to be
outdoors with others.

4. Many are passionate about daylighting
Strawberry Creek while others raised
concerns.

5. Center Street should be better integrated
into the Park and open space experience.

6. The Maudelle Shirek Building should
be the seat of Berkeley’s democracy
with meeting and public-serving spaces
supporting civic participation in City
government.

7. These civic uses in Maudelle Shirek
Building should be paired with vision-
aligned services and educational
functions.

8. The Veterans Memorial Building should
be a Community Arts Center for creative
expression and accessible to all.

9. The Community Arts Center should be
activated all day every day, hosting arts
organizations and practitioners across all
disciplines, delivering performances and
programming for the community.

Integrating the input received through the
engagement efforts, additional study on the
changing context of the Civic Center, and
the programmatic requirements heard from
current and potential users, the Civic Center
project proposes the following:
• Maudelle Shirek Building
Seat of Berkeley’s democracy with
flexible meeting spaces and supportive
and vision-aligned city services and
educational uses.
• Veterans Memorial Building
A Community Arts Center, run by the
City, with performance venues, teaching
and exhibit space, accessible by all in the
community.
• Civic Center Park & Surrounding Streets
A safe nature-based urban oasis for all
of Berkeley, supporting community use
throughout the day, evening and weekend
for strolling, relaxing, having lunch,
visiting, and attending an impromptu
gathering or organized event.
→ Key Design Drivers → Design Concept

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7 Berkeley’s Civic Center Design Concept
The project team proposed the following next steps for project implementation, outlined below and described in greater detail in Section 7 of this report. • Identify, fund and realize early activation projects. • Initiate efforts for next phase of work including further studies and specific designs. • Develop funding and phasing plans for each of the project components. → Recommended Next Steps
View to fountain terrace and sequoia from large green

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Siegel & Strain Architects
Overall Project Schedule
Overall Project Schedule

0.2 Vision and
Implementation
Plan
Refine & Adopt
Consensus
Design Concept
2019 - 2020 2022-20232020-2022
Volunteer Effort;
Studies;
Council direction
Funding
Outcomes
T1 Bond
Vision &
Implementation
Plan Adopted
Sept 2020
Public Works Fund
CCCC established;
Studies undertaken;
Council direction for
preferred design concept
General Fund
Consensus design concept
and next steps

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9 Berkeley’s Civic Center Design Concept
2027 >>>
Permitting,
Bidding &
Construction
2024-2027
Research, Schematic
Design & Approvals,
Funding Plan,
Design Development,
Construction Docs

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1 Siegel & Strain Architects
Existing Conditions

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DRAFT FINAL REPORT
May 2023
Existing
Conditions

1.1 Base Maps

1.2 Site Assessments
11 Berkeley’s Civic Center Design Concept

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Siegel & Strain Architects
Existing Conditions - Base Maps
Base Maps

1.1 As part of the 2019-2020 Vision and
Implementation Plan, the consultant
design team developed base maps from
historical plans and aerial imagery of the
Martin Luther King Jr. Civic Center Park,
the Maudelle Shirek Building, and the
Veterans Memorial Building in the Civic
Center. The design team has continued
to use these as base drawings for the
current Berkeley Civic Center design
concept effort.

Verification of current conditions of the
buildings, park and streets are required
prior to specific design efforts. See
Section 7.2 for a more complete list
of recommended existing conditions
documentation.

Additional site assessment is offered
herein as diagrams to inform the design
concept.

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13 Berkeley’s Civic Center Design Concept
Existing Civic Center Site Plan

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Siegel & Strain Architects
Existing Conditions - Site Assessment
Site Assessments

1.2 Project Area Map
The project is located in the downtown
area of Berkeley, one block west of the
Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) station,
and two blocks west of the UC Berkeley
campus. Directly south of the site sits the
main campus of Berkeley High School. To
the west, the urban fabric shifts to single
family residential scale development.

As a part of this phase of work, additional
site assessments were developed on the
following topics:
• Policy Context
• Circulation Context
• Input since 2020
• Civic Center Park Tree Map
Civic Center Park Peace Wall
Curved Path and Bench at Civic Center Park

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15 Berkeley’s Civic Center Design Concept
Maudelle
Shirek
Building
(1909)
Veterans
Memorial
Building
(1928)
N
Project Area Map

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Siegel & Strain Architects
Existing Conditions - Site Assessment
Policy Context
A number of City Policies affect the
Berkeley Civic Center study area,
including recent Council-adopted
initiatives listed to the right. These have
implications for proposed improvements
at the buildings, park and the streets.

Most notably, the project is a part
of the Civic Center Zoning Overlay
District, established in 2014 and which
encompasses a number of historic
structures in the area. All proposed uses
should fall within the allowable permitted
uses listed to the right.

Vision 2050
Equity, Public Health & Safety,
Strong Local Economy,
Resiliency & Sustainability
(May 2020)
Existing Buildings
Electrification Strategy
(November 2021)
Native Species Policy
Native, Drought-Resistant,
Pollinator-Friendly
(April 2022)
Permitted Uses
Civic Center Zoning Overlay
District
(2014)
• Libraries & Museums
• Parks & Playgrounds
• Public Safety & Emergency
Services
• Government Agencies /
Institutions & Judicial Courts
• Public Schools / Educational
Facilities
• Non-Profit Organizations
• Live Performance Theatre
• Public Market
Vision 2050
Equity, Public Health & Safety, Strong Local
Economy, Resiliency & Sustainability (May 2020)
Existing Buildings Electrification
Strategy
(November 2021)
Native Species Policy
Native, Drought-Resistant, Pollinator-Friendly
(April 2022)
Civic Center Overlay Permitted Uses
Civic Center Zoning Overlay District (2014)
● Libraries
● Judicial Courts
● Museums
● Parks & Playgrounds
● Public Safety & Emergency Services
● Government Agencies & Institutions
● Public Schools / Educational Facilities
● Non-Profit Organizations
● Live Performance Theatre
● Public Market
Vision 2050
Equity, Public Health & Safety, Strong Local
Economy, Resiliency & Sustainability (May 2020)
Existing Buildings Electrification
Strategy
(November 2021)
Native Species Policy
Native, Drought-Resistant, Pollinator-Friendly
(April 2022)
Civic Center Overlay Permitted Uses
Civic Center Zoning Overlay District (2014)
● Libraries
● Judicial Courts
● Museums
● Parks & Playgrounds
● Public Safety & Emergency Services
● Government Agencies & Institutions
● Public Schools / Educational Facilities
● Non-Profit Organizations
● Live Performance Theatre
● Public Market
Vision 2050
Equity, Public Health & Safety, Strong Local
Economy, Resiliency & Sustainability (May 2020)
Existing Buildings Electrification
Strategy
(November 2021)
Native Species Policy
Native, Drought-Resistant, Pollinator-Friendly
(April 2022)
Civic Center Overlay Permitted Uses
Civic Center Zoning Overlay District (2014)
● Libraries
● Judicial Courts
● Museums
● Parks & Playgrounds
● Public Safety & Emergency Services
● Government Agencies & Institutions
● Public Schools / Educational Facilities
● Non-Profit Organizations
● Live Performance Theatre
● Public Market
Vision 2050
Equity, Public Health & Safety, Strong Local
Economy, Resiliency & Sustainability (May 2020)
Existing Buildings Electrification
Strategy
(November 2021)
Native Species Policy
Native, Drought-Resistant, Pollinator-Friendly
(April 2022)
Civic Center Overlay Permitted Uses
Civic Center Zoning Overlay District (2014)
● Libraries
● Judicial Courts
● Museums
● Parks & Playgrounds
● Public Safety & Emergency Services
● Government Agencies & Institutions
● Public Schools / Educational Facilities
● Non-Profit Organizations
● Live Performance Theatre
● Public Market
Fountain at Civic Center Park

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17 Berkeley’s Civic Center Design Concept
N
Policy Context Map

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Siegel & Strain Architects
Existing Conditions - Site Assessment
Circulation Context
A number of improvements have been
completed in the Civic Center area since
conclusion of the 2020 Vision Phase.

Implementation of Milvia Bicycle Boulevard
improvements changed traffic circulation
west of Shattuck Avenue and the City’s
new Center Street Garage increased
parking capacity in the downtown area.

Improved pedestrian safety is an
identified priority for the area and will
require changes to the streets. Proposed
changes to MLK Jr Way, Allston Way and
Center Street need to consider existing
circulation, traffic and parking patterns.

Legend

1. Addison Bicycle Boulevard
(Bicycle Plan 2017)

2. Milvia Bicycle Boulevard
(Completed May 2022)

3. Center Street Greenway & Center Street
Plaza
(Streets and Open Space Improvement
Plan 2012-23)

4. Center Street Parking Garage and BART
Bike Parking
720 vehicle spaces; 20 EV charging
spaces; 350 bicycle spaces

5. Allston Way Civic Street
(Streets and Open Space Improvement
Plan 2012-23)

6. Pedestrian Signal Improvements
(Pedestrian Master Plan 2019-20)

7. Crosswalk Bulbouts
(Pedestrian Master Plan 2019-20)

8. Berkeley High School Loading
(Completed May 2022)

9. Harold Way
(Pedestrian Only)
AC Transit Bus Route
BHS Drop-off Approach Routes
One-Way traffic
View at MLK Jr . Way & Allston Way
Intersection looking North

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19 Berkeley’s Civic Center Design Concept
NN
1 2
3 4
5 6
7 8
9 Circulation Context Map

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Siegel & Strain Architects
Existing Conditions - Site Assessment
1 1
2 3
5 4
7a
7a
7b
7c
7d
5 6
Input Since 2020
Since the adoption of the Berkeley Civic Center Vision
Statement in 2020, the City and active community
me
mbers, primarily associated with the Community
for a Cultural Civic Center (CCCC), provided additional input on the Vision & Implementation Plan, including:

1. Seismic Retrofit Study
Exploration of alternate seismic approaches by Tipping
Structural Engineers

2. Turtle Island Monument
Design Development & Funding

3. Meeting Hall / Council Chambers
Preference for Maudelle Shirek Building location

4. More Planting, Less Paving
Preference for integration of native species and biodiversity, preservation of existing mature tree canopy, and inclusion of a large green open space

5. Park Performance Venues
Study of Park performance venues by ELS Architecture &
Urban Design

6. 2180 Milvia Parking Lot Removal
Integration of Park uses into the parking lot west of
2180 Milvia

7. Identified for additional study:
a. Allston Way & Center Street closure
b. Dorothy Day House & Options Recovery relocation
c. Inclusion of historic interpretive panels
d. Daylighting of Strawberry Creek & culverts

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21 Berkeley’s Civic Center Design Concept
1 1
2 3
5 4
7a
7a
7b
7c
7d
5 6
Site Plan indicating areas of Additional Study

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Siegel & Strain Architects
Existing Conditions - Site Assessment
Tree Condition Map
Dan Gallanger, City of Berkeley Urban
Forester, and Thomas Dodge, City of
Ber
keley Forestry Technician, walked
the Civic Center area with the design
team. Gallanger and Dodge identified
the high value trees and gave the team
an oral overview of the trees’ health.

In addition to discussing tree protection
strategies for the high value trees, the group
identified the need for an updated tree
survey, a tree protection plan, and a tree
succession plan to support a healthy tree
canopy ecosystem in the park into the future.

Sequoia (center) east of Turtle Island Monument

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23 Berkeley’s Civic Center Design Concept
Tree Site Plan

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2 Siegel & Strain Architects
Community Engagement

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DRAFT FINAL REPORT
May 2023
Community
Engagement

2.1 Engagement Plan

2.2 Engagement Summary

2.3 Key Design Drivers
25 Berkeley’s Civic Center Design Concept

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Siegel & Strain Architects
Community Engagement - Engagement and Outreach Plan
Engagement Plan

2.1 The primary task of this phase is to create a
preferred design concept for the Civic Center
based on community, Commission, and Council
input. The design team combined engagement
with the general public and targeted outreach
efforts to groups with specialized knowledge
or interests in the project, including:

General Public Engagement
> Open House - Nov 16, 2022
> Online Survey - Dec 2022 - Jan 2023
Youth Engagement
> In-person Work Sessions - Feb 15, 2023
Focused Engagement
> Online & In-person Meetings
Sept 2022 - May 2023
Arts Organization Engagement
> Online Survey - Jan - Feb 2023
> Focus Group Tour & Meeting - Feb 24, 2023
Documentation of these efforts includes
detailed meeting notes, and summaries of
survey data and open-ended responses. The
design team synthesized the input into key
design drivers to guide the design concept.

Open House Nov 16, 2022
Veterans Memorial Building Art
Organization Focus Group Tour

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27 Berkeley’s Civic Center Design Concept
Civic Center Design Concept | Open House | Wednesday, November 16, 2022 City of Berkeley Civic Center Design Concept | Open House | Wednesday, November 16, 2022 City of Berkeley “Everyday place”
Card #1 - Front
Card #2 - Front
Maudelle Shirek Building
Veterans Memorial Building
Question:

What kinds of art programs do you think the
community needs most at a new Arts Center in the
Veterans Memorial Building?
(Pick up to four)
Visual Arts Exhibition
Dance Performance
Theater Performance
Visual Arts Class Spaces
Co-working Arts
Administration Space
Makerspace
Music Performance
Film Screenings
Dance Class Spaces
Question:

Which proposed uses are you most excited about
for the Maudelle Shirek Building?
(Pick up to four)
Berkeley Media
Berkeley Historical Society/Museum
City offices
City Council
Policy Center/ Think Tank
Care & Shelter
City and Elected
Oﬃcial Oﬃces City Services
Other: _____________
Berkeley Historical
Society & Museum
Vision-Aligned
Educational Institute for
Public Service
Hearing & Meeting
Rooms
Berkeley Community
Media
Music Class Spaces
Theater Class Spaces
Council Chambers Other:
______________________
Digital Arts Class Spaces
Other:
__________________________
Civic Center Design Concept
| Open House | Wednesday, November 16, 2022
City of Berkeley
Civic Center Design Concept
| Open House | Wednesday, November 16, 2022
City of Berkeley
“Everyday place”
Card #1 - Front
Card #2 - Front
Maudelle Shirek Building
Veterans Memorial Building
Question:

What kinds of art programs do you think the
community needs most at a new Arts Center in the
Veterans Memorial Building?
(Pick up to four)
Visual Arts Exhibition
Dance Performance
Theater Performance
Visual Arts Class Spaces Co-working Arts
Administration Space
Makerspace
Music Performance
Film Screenings
Dance Class Spaces
Question:

Which proposed uses are you most excited about
for the Maudelle Shirek Building?
(Pick up to four)
Berkeley Media
Berkeley Historical Society/Museum
City offices
City Council
Policy Center/ Think Tank
Care & Shelter
City and Elected
Oﬃcial Oﬃces
City Services
Other: _____________
Berkeley Historical
Society & Museum
Vision-Aligned
Educational Institute for
Public Service
Hearing & Meeting
Rooms
Berkeley Community
Media
Music Class Spaces
Theater Class Spaces
Council Chambers
Other:
______________________
Digital Arts Class Spaces
Other:
__________________________
Civic Center Design Concept | Open House | Wednesday, November 16, 2022 City of Berkeley Civic Center Design Concept | Open House | Wednesday, November 16, 2022 City of Berkeley Card #5 - Back
Card #6 - Back
STATION #3
STATION #4
Question:

What improvements would make you proud of your city and bring you to the Park? (Pick up to six)
Question:

How do you feel about the following design approaches to improve pedestrian safety and calm traﬃc around Civic Center?
A. Changing paths around and within the park?
B. Slowing traﬃc on MLK with a street diet?
Strongly
Disagree
Disagree No Opinion Agree Strongly
Agree
MLK Jr. Civic Center Park
Age:
⭘⭘ 5-14
⭘⭘ 15-24
⭘⭘ 25-64
⭘⭘ 65+
Relation to Place:
⭘⭘ Live near Civic
Center
⭘⭘ Regularly come to
Civic Center area
⭘⭘ Use Berkeley Parks
⭘⭘ Other:

O
O Upgraded lawn and terrace for large events and recreational use O Additional small performance venue to host smaller events O Expansion of the park into (and in place of) the parking lot O New seating, tables and furnishings to expand use of the park O Enhanced biodiversity and protected mature trees
O A daylighted creek
O Improved paths and path network
O Expanded and upgraded play areas for all ages
O Food and beverage options in the park
O Art installations, permanent or seasonal
O Improved lighting
O Other:

Slower and Safer Streets
C. Reducing or eliminating parking on Center?
Strongly
Disagree
Disagree No Opinion Agree Strongly
Agree
Age:
⭘⭘ 5-14
⭘⭘ 15-24
⭘⭘ 25-64
⭘⭘ 65+
Relation to Place: ⭘⭘ Live near the Civic Center
⭘⭘ Regularly come to the Civic Center area
⭘⭘ Other: __________________________
D. Revising paving treatment of Center?
Strongly
Disagree
Disagree No Opinion Agree Strongly
Agree
Strongly
Disagree
Disagree No Opinion Agree Strongly
Agree
D. Revising paving treatment of Center?
Strongly
Disagree
Disagree No Opinion Agree Strongly
Agree
Civic Center Design Concept | Open House | Wednesday, November 16, 2022 City of Berkeley
Civic Center Design Concept | Open House | Wednesday, November 16, 2022 City of Berkeley
Card #5 - Front
Card #6 - Front
Question:

In your view, what park character would best
advance the vision for
Civic Center?
(Divide the pie chart between
the three options)
Traditional
Playful
Natural
Example Responses:

Question:

In your view, what street character would best
advance the vision for
Civic Center?
(Divide the pie chart between the
three options)
Slower and Safer
Streets
MLK Jr. Civic
Center Park
“The park
should be
traditional
and formal ”
“A balance of
old, new &
natural”
“Mostly
Natural”
Playful
Natural
Trad.

Playful
Natural
Trad.

Traditional
Traditional
Playful
Natural
Example Responses:
“The streets
should look
like a typical
street.”
“A balance of
old, new &
natural”
“Mostly
Natural”
Playful
Natural
Trad.

Playful
Natural
Trad.

Traditional
Engagement
Cards &
Boards

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Siegel & Strain Architects

• Participants gave input on four
topics: MLK Jr Civic Center
Park, Surrounding Streets,
Maudelle Shirek, and Veterans
Memorial Buildings
• Participants provided written
feedback on more than 200
postcards
• Held at Berkeley Main Library
Public Open House on Nov 16, 2022
Online Survey Dec 9, 2022 to Jan 6, 2023
654
Online Survey
Respondents
Dec 2022 to
Jan 2023
General Public Engagement
To complement the public outreach
effort of the 2020 Vision &
Implementation Plan, the design
team developed a presentation and
survey to reintroduce the Civic Center
project to the public, and to gather
feedback on design approaches to
the buildings, park and streets.

The presentation and survey were
shared in two forms - in person and
online - to maximize the response
rate. Almost 700 responses were
gathered, providing the design team
with feedback in the form of multiple-
choice and open-ended responses.

Engagement Summary

2.2 Community Engagement - Engagement Summary

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29 Berkeley’s Civic Center Design Concept

DRAFT FINAL REPORT
May 2023
40 Participants
at Open
House
Nov 2022
200+
Written
Comments on
Postcards
Nov 2022
Photos of Open House - Nov 16, 2022

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Siegel & Strain Architects

What is your relationship to MLK Jr. Civic Center Park? Amounts are shown as a percentage of total respondents, respondents were allowed to choose more than one answer.

General Public
Engagement Results
Participants in the outreach effort
were asked to provide information
about themselves, including
age, district they lived in, and
relationship to Civic Center area.

The results indicated that less than 6%
of paricipants where between the ages
of 15 and 24. With Berkeley High School
and Berkeley City College in the adjacent
blocks, students in this age range are
important users of the Civic Center.

To address this missing age group,
additional engagement events were held
at Berkeley High School and at Berkeley
Community College on February 15, 2023.
32 additional youth participants were
shown preliminary design concepts and
asked similar questions to the Open House
participants about the parks and streets.

Students were also given the opportunity to
provide open-ended feedback on the design
- what they liked, what they would change.

In most cases, their responses aligned
with the commentary heard during
the Open House and Online Survey
- with some notable differences.

Highlights from their responses are
noted throughout the Engagement
Results on the following pages.

Community Engagement - Engagement Summary

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31 Berkeley’s Civic Center Design Concept

DRAFT FINAL REPORT
May 2023
How old are you?
What City Council district do you live in?
Amounts are shown as a percentage of 692 total respondents.

Amounts are shown as a percentage of 697 total respondents. 68 + 32 Youth Outreach
Participants

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Siegel & Strain Architects

Martin Luther King Jr Civic Center Park
What character would you like to see in the park?
Amounts are shown as a percentage of 692 total respondents.

What uses would you like to see in prioritized in the park? Amounts are shown as a percentage of 683 total respondents.

Playful
Traditional
Natural
Youth response aligns
with survey response
(50% natural, 27%
tr
aditional, 23% playful)
Youth ranked biodiversity
highly (78%), did not rank
creek highly (22%)
Youth ranked active uses
highly - Upgraded lawn (70%),
Food and Beverage (61%)
Community EngagementCommunity Engagement - Engagement Summary

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33 Berkeley’s Civic Center Design Concept

DRAFT FINAL REPORT
May 2023

Anything else you want to share with us
about MLK Jr. Civic Center Park?
Online Survey: 290 write-in responses
What, in your opinion, should the park be designed for? Online Survey: 453 write-in responses
Write-In Response Emerging Themes
“Right now it feels very
uninviting because of
the homeless people and
drug use.”
“For all Berkeleyans to use on a
daily basis, especially kids, students
and elderly people who need places
to gather and play.”
“The park and streets all around it
are a perfect opportunity to restore
native plants and biodiversity and
daylight Strawberry Creek, and
bring nature back to the city.”
“More usable play space will
draw more families and cut
down on illegal activities”
“Permanent clean and safe
restrooms, please!”
1 2
4 3
5 There are significant safety concerns about
the presence of the unhoused population.
1 There’s a desire for a mix of programs and
spaces to invite a range of people to use the
park.
2 People want to bring more nature to the park
by promoting biodiversity and daylighting
Strawberry Creek.
3 People want to see spaces for families & kids. 4
People want clean, safe, and well-maintained
restrooms.
5 Youth also noted current
safety concerns at park.

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Surrounding Streets
What character would you like to see
in the surrounding streets?
Amounts are shown as a percentage of 665 total respondents.

How do you feel about the following design approaches to improve pedestrian safety and calm traffic around the park? Amounts are shown as a percentage of 647 total respondents.

Playful
Traditional
Natural
Youth is more supportive
of MLK changes (57%
agree/s
trongly agree)
Youth is less interested
in changes to Center
St (39% agree/strongly
agree with removing
parking, 42% agree/
strongly agree with
changes paving)
Youth response aligns
with survey response
(48% natural, 30%
traditional, 22% playful)
Community Engagement - Engagement Summary

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DRAFT FINAL REPORT
May 2023
Anything else you want to share with us about
the streets around MLK Jr. Civic Center Park?
Online Survey: 274 write-in responses
Write-In Response Emerging Themes
“MLK is loud and dangerous!
Prioritize pedestrians over
cars, please!”
“MLK is still the main cross-
downtown thoroughfare and is
meant for cars. It's important to
keep pedestrians safe, but cars
should have priority.”
“Redirect traffic with some kind of a
way to more easily drop off at BHS
while allowing for full force
pedestrian passage at most times
of the day.”
“Walking and biking priority. Make
it safe and easy to incentivize
walking and biking and decrease
car use as much as possible in our
city centers.”
“There is currently such a
shortage of parking that it
keeps people away--so don't
decrease parking.”
1 2
3 4
There are divergent opinions on traffic
mitigation on MLK, however, the majority of
comments are not in favor of a road diet.
1 People want to see pedestrians and cyclists
prioritized on Center Street and Allston Street.
2 People want to ensure dropoff and pickup
needs are met around Berkeley High School.
3 There are concerns about parking being
removed.
4 Youth noted concerns
related to dropoff and
parking near BHS

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Building Uses
Which proposed use are you most excited
about for the Maudelle Shirek Building?
Amounts are shown as a percentage of 564 total respondents. “Active use of meeting
rooms for organizing
events and activism,
attending City Council
meetings and public
meetings. ”
“Having a go to location to
vote on election day and
all related Berkeley city
services.”
“Perhaps some sort of
partnership with UC to bring
new energy and researchers
to the building?”
“With the co-location of the
Historical Society, Vision Institute,
and Community Media, the
community will have better access
to these resources.”
BHS students noted
interest in internship
opportunities (BCM,
Public Policy Ins
titute)
Community Engagement - Engagement Summary

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DRAFT FINAL REPORT
May 2023
What types of programs do you think the
community needs most at a new Arts Center
in the Veterans Memorial Building?
Amounts are shown as a percentage of 546 total respondents. “I think it needs to appear more
open, accessible, inviting and
welcoming…signage and a well -
designed entrance foyer.”
“Love the idea of a true
dance/music/arts center
integrated into a revitalized &
restored park.”
‘There’s a shortage of arts
class spaces, and I think this
would be a great thing for the
community.”
‘Film screenings and music
performances!”
BCC students noted
interest in using the
space f
or art classes,
performances

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Civic Arts
City Clerk
Elected Officials
Fire Department
Parks, Recreation and Waterfront
Police Department
Public Works Department
Real Estate
Special Events
Transportation
Urban Forester
Berkeley City College
Berkeley Community Media
Berkeley Commissioners
Berkeley Historical Society & Museum
Berkeley Unified School District
Community for a Cultural Civic Center (CCCC)
Creek Daylighting Advocates
Ecology Center
Potential Educational Partners
Skate XP
Focused Engagement
In addition to the general public, and with
input from the project’s City Steering
Team, the design team identified City
departments, park users, neighbors, and
affiliated organizations who could provide
detailed input on the design concept.

The design team shared drawings,
diagrams, photographs, and precedent
images of the park and buildings at
these meetings and asked specific
questions aimed at gathering insights
from those most familiar with the
area and its current condition.

The groups ranged from current tenants
like the Berkeley Historical Society &
Museum and The Ecology Center to
discuss specific space needs, to the
Parks, Recreation and Waterfront
Department staff to discuss park
maintenance budgets, approaches, and
possible community involvement.

The design team met with representatives
from some of these groups, such
as BUSD and the CCCC, multiple
times to solicit specific feedback.

City of Berkeley Staff &
Departments
Neighbors, Users &
Affilated Organizations
Community Engagement - Engagement Summary

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DRAFT FINAL REPORT
May 2023
15 Farmers
Market
2000 vtrs/wk
60 Vendors
Berkeley
Historical
Society &
Museum
Special
Events
16+ / year
pre-pandemic
Berkeley
Community
Media
60 City Broadcasts
/ year
Council,
Commissions,
Committee
Meetings
350+ / year
Berkeley Civic Center User Groups

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Arts Organization Engagement
As part of this effort and with assistance
from the design team, the Civic Arts
Di
vision of Economic Development devised
and released a survey to the recipients
of City Civic Arts grants in January 2023.

A focus group work session was held in
February 2023 to discuss transforming the
Veterans Memorial Building into a Berkeley
Community Arts Center.
79 Arts Organizations and Cultural
Producers responded to questions related
to their current space use, space needs,
and desire to be located in the Civic Center
area through the online survey.
16 participants from a wide-range of
organization sizes, representing the
disciplines of theater, dance, music, visual
arts, and literary arts, attended the focus
group to identify priority space needs
in the Veterans Memorial Building for a
Community Arts Center and to give input
on the development of a spatial program.

Strong interest and demonstrated need
for a Community Arts Center
Survey responses demonstrate that
Berkeley-based arts organizations have
a need for spaces for performances,
classes, workshops, exhibitions and other
public programs:
43% Respondents do not have a facility
for their public programming. They
operate out of a home office or an
administrative office and rent venues
as needed for public programming.
66% Respondents rent space for
their programming. This includes
organizations that do not have a facility,
and those that have a facility but need
additional space on an occasional
basis.
46% Respondents pro
duce public
programs for smaller audience sizes
(250 people or less) indicating a good
fit for the various public spaces in the
Veterans Memorial Building.

Veterans Memorial Building’s downtown, central location near the arts district and transit is very appealing to arts groups.

Community Engagement - Engagement Summary

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41 Berkeley’s Civic Center Design Concept

DRAFT FINAL REPORT
May 2023
Arts Survey Respondents
22 Dance
Orgs
30 Arts
Education
Orgs
33 Music
Orgs
27 Theater
Orgs
27 Visual
Arts
Orgs
Arts organizations are interested in multiple types of public program space in a renovated Veterans Memorial Building:

Arts Organizations
Public

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2.3 Key Design Drivers
The design team received feedback during
the outreach and engagement events in
a number of forms - written responses
to directed and open-ended survey
questions, verbal feedback, and additional
feedback sent via email to the Civic
Center email address. The outcome of
the engagement effort was integrated into
9 key design drivers to guide the design
concept.

Overall, the community’s responses
during this phase reinforced the 2020
Vision Statement:
• Civic Center will be the heart of
Berkeley’s community.
• Civic Center will be the prime space
for civic life, culture, and the arts.
• It will reflect the city’s diverse
identities, celebrating its history and
contributing to shaping its future.
• It is a place of shared resources and a
platform for free expression accessible
to all.
• The Civic Center aims to manifest the
city’s values, advance social justice,
and demonstrate the power of true
public space.

Community Engagement - Key Design Drivers

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DRAFT FINAL REPORT
May 2023
1 The Civic Center Park and buildings
should be a place to gather as a
community.

Informal and formal
gatherings of people
of all ages. A safe
place to be in
community
together.”
“
300 +
Written
comments
related to
community
gathering
Parks should bring
people together
Relaxing at performances,
listening to music
Inviting public space for
gathering & enjoyment

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2 MLK Jr Civic Center Park should be natural
in character, preserving mature trees
and enhancing native biodiversity.

As our city is becoming
increasingly developed,
the park should present
a peaceful, calming, safe
space where people can
be in nature.”
“
Playful
Traditional
Natural
61%
of respondents
prioritized
biodiversity
and protecting
mature trees
Return nature in
the urban setting
The park should be a place
for relaxing with nature
Amplify nature and art
because that’s what
Berkeley is basically about.

Community Engagement - Key Design Drivers

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45 Berkeley’s Civic Center Design Concept

DRAFT FINAL REPORT
May 2023
MLK Jr Civic Center Park should be natural
in character, preserving mature trees
and enhancing native biodiversity.
3 The Park and open space should
offer a safe, clean, and comfortable
place to be outdoors with others.
44%
of respondents
prioritized
improved
lighting
48%
of respondents
prioritized art
installations
55%
of respondents
prioritized new
seating, tables
and furnishing
The focus should be
in day-to-day use
with events being an
important secondary
use. Keep the park
safe and accessible.
“
Sitting & relaxing
Playing &
recreating
Strolling/Walking

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4 Many are passionate about
daylighting Strawberry Creek
while others raised concerns.

Daylighting Strawberry
Creek and restoring
native vegetation can be
a wonderful anchor to
this vision.”
“
51%
of respondents
prioritized
daylighting
Strawberry
Creek
“
Costs of
daylighting need
to be weighed
against other park
improvements.

A perfect opportunity to
restore native plants and
biodiversity, and to
daylight Strawberry
Creek
Too expensive /
infeasible, hard to
maintain.

Community Engagement - Key Design Drivers

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DRAFT FINAL REPORT
May 2023
5 Center Street should be better
integrated into the Park and open
space experience.
53%
of respondents
support natural
character for
streets around
park
51%
of respondents
agreed with
revising paving
treatment on
Center St.

Center St used for more
active uses, like the Saturday
Farmer’s Market.

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58%
of respondents
support
community
hearing & mtg
rooms at MSB
51%
of respondents
support Council
Chambers at
MSB
A one stop shop for
the general public.
6The Maudelle Shirek Building should be the
seat of Berkeley’s democracy, with meeting
and public-serving spaces supporting civic
participation in City government.

Promote access and use by
all by making the building
as inviting, interactive, and
safe as possible.

Community Engagement - Key Design Drivers

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49 Berkeley’s Civic Center Design Concept

DRAFT FINAL REPORT
May 2023
7The civic uses in the Maudelle Shirek
Building should be paired with vision-
aligned services and educational
functions.
70%
of respondents
support Berkeley
Historical Society
& Museum at
MSB
44%
of respondents
support Berkeley
Community
Media at MSB
...center for education,
inspiration, and action.

Celebrate Berkeley’s
activist history!
..a hub for BCM’s
important educational
and public service
work.

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8 The Veterans Memorial Building should
be a Community Arts Center for creative
expression and accessible to all.

It would fantastic to
have a community,
municipal arts space in
downtown.
72%
of arts survey
respondents
showed high
interest in space
downtown
Community Engagement - Key Design Drivers

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May 2023
9 The Community Arts Center should be
activated all day every day, hosting arts
organizations and practitioners across all
disciplines, delivering performances and
programming for the community.

Generate lots of activity in
the building day and night!
Proximity to BHS, BCC
supports partnerships
and youth engagement

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Vision
Siegel & Strain Architects
3

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53 Vision
Berkeley’s Civic Center Design Concept

DRAFT FINAL REPORT
May 2023
Vision

3.1 Vision Statement

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Vision
Vision Statement for
Berkeley’s Civic Center
Reaffirmed in 2022-23 public engagement process.

3.1

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DRAFT FINAL REPORT
May 2023
Vision
Civic Center will be the heart of
Berkeley’s community. Civic Center will
be the prime space for civic life, culture,
and the arts. It will reflect the city’s
diverse identities, celebrating its history
and contributing to shaping its future. A
place of shared resources and a platform
for free expression accessible to all,
the Civic Center aims to manifest the
city’s values, advance social justice, and
demonstrate the power of true public
space.

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4 Siegel & Strain Architects
Design Considerations

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Design
Considerations

4.1 Opportunities

4.2 Programs & Uses
57 Berkeley’s Civic Center Design Concept

DRAFT FINAL REPORT
May 2023
Design Considerations

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Design Considerations - Opportunities
A Guiding Vision
With the adopted vision statement as the
north star for the project, four points on
a compass emerge from the engagement
efforts and design thinking which are
representative of Berkeley’s culture and
collective values:

Community
an inclusive and caring community
The Arts
expressive artistic and cultural
events and pieces
Governance
good governance demonstrated
through progressive policies
Education
powerful education tied directly to
history and nature
Opportunities

4.1 A Historic Asset
The Maudelle Shirek Building, Veterans
Memorial Building, and Civic Center
Park are contributing structures to the
Berkeley Civic Center Historic District
which is recognized both locally and
nationally. Together they have served and
are serving the community as gathering
places, the seat of democracy, and
settings for art and artistic expressions.

They maintain much of their historic
fabric, and present to the City an
opportunity to reestablish the area as the
heart of Berkeley’s civic life.

A City Campus
This one block area of downtown contains
seven structures owned or operated by
the City of Berkeley. Densifying city uses
in this area will further strengthen the city
campus and provide flexibility for future
growth and changing needs.

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DRAFT FINAL REPORT
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Design Considerations - Opportunities
“It is a historical
architectural treasure
that needs our love and
funding!”
“It is beautiful and
should be invested in
now, to preserve what
we have and make it
publicly usable again.

Don't let it further
deteriorate.”
“It is beautiful,
and an asset to
the city.”
Maudelle Shirek Building Entry Veterans Memorial Building Ceiling

THE ARTS

GOVERNANCECOMMUNITY

EDUCATION

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Design Considerations - Programs / Uses Matrix
Programs &
Uses

4.2 Parameters for Prioritizing
Uses
Through the public outreach effort, many
programs and uses were proposed and
discussed for the Civic Center Park,
Maudelle Shirek Building, and Veterans
Memorial building. In order to prioritize
those uses in the available space, the
design team considered three additional
parameters:
• Vision Aligned - Strengthen community;
support civic life, culture and the arts;
reflect diverse identities; celebrate
Berkeley’s history; and manifest the city’s
values.
• Use Aligned - Complement co-located
uses based on space type needs, access
and security requirements, and time of
use to activate the area 24/7.
• Funding - Draw on sources of outside
funding to bring investment to the
restoration and enhancement of this
historic district.

Primary
Use
Secondary
Use
Use to be
Confirmed
Natural with
native &
pollinator-
friendly
plants
Restrooms,
Food &
Beverage,
Restrooms
Farmers
Market
Neighborhood
Park w/
furnishings &
play areas
Performance
Space(s)
Turtle Island
Monument &
Terrace
Civic
Gathering
Space
Civic Center Park
Daylit
Creek

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DRAFT FINAL REPORT
May 2023
Design Considerations - Programs / Uses Matrix
Berkeley
Community
Media
The Berkeley
Historical
Society &
Museum
Public-
Facing City
Offices
Hearing
Rooms
Maudelle Shirek
Building
Meeting
Rooms
Public Policy
Institute
Flexible
Work Space
Scene shop/
Storage
Classroom &
Meeting
Spaces
Practice &
Rehearsal
Spaces
Small
Performance
Spaces
Performing
Arts
Auditorium
Rooftop
Event Space
Veterans Memorial
Building
Expanded
Lobby

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Design Considerations - Programs / Uses Matrix
Civic Center Park

PARK ELEMENTS NOTES
Civic Gathering Space
Large Green Utilized for civic events, festivals Turtle Island Monument Separate project under Civic Arts and Park, Recreation and Waterfront Department
Performance Spaces
Large Performance Venue Co-located with civic gathering Small Performance Venue(s) Identify multiple small performance spaces Neighborhood Park Functions
Seating for individuals and groups
Play Areas Multi-age, natural in character
Skate Spot Multi-use plaza w/ skatable elements
Natural Habitat
Native plants Pollinators and habitat builders
Historic/Mature Trees Protect existing tree canopy, develop tree succession plan
Food & Beverage
Leasable space for vendors For high school and city college students, Cafe seating people who live & work in area

Farmers Market
Stalls, Food Trucks, Fresh Produce, Center Street, expansion into park Prepared Food, Crafts
Daylit Creek Partial-flow most likely, needs further study

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DRAFT FINAL REPORT
May 2023
Design Considerations - Programs / Uses Matrix
Entrance to fountain terrace from green
Existing Skate spot along MLK Jr Way
Large central green
Natural with
native &
pollinator-
friendly
plants
Restrooms,
Food &
Beverage,
Restrooms
Farmers
Market
Neighborhood
Park w/
furnishings &
play areas
Performance
Space(s)
Turtle Island
Monument &
Terrace
Civic
Gathering
Space
Civic Center Park
Daylit
Creek

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Design Considerations - Programs / Uses Matrix

USE NOTES
Hearing Rooms - 9,600 SF
Large Multi-purpose meeting room/ Seats 200-300
Council Chambers
Conference Room Can be used for closed sessions
Historic Hearing Room Historic Council Chambers, seats 70 New Hearing Room Seats 120
Support Spaces
Meeting Rooms - 2,165 SF
Small Meeting Rooms Seat 10-20
Large Meeting Rooms Seat 20-30
Flexible Work Spaces - 3,375 SF
Reception Area/Service Counter
Private & Open offices
Conference Rooms
Print, Storage & Support
Break Room/Kitchenette
Berkeley Historical Society & Museum - 8,000 SF
Permanent & Temporary Exhibit
Offices, Research Room, Meeting Rooms
Exhibit Preparation Room
Archival Storage 3500 SF, may be located off-site Bookstore/Gift Shop
Berkeley Community Media - 5,500 SF
Broadcast, Podcast & Green Cove Studios
Offices, Editing Suites
Lounge/Classroom
Kitchenette
Public Facing City Offices - SF Varies
To be determined, dependent
on department

Public Policy Institute - SF Varies To be determined, dependent Classrooms, Meeting Rooms on program development
Offices
Maudelle Shirek Building

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65 Berkeley’s Civic Center Design Concept

DRAFT FINAL REPORT
May 2023
Berkeley
Community
Media
The Berkeley
Historical
Society &
Museum
Public-
Facing City
Offices
Hearing
Rooms
Maudelle Shirek
Building
Meeting
Rooms
Public Policy
Institute
Flexible
Work Space
Design Considerations - Programs / Uses Matrix
Historic Hearing Room Dias
Central Stair at Second Floor
Second Floor Office Space

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Design Considerations - Programs / Uses Matrix

USE NOTES
Performance Space
Large Performance Auditorium 300-500 seats
Small Performance Rooms 100-120 seats
Backstage Expanded for access to basement
Multi-functional Spaces
Rehearsal Spaces Also function as small performance Lecture/Conference spaces Could utilize large auditorium Classrooms/Workshops
Exhibition Space
Visual Arts Exhibition Hall Climate controlled, gallery lighting Flexible Arts Exhibition Space In public halls, temporary exhibits Support Spaces
Offices
Bathrooms
Dressing Rooms
Storage
Stage/Scenery Shop
Event Space
Entry Porch
Lobby/Pre-function Space
Banquet Area
Commercial Kitchen
Rooftop Terrace To be determined
Veterans Memorial Building

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DRAFT FINAL REPORT
May 2023
Scene shop/
Storage
Classroom &
Meeting
Spaces
Practice &
Rehearsal
Spaces
Small
Performance
Spaces
Performing
Arts
Auditorium
Rooftop
Event Space
Veterans Memorial
Building
Expanded
Lobby
Support
Spaces/
Storage
Classroom &
Meeting
Spaces
Practice &
Rehearsal
Spaces
Small
Performance
Spaces
Performing
Arts
Auditorium
Rooftop/
Basement
Event Space
Veterans Memorial
Building
Scene shop/
Makerspace
Veterans Memorial Building facade
Support
Spaces/
Storage
Classroom &
Meeting
Spaces
Practice &
Rehearsal
Spaces
Small
Performance
Spaces
Performing
Arts
Auditorium
Rooftop/
Basement
Event Space
Veterans Memorial
Building
Scene shop/
Makerspace
Large Auditorium
Support
Spaces/
Storage
Classroom &
Meeting
Spaces
Practice &
Rehearsal
Spaces
Small
Performance
Spaces
Performing
Arts
Auditorium
Rooftop/
Basement
Event Space
Veterans Memorial
Building
Scene shop/
Makerspace
Balcony ceiling

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Design Concept
5

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DRAFT FINAL REPORT
May 2023
Design Concept
Design
Concept

5.1 Preferred Design Concept

5.2 MLK Jr Civic Center Park & Surrounding Streets

5.3 Maudelle Shirek Building

5.4 Veterans Memorial Building

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Design Concept - Emerging Preferred Design Concept Overview Preferred Design
Concept

5.1 Maudelle Shirek Building
Seat of Berkeley’s democracy with
flexible meeting spaces, and
supportive and vision-aligned city
services and educational uses.

Note: All drawings are illustrative and conceptual. Further landscape and architectural design is required in future specific design phases.

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Design Concept - Emerging Preferred Design Concept Overview Veterans Memorial Building
A Community Arts Center, run by the
City, with performance venues,
teaching and exhibit space, accessible
by all in the community.

Civic Center Park & Surrounding Streets
A safe nature-based urban oasis for all of Berkeley. The park design will support community use throughout the day, evening and weekend for strolling, relaxing, having lunch, visiting, and attending an impromptu gathering or organized event.

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Design Concept - MLK Jr Civic Center Park & Surrounding Streets

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DRAFT FINAL REPORT
May 2023

5.2 MLK Jr Civic
Center Park
& Surrounding
Streets

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Design Goals

5.2 MLK Jr Civic Center Park and
Surrounding Streets
Civic Center Park has the potential to be
an urban oasis for residents and visitors
to Berkeley’s Downtown, and also provide
a central gathering place for civic life -
from outdoor performances to political
demonstrations.

The design concept for Civic Center Park
builds from the existing organization
of the park, and layers in new design
elements and programs that support the
desired everyday vibrancy of the Park. The
proposed design concept also simplifies
the layout and reclaims underutilized
space to accomodate new activity areas
where possible.

The design concept is based on six
key design goals to be achieved
through targeted reconfiguration and
refurbishment of the Park.

All of these goals point towards a future
for Civic Center Park that the public
is asking for: a place of natural and
architectural beauty that provides both
calm retreat and invitation to participate
in public life, both through everyday
activities and special events.

Design Concept - MLK Jr Civic Center Park & Surrounding Streets

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May 2023
Preserve and
build upon Civic
Center Park’s
strengths
Enhance natural
features, promote
biodiversity and
green design
Enhance the
potential of the
Park to host
weekly and
special events
Expand
invitations for a
variety of
everyday uses
Improve
pedestrian safety
and usability of
paths
Study feasibility
and tradeoffs of
daylighting
Strawberry Creek
1 3
5 4
2 6

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Design Concept - MLK Jr Civic Center Park & Surrounding Streets Preserve and build
upon the strengths
of Civic Center
1 The design process for the Park and
surrounding streets began with a thorough
analysis of the existing elements in the
Park to determine what needs to remain
and what should be improved. This
was also informed by insights into what
aspects of the Park were performing well
and could be enhanced through public
realm upgrades.

This led to a design approach that
maintains the overall structure of
the park, and preserves existing
mature trees, important monuments
and memorials, and the main central
gathering space - the lawn. Any
upgrades to the Park will also need to be
reviewed by the Landmarks Preservation
Commission.

Note: All drawings are illustrative and conceptual, further landscape design will be required.

Mature Trees, MLK Jr Civic Center Park
Proposed Turtle
Island Monument
Existing mature
trees to remain
Central lawn –
gathering space

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Central Lawn, MLK Jr Civic Center Park
Peace Wall and site of future Turtle
Island Monument
Proposed Turtle
Island Monument
Existing mature
trees to remain
Central lawn –
gathering space
Site Plan with Existing Elements to Remain

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Siegel & Strain Architects
Design Concept - MLK Jr Civic Center Park & Surrounding Streets Learning from feedback
on the 2020 Vision Plan
Key guidance from the feedback received
during the Vision Plan process was
applied to the updated design concept:

Avoid introducing too much new
hardscaping and retain as much green
space and softscape as possible.

Avoid removing existing trees if
possible, especially mature trees that
help create the iconic canopy and
support biodiversity
Keep Allston Way open for vehicle
circulation as a key east-west
connection through Berkeley
During the 2019/2020 Vision and
Implementation Plan effort, multiple
alternative design concepts were
developed for the park and neighboring
buildings, shown on the opposite
page. These options varied in levels of
intervention and big moves that organized
the park.

While the overall vision statement
was supported and accepted, the
recommended design concept was not
adopted or instructed to move forward.

For this design concept effort, the design
team employed a lighter touch towards
the park, seeking a balance between
retaining the historic character and key
elements with park enhancements for
everyday vitality and user experience.

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Design Concept - MLK Jr Civic Center Park & Surrounding Streets A
B
C
Phase 1 design concept site plans2019/2020 Vision Plan Alternative Site Plans

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Siegel & Strain Architects
Turtle Island Monument, MLK Jr Civic
Center Park (early concept rendering,
PGAdesign)
Design Concept - MLK Jr Civic Center Park & Surrounding Streets Monuments and
Memorials
The emerging design concept proposes
keeping the following monuments and
memorials in their current locations:

Turtle Island Monument
A proposed indigenous monument
that will restore the center of the park
and reintroduce water to the fountain.

Peace Wall
Perimeter wall at fountain terrace,
with mosaic of individually decorated
tiles, rebuilt in 1988.

Existing Flag Pole
One of the first elements of the park.

It was relocated to its current position
in 2006.

Strawberry Tree Memorial
Two trees and a plaque were place
to honor Irish students who died in a
nearby balcony collapse.

Peace Marker
A small marker was placed here as
part of the Peace Pole Project, date
unknown.

Old City Hall Markers
This area has a few ground marking
plaques. A proposed sculpture is also
to be installed in this area.

A
B
C
D
E
F
F

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Design Concept - MLK Jr Civic Center Park & Surrounding Streets Peace Wall, MLK Jr Civic Center Park
Flag Pole, MLK Jr Civic Center Park
Site Plan with Monuments and Memorials
A
B
C
D
E

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Siegel & Strain Architects
Design Concept - MLK Jr Civic Center Park & Surrounding Streets Improve pedestrian
safety and usability
of paths
2 In order to better connect the park to
its surrounding context and invite more
pedestrian activity, the design concept
shows a number of treatments to
increase safety and enhance the
pedestrian experience.

Key elements of these treatments may
include:
> pedestrian bulb-outs at intersections on
MLK Jr Way,
> new crosswalks between Berkeley High
School and the Park at Allston Way
> a new flush-surface, shared street on
Center Street.

These proposals and other traffic calming
approaches, such as raised pedestrian
crosswalks or tables on MLK Jr Way at
Center and Allston, will be considered in an
area-wide traffic study recommended by
this report.

Another pivotal change is the realignment
of the park path network, elimination of
the secondary interior paths, and widening
of the perimeter sidewalks to allow for a
more comfortable walking experience.

Funnycross, Madrid
Pedestrian bulb-outs
on MLK Jr Way

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Design Concept - MLK Jr Civic Center Park & Surrounding Streets Clematis Street, West Palm Beach
Pedestrian priority
shared street
HtO Park, Toronto
Inviting and wider
paths
Site Plan with Pedestrian Improvements
Reconfiguration of Center
Street as a shared space
Wider perimeter sidewalks
around the park
Simplified and
improved paths
New crosswalk
to Berkeley High
New crosswalk
to Berkeley High

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Siegel & Strain Architects
Parallel network of narrow
perimeter paths
Small open spaces left
between path divisions
Design Concept - MLK Jr Civic Center Park & Surrounding Streets The existing path system is notably
defined by the narrow perimeter sidewalk
and redundant par
allel path running
nearby. While the original intent was to
encourage more people to walk within
the park, both sets of narrow paths end
up providing a substandard pedestrian
experience. Additionally, this layout carves
the park into a multitude of small spaces
that are harder to occupy and program.

Existing Path System
MLK Jr Civic Center Park, Present

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Design Concept - MLK Jr Civic Center Park & Surrounding Streets The proposed path network eliminates
redundant internal parallel paths while
widening both the perimeter sidewalk
and the remaining internal pathways.

This provides a better pedestrian
experience while creating larger program
areas between the paths. It also better
accommodates furnishings for pop-up
programming.

Proposed Path System
Wider sidewalks around the perimeter
of MLK Jr Civic Center Park
Consolidated program areas
between fewer paths
Remiseparken, Copenhagen

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Siegel & Strain Architects
Existing Giant Sequioa and other mature
trees, Civic Center Park
Design Concept - MLK Jr Civic Center Park & Surrounding Streets Enhance natural
features, promote
biodiversity and
green design
3 During the 2022/23 Design Concept public
engagement process, participants were
very clear about prioritizing nature in the
MLK Jr Civic Center Park.

The design concept incorporates this
commitment to nature in multiple ways,
including the retention of almost all
existing mature trees and a “Green”
Center Street that features stormwater
infrastructure and bioswales. Woven
throughout the park between pathways
and the more active open green and
plaza areas are enhanced plantings that
introduce more pollinator-friendly, native,
and less water-intensive softscape to
the park, adding color and habitat while
protecting the roots of the trees they
surround from heavy foot-traffic and over-
watering.

New planting areas for native,
pollinator-friendly species

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Design Concept - MLK Jr Civic Center Park & Surrounding Streets California Native Plant Society
Pollinator-friendly,
native plantings
SW 12th Avenue, Portland, OR
Bioswales and
permeable paving
for stormwater runoff
Site Plan with improved plantings & green infrastructure New undergrowth planting
around mature trees
Expanded street
tree canopy
Green infrastructure
on Center Street
New planting areas for native,
pollinator-friendly species
Permeable paving material
in plaza areas

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Siegel & Strain Architects
Design Concept - MLK Jr Civic Center Park & Surrounding Streets Landscape and Planting
Palette
While the mature tree canopy is an
irreplaceable asset for the Park that will
be retained in the design concept, other
existing softscape and planting areas
leave room for improvement.

The design concept proposes a series of
planting areas that ring the main open
space, enhance the existing mature tree
root zones, and help create a strong
buffer along MLK Jr Way.

These planting areas will balance spaces
for nature with quiet spaces for people,
mixing a variety of species and programs
- from quiet seating under mature trees to
pollinator gardens to bioswales managing
stormwater.

Native, pollinator,
friendly species
Mix of groundcover
and gravel surface

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Design Concept - MLK Jr Civic Center Park & Surrounding Streets New undergrowth to
protect mature trees
Permeable
paving areas
Expanded street
tree canopy
Green infrastructure
for stormwater
management

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Siegel & Strain Architects
Green infrastructure and bioswales for
stormwater management and greening
Flush, curbless transition
from street to sidewalk
New street trees
throughout
Realignment to create plaza space in
front of Veterans Memorial Building
Maintain 26’ clear for
emergency access
Maintain loading zones
and access drives
Provide 16 parallel public
parking spaces, including
blue curb accessible spaces
Design Concept - MLK Jr Civic Center Park & Surrounding Streets “Green” Center StreetB
Bell Street Park, Seattle Bell Street Park, Seattle
Bell Street Park, Seattle Bell Street Park, Seattle
A space for all modes of transportation that prioritizes pedestrians and landscaping, aligned with the City’s Streets and Open Space Improvement Plan. An area-wide traffic study including the redesigned Center Street is recommended by this report.

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Green infrastructure and bioswales for
stormwater management and greening
Flush, curbless transition
from street to sidewalk
New street trees
throughout
Realignment to create plaza space in
front of Veterans Memorial Building
Maintain 26’ clear for
emergency access
Maintain loading zones
and access drives
Provide 16 parallel public
parking spaces, including
blue curb accessible spaces
Design Concept - MLK Jr Civic Center Park & Surrounding Streets Occidental Ave, Seattle Woonerf, Odense

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Siegel & Strain Architects
Design Concept - MLK Jr Civic Center Park & Surrounding Streets Expand invitations
for a variety of
everyday uses
4 While the existing park is well-activated
a few times a year for large events and
festivals, it lacks furnishings and sufficient
programs to enliven it on a daily basis.

Through upgrading existing park activity
areas like the skate spot and lawn, and
introducing new programs like food and
beverage and a multi-age play area, the
design concept expands the everyday
potential of the space.

Along with these key program areas,
upgrading and adding seating and lighting
will make the park a safer and more
inviting space.

Berggruen Museum, Berlin
Entry Plaza with
integrated public art

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Design Concept - MLK Jr Civic Center Park & Surrounding Streets Jubilee Gardens, London The Italian Gardens Cafe, London Jubilee Gardens, London The Italian Gardens Cafe, London Site Plan with improvements for everyday uses
A
B
Central Lawn
Food and beverage kiosks
with flex zone seating

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Siegel & Strain Architects
Design Concept - MLK Jr Civic Center Park & Surrounding Streets A Skate Spot
A plaza area with skateable
features and furnishings mixed
with general seating and
plantings.

Youth Centre, Oberhausen, Germany
Skate Plaza, Torroella, Spain
Spaces to
watch and rest
Skateable ledges
and benches

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Design Concept - MLK Jr Civic Center Park & Surrounding Streets Skate Spot
B Playground
A natural play area for children
mixed with landscaping and
trees.

Tunnel Tops Park, San Francisco Osdorp Oever, Amsterdam Nature-based
play
Dynamic play
elements
Nature-inspired
play features
New benches to protect
tree root zones
Nature-inspired
play features
New benches to protect
tree root zones

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Siegel & Strain Architects
Design Concept - MLK Jr Civic Center Park & Surrounding Streets Seating and Furnishings
One of the key components of the design
concept is the desire to expand invitations
for people to use and stay in the Park by
increasing the amount, variety, and quality
of furnishings available.

Fixed benches in activity areas, cafe
seating near new food and beverage
options, and possibly larger signature
seating fixtures will create space for a
variety of users - from farmer’s market
attendees to Berkeley High students
on their lunch break. Additionally, well-
designed benches can be placed under
mature trees to protect the roots while
providing a quiet place of repose.

Beyond seating, other key opportunities
to improve the level of comfort and
safety for park users include upgrading
lighting, signage, art installations,
and trash receptacles. Lighting is to
be carefully located and designed to
provide safe pathways and gathering
areas while reducing impact on adjacent
neighborhoods and complying with dark-
sky requirements.

Comfortable
microclimates
Play spaces for
all ages

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Design Concept - MLK Jr Civic Center Park & Surrounding Streets Inviting places
to rest
Natural play
spaces
Flexible seating
for events
Cafe seating
Well-lit
pathways

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Siegel & Strain Architects
Design Concept - MLK Jr Civic Center Park & Surrounding Streets 5 Along with the everyday experience,
the Park also needs to accommodate
a variety of weekly and special events.

The design concept focuses on a
few key areas that are able to flex
between everyday activity and the
special gatherings that happen at
Civic Center, from outdoor music
performances to craft fairs.

There is also an opportunity to
rethink the relationship between the
farmer’s market and the Park, and
create a more integrated experience
between the two.

MFA Concerts in the Courtyard, Boston Grand Park, Los Angeles Seating for
everyday social
gatherings
La Placita, Mission, San Francisco
Flexible space for
markets and fairs
Central green for
events and
performances
Enhance the
potential of the park
to host weekly and
special events

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Design Concept - MLK Jr Civic Center Park & Surrounding Streets MFA Concerts in the Courtyard, Boston Grand Park, Los Angeles Seating for
everyday social
gatherings
La Placita, Mission, San Francisco
Flexible space for
markets and fairs
Central green for
events and
performances
MFA Concerts in the Courtyard, Boston Grand Park, Los Angeles Seating for
everyday social
gatherings
La Placita, Mission, San Francisco
Flexible space for
markets and fairs
Central green for
events and
performances
Site Plan with improvements for special events
E
D
C

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Siegel & Strain Architects
Design Concept - MLK Jr Civic Center Park & Surrounding Streets Queens Park, Toronto Brunnsparken, Gothenburg
C
Expansive green for
everyday and
special events
Seating along
path edges
Performance area with
upgraded electrical hookups
Newly graded lawn to improve
drainage and seating configuration
New seating and space for pop-up
activation around perimeter paths
Central Lawn
A flexible, open green space
for daily recreation and public
gatherings.

Newly graded lawn to improve
drainage and seating configuration
Performance area with
carefully designed sound &
light infrastructure to minimize
impact on neighborhood
New seating and space for pop-up
activation around perimeter paths
C

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Space to allow the farmer’s
market to expand into the
park
Permeable
paving surface
D
Space to allow the farmer’s
market to open into the park
Permeable
paving surface
Design Concept - MLK Jr Civic Center Park & Surrounding Streets Central Lawn Arts and
Market
Plaza
A dignified
accessible entrance
to the Veterans
Memorial Building
that integrates
Center Street and
the park.

Bell Street Park, Seattle The Porch at 30th, Philadelphia Space for markets
and commerce
Performance
areas

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Siegel & Strain Architects
Flex ZoneE
Lower Sproul Plaza, Berkeley Monash University, Melbourne Note: All drawings are illustrative and conceptual, further landscape design will be required.

Flexible cafe
seating
Accessible
garden ramps
Lincoln Center, New York Flower Market, Barcelona
Pop-up outdoor
market
A space for food, beverage, and
outdoor seating that can flexibly
accommodate events, performances,
deliveries, and support functions for
the park.

E.0 - Everyday Seating E.1 - Performance E.2 - Outdoor Market E.3 - Support / Delivery New open back stair and
entrance to 2180 Milvia
New food and beverage
kiosks at rear of building
Permeable, drivable paving treatment
to accommodate a variety of uses
Flex ZoneE
Lower Sproul Plaza, Berkeley Monash University, Melbourne Note: All drawings are illustrative and conceptual, further landscape design will be required.

E.0 - Everyday Seating E.1 - Performance E.2 - Outdoor Market E.3 - Support / Delivery New open back stair and
entrance to 2180 Milvia
New food and beverage
kiosks at rear of building
Permeable, drivable paving treatment
to accommodate a variety of uses
Design Concept - MLK Jr Civic Center Park & Surrounding Streets Flex Zone
Replace existing parking lot
with a space for food, beverage,
and outdoor seating that can
flexibly accommodate events,
performances, deliveries, and
support functions for the park.

New open back stair and
entrance to 2180 Milvia
New food and beverage
kiosks at rear of building
Permeable, drivable paving treatment
to accommodate a variety of uses

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Flex ZoneE
Lower Sproul Plaza, Berkeley Monash University, Melbourne Note: All drawings are illustrative and conceptual, further landscape design will be required.

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Siegel & Strain Architects
Design Concept - MLK Jr Civic Center Park & Surrounding Streets Study feasibility
and tradeoffs
of daylighting
Strawberry Creek
6 While public engagement revealed a
consistent desire to daylight Strawberry
Creek, it also brought up concerns of
feasibility, cost, maintenance, and spatial
constraints.

This alternate design concept illustrates
a partial-flow daylighting scenario that
minimizes disruption to the overall park
layout and key monuments, while reducing
Center St to a minimum-required driving
lane for emergency and service access.

Deliveries and drop-off to the Veterans
Memorial Building would be impacted, and
need further study. The size of the Arts &
Market Plaza has been reduced to a bridge
spanning the daylit creek, and the farmer’s
market would need to be relocated to
another site. Extending the daylit creek
into the block west of Martin Luther King
Jr Way was also mentioned by some in the
community, and needs further study.

Rockridge-Temescal Greenbelt, Oakland Los Angeles State Historic Park, LA Strawberry Creek, Berkeley
50-65’ width, partial-flow
creekbed scenario
Minimum access lane for
emergency vehicles on Center
(26’clear between tree wells)

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Design Concept - MLK Jr Civic Center Park & Surrounding Streets Rockridge-Temescal Greenbelt, Oakland Los Angeles State Historic Park, LA Strawberry Creek, Berkeley Rockridge-Temescal Greenbelt, Oakland Los Angeles State Historic Park, LA Strawberry Creek, Berkeley
Site Plan with partial flow daylit Strawberry Creek
50-65’ width, partial-flow
creekbed scenario
Minimum access lane for
emergency vehicles on Center
(26’clear between tree wells)

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Siegel & Strain Architects
Design Concept - MLK Jr Civic Center Park & Surrounding Streets Daylighting
Considerations
A 1999 Creek Study prepared by Wolf
Mason included investigation of various
daylighting scenarios for Strawberry
Creek in Downtown Berkeley, including
a partial flow scenario at MLK Jr Civic
Center Park. Key takeaways from the
report and its implications on the Park
are:

The existing culvert is estimated to
be roughly 18’ under the surface
of the park, sloping down to the
west. Because of this depth, a full
restoration of a natural creek bed
would require over 150’ of width,
which is considered infeasible.

Partial-flow scenarios require
retaining the existing culvert and
introducing a flow control structure
somewhere downstream of the BART
line, most likely near the northeast
corner of Civic Center Park.

Further study will be required to
ultimately determine feasibility for
daylighting the creek, including studies
of the creek hydrology, traffic impacts,
emergency access and public use.

Wolfe Mason Report Cover, 1999
Further community outreach is needed to
stakeholders such as the Ecology Center,
festival operators, Berkeley High School,
Berkeley City College, Civic Arts groups,
the YMCA Teen Center, and other nearby
property owners.

Once a specific project is identified,
additional studies will be needed to
determine impact and comply with the
CEQA process. A strategy for long-term
maintenance and management will need
to be proposed.

While this process continues,some park
upgrades may be completed outside of
the area of impact of the creek.

Wolfe Mason Report Cover, 1999

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The existing culvert passes through
the BART alignment along Shattuck
Avenue through a roughly 8’ diameter
culvert.

A flow control structure would be
required in this area for a partial-
flow daylighting scenario.

Design Concept - MLK Jr Civic Center Park & Surrounding Streets The existing culvert passes through
the BART alignment along Shattuck
through a roughly 8’ diameter culvert.

For partial-flow daylighting scenarios, a
flow control structure would need to be
added around this location.

Existing Strawberry Creek culvert location in Downtown Berkeley (based on Wolfe Mason Study From 1999)

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Siegel & Strain Architects
Design Concept - Maudelle Shirek Building

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Design Concept - Maudelle Shirek Building

5.3 Maudelle
Shirek Building

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Siegel & Strain Architects
Design Concept - Maudelle Shirek Building
Maudelle Shirek Building-
Seat of Berkeley’s Democracy

5.3 As the historic seat of government in
Berkeley, this project proposes returning
city functions back to the Maudelle Shirek
Building. Input from public engagement
scored Hearing & Meeting Rooms, Council
Chambers, and public-facing city services
as priority uses for the building.

Returning these functions to the heart of
Berkeley’s Civic Center will bring citizens
to the area throughout the day and into
the evening to attend meetings, hearings,
and gatherings.

In order to return the highest and best use
to this site, the Maudelle Shirek Building
required additions, modern amenities,
seismic upgrades, and other repairs.
“Active use of meeting rooms
for organizing events and
activism, attending City Council
meetings and public meetings. ”
“Its use should honor the
memory of Maudelle Shirek
with progressive social action,
women’s leadership, and racial
justice.”
Hearing & Meeting Rooms
Council Chambers
City Services
Hearing & Meeting Rooms
Council Chambers
City Services

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Design Concept - Maudelle Shirek Building
View to Maudelle Shirek Building from roof of Veterans Memorial Building

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Siegel & Strain Architects
Design Concept - Maudelle Shirek Building
Additions & Improvements
Main Entry
The main entry to the Maudelle Shirek
Building is up an inaccessible flight of
stairs. This plan proposes an improved
plaza and universally accessible ramps
leading up to the main entry on the
first floor. The ramps curve from the
two crossings at Martin Luther King Jr
Way towards the central entry terrace,
creating a gracious way for all to access
the building through the same main entry.

Rear Addition
The design concept includes an addition
at the rear of the building, creating
space for a modern and appropriately
sized multi-purpose gathering room
that can serve the community as a space
for large public events and City Council
meetings.

The addition replaces the ahistorical rear
additions, and is sited on the southern
portion of the Public Service Building’s
controlled parking lot.

A study of the police and fire departments
parking capacity and needs is required to
confirm that they can be met on this site
or nearby.

Existing Rear Addition
Conceptual Ramp Approach

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Design Concept - Maudelle Shirek Building
Addition at the Exploratorium, San Francisco
St. Johns Library, Winnipeg, Canada
East Bay Performing Arts Center , Richmond
Site Plan - Proposed Addition Location

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Siegel & Strain Architects
Design Concept - Maudelle Shirek Building
Seismic Improvements:

Damage Control + to
Immediate Occupancy
Approach: The City’s Public Works
Department recommends a seismic
upgrade for the Maudelle Shirek Building
to the level of Damage Control Plus
(DC+) at the historic structure and the
new addition be built to the Immediate
Occupancy [IO] level.

At the DC+ level of seismic retrofit,
the Maudelle Shirek Building would be
occupiable weeks to months after a major
seismic event. The addition, built at the
IO level, could be re-opened days after a
major seismic event.

Discussion: This combined DC+/IO
structure will provide flexibility for City
and public use of this asset now and
in the future. After a major seismic
event, the combined structure is likely
to experience minimal damage. The IO
addition should be designed to operate
independently of the historic portion, so
it can reopen quickly after inspections
and minor repairs. The historic structure
may need to remain closed pending
further repairs, depending on the results
of the inspection. With this level of
improvement, the building can function
as an operations and service center in
the event of natural disasters or other
emergencies.

As part of the 2020 Vision Plan, the City
investigated an IO solution that featured
base isolators either at or below the
ground level of the Maudelle Shirek
Building. This approach represents a
significant cost and potential impacts on
usable space.

Tipping Structural Engineers developed
a concept for achieving DC+ to near
IO levels by addressing structural
deficiencies related to lateral and
shear strength through additions. This
scheme would also involve strenghtening
individual beams and columns in shear,
likely using fiber reinfoced polymer
sheets. Their study is documented in
a report on the Civic Center buildings
submitted to Council in August 2021.

Further refinement of this approach to
minimize impact on historic finishes
while optimizing performance and cost
considerations will be required as part of
the development of a specific design for
the historic building and addition.

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Design Concept - Maudelle Shirek Building
Seismic Improvement Locations
SECOND FLOOR (6,500 SF)
FIRST FLOOR (14,400 SF)

GROUND FL
OOR (16,350 SF)

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Siegel & Strain Architects
Design Concept - Maudelle Shirek Building
Other Improvements
Beyond the additions, a specific design
will need to address other required
improvements. These include addressing
the mechanical, electrical, lighting and
plumbing systems to bring them into
compliance with current building code
and City policy. The City of Berkeley is
committed to converting buildings to
be all-electric, including this historic
structure. Relatedly, energy production
through solar panels on the roof of the
addition should be explored. A building
assessment report was completed in
2021 by Allana Buick and Bers to identify
needed improvements and repairs
to the building envelope (enclosure),
and their recommendations should be
integrated into a future project. All of this
work taken together results in a more
sustainable and resilient building.

Along with the improved entrance,
accessibility upgrades will be required
throughout including: adjusting door
widths and locations, clearing accessible
pathways, installing a modern elevator
core, and modifying elements to meet
accessible reach requirements.

Egress from the building does not comply
with modern fire codes. Proper exit
separations and paths will need to be
added, as will additional stair cores and
exits from the building for the increased
occupancy.

An existing attic space could be
upgraded to serve as storage space with
improvements to the vertical circulation.

This will require further study in a specific
design phase.

All of these changes will need to be
addressed while respecting the historic
nature of the building, and meeting
Secretary of the Interior standards for
historic preservation. As a part of that
effort, the beautiful historic finishes will
need repairs and restoration, and non-
historic elements will be replaced with
modern, healthy and resilient materials.

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Design Concept - Maudelle Shirek Building
Accessibility
System Upgrades Building Performance Finishes Egress/Safety Accessibility
System Upgrades Building Performance Finishes Egress/Safety “...it was a pain to get
to and move between
rooms and floors”
“...upgrade to LEED
standards, include solar
panels…advanced
MERV/HVAC….light filled
with natural materials.”
“...accessibility
through the front door
is important.”
Accessibility
System Upgrades Building Performance Finishes Egress/Safety

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Siegel & Strain Architects
Design Concept - Maudelle Shirek Building
Space Use
Meeting & Hearing Rooms
Between Council, Commissions and
Boards, the City hosts over 350 public
meetings every year. Currently City
Council meetings are held at the BUSD
board room on Addison Street, and
most other meetings are held in various
locations around Berkeley. Providing
new meeting spaces in Civic Center
will create a central building in the City
of Berkeley that is a symbol of citizen
involvement in governance.

Creation of a multi-purpose hearing
room or meeting space similar in size
to that of BUSD’s Board Room will
require an addition to the Maudelle
Shirek Building, best located on the
west side or behind the building.

As a two-story structure, this new
addition could house the large multi-
purpose hearing room with flexible
seating for over 200, plus an expanded
public lobby on the first floor. This level
could also contain multiple support
spaces for the hearing room - closed
session meeting rooms, AV support,
restrooms, storage, and more. Near
the entry, two small meeting rooms can
be used by City staff, commissions, and
the public.

The historic meeting room on the
second floor could be refurbished for
smaller meetings of around 70 people.

A proposed second small hearing room
on the north wing could hold over 100
occupants and the south wing could be
divided into two additional meeting rooms.
51%
of respondents
support returning
Council
Chambers
Uppsala Town Hall, Sweden
Historic Hearing Room, Maudelle Shirek Building

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SECOND FLOOR (6,500 SF)
FIRST FLOOR (14,400 SF)
GROUND FLOOR (16,350 SF)
Large Hearing Room (200-300 people)
Council Support Spaces
Small Meeting Rooms (10-20 people)
ATTIC (2,500 SF)
Small Hearing Rooms (70-120 people)
Large Meeting Rooms (20-30 people)
Mechanical
Vertical Circulation
Restrooms

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Design Concept - Maudelle Shirek Building
Flexible Office/Meeting Space
The north and south wings on the first
(or main) floor of the historic Maudelle
Shirek Building offer high-ceiling spaces.

During the engagement process the
public expressed support for uses such
as public-facing city services, offices,
and other interactive city functions in this
building as a way to bring foot-traffic to
the building throughout the day. These
first floor wing spaces are optimal for
these types of uses.

A detailed spatial programming effort
during a specific design phase is
necessary to determine the appropriate
uses, some ideas for consideration
include:
• City Customer Service Counter -
interface with City staff and get help
with City processes
• Building administration offices -
support spaces for running the daily
operations of the meeting spaces and
public services in the building.
• Public Policy Institute - partnership
with local educational institutions to
support the development of future
decision makers
“center for civic life…a
one stop shop for the
general public…. ”
Public Lobby at Devente City Hall, Netherlands
Leiden City Hall Lobby, Netherlands
“I’d like to see see more active
uses…perhaps some sort of
partnership with UC to bring
new energy and researchers to
the building?”

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Design Concept - Maudelle Shirek Building
SECOND FLOOR (6,500 SF)
FIRST FLOOR (14,400 SF)
GROUND FLOOR (16,350 SF)
Reception/Counter Areas
Offices
Conference/Meeting Rooms
Support Spaces
ATTIC (2,500 SF)

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Siegel & Strain Architects
Design Concept- Maudelle Shirek Building
Berkeley Historical Society &
Museum
The Historical Society envisions a
museum that “engages visitors of all
ages in learning what has made Berkeley
‘Berkeley,’ and showcases the City as a
place where ideas emerge that influence
the rest of the country and the world.”
Providing a source of information and
inspiration for the current participants
in the City’s government is a strong use
of the space that aligns with the vision of
the Civic Center as the heart of civic life
in Berkeley. The public halls and lobbies
of the Maudelle Shirek Building could
host rotating exhibits that can be explored
either as a visitor or while waiting to
attend a public meeting or for a turn at
the customer service desk.

On the ground floor, a permanent exhibit,
research room, offices, and exhibit
preparation room are proposed. Archival
storage could be located either off-site, in
an improved attic, or on the ground floor
of the building, depending on other space
needs.

Controlling access between the exhibits
and more secure spaces of the building
could present a conflict, and would need
to be carefully managed. Sources for
funding a museum expansion should be
further studied.

African American Museum & Library, Oakland CA
Square Headquarters, San Francisco CA
70%
of respondents
support Berkeley
Historical Society
& Museum at
MSB

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May 2023
Design Concept- Maudelle Shirek Building
SECOND FLOOR (6,500 SF)
FIRST FLOOR (14,400 SF)
GROUND FLOOR (16,350 SF)
Exhibit Prep Room
Offices
Research Room
Exhibition Space
(Alternate Archive location)
ATTIC (2,500 SF)
(Alternate Archive location)
Exhibition Spaces
Exhibition Spaces

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Siegel & Strain Architects
Design Concept - Maudelle Shirek Building
Berkeley Community Media
BCM serves multiple functions related
to the city government. They broadcast
city meetings, including Council,
ZAB and Rent Stabilization meetings;
they work with governmental non-
profits and politicians; and they offer
support in developing Public Service
Announcements. Their internship
program teaches students media literacy
and production technology.

BCM’s space needs are substantial,
and many of them are single-use. They
currently operate mostly through funding
from the City and grants. Their mission
and function are well aligned with
returning public meeting spaces to the
building, and with the larger vision of the
Civic Center.

BCM’s space needs include a
broadcast studio which can double
as a press conference room which
is a complementary use to Council
Chambers with similar controlled access
requirements. BCM also needs smaller
studio spaces, editing suites, offices,
lounge and kitchenette.

David Brower Center, Berkeley CA
Marwen Classroom, Chicago IL
44%
of respondents
support
Berkeley
Community
Media at MSB

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May 2023
Design Concept - Maudelle Shirek Building
SECOND FLOOR (6,500 SF)
FIRST FLOOR (14,400 SF)
GROUND FLOOR (16,350 SF)
Broadcast Studio
ATTIC (2,500 SF)
Offices
Editing Suite
Small Studios
Lounge/Kitchenett
e

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Design Concept - Veterans Memorial Building

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DRAFT FINAL REPORT
May 2023
Design Concept - Veterans Memorial Building

5.4 Veterans
Memorial Building

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Siegel & Strain Architects
Deisgn Concept - Veteran Memorials Building
Veterans Memorial Building-
Community Arts Center

5.4 The public, Berkeley’s arts community,
Civic Arts Commission, and the Civic
Arts Program broadly support the use
of the Veterans Memorial Building as
a Community Arts Center. To ensure
that the building is a shared resource
and platform for creative expression
accessible to all, the Community Arts
Center would be owned and operated
by the City of Berkeley for the benefit
of our community. Community need
demonstrates that the Veterans Memorial
Building could be active throughout the
day, every day of the week, presenting
and hosting all types of arts organizations
and artists across all disciplines including
music, theater, dance, visual arts, literary
arts, and more.

New art functions may require additions,
particularly related to the stage. Further
study with arts organizations, Civic
Arts staff, related commissions and the
interested public is required to determine
the detailed space needs and the best
way to meet them. In a survey with local
arts organizations who expressed interest
in using the building, many expressed
interest in utilizing all the spaces that the
VMB has to offer for public programming.

These takeaways align with the perception
of need in the general public survey
responses.

Veterans Memorial Building is very
desirable as an arts center:
• Downtown, central location near arts
district and transit is very appealing to
arts groups.
• Multi-unit residential buildings are
located nearby; VMB is accessible by
walking.
• Historic structure with tall ceilings and
natural light. Architectural features
worth preserving.
• Unique flexible spaces and smaller
performance spaces for 100–200
audience members.
• Adjacent to park, where outdoor
performances could be located
• Relationship to nearby educational
facilities – BHS and BCC.

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May 2023
Deisgn Concept - Veteran Memorials Building
42%
of arts survey
respondents
support
exhibition space
45%
of public survey
respondents
prioritized arts
exhibition
49%
of arts survey
respondents
support a
concert hall
48%
of public survey
respondents
prioritized music
performance
47%
of arts survey
respondents
support a large
auditorium
37%
of public survey
respondents
prioritized
theater
performance
42%
of arts survey
respondents
support
exhibition space
45%
of public survey
respondents
prioritized arts
exhibition
49%
of arts survey
respondents
support a
concert hall
48%
of public survey
respondents
prioritized music
performance
47%
of arts survey
respondents
support a large
auditorium
37%
of public survey
respondents
prioritized
theater
performance
Existing Conditions
42%
of arts survey
respondents
support
exhibition space
45%
of public survey
respondents
prioritized arts
exhibition
49%
of arts survey
respondents
support a
concert hall
48%
of public survey
respondents
prioritized music
performance
47%
of arts survey
respondents
support a large
auditorium
37%
of public survey
respondents
prioritized
theater
performance

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Siegel & Strain Architects
Deisgn Concept - Veteran Memorials Building
Seismic Improvements:

Building Performance
Objective for New Buildings
Plus
Approach: The City’s Public Works
Department recommends a seismic
upgrade for the Veterans Memorial
Building to the level of Building
Performance Objective for New Buildings
Plus (BPON+).

At this level of seismic retrofit, the
building would be reoccupied several
months to a year after a major seismic
event.

Discussion: Improving the building to
the level of BPON+ will provide a low
risk of injury in a major seismic event.

After such an event, there may be some
localized structural damage that would
require repairs prior to re-opening.

This level of improvement is above code
required minimums, providing addditional
protection to the historic asset.

As part of the 2020 Vision Plan, the City
investigated two approaches - Building
Performance Objective for Existing
Buildings (BPOE), and Immediate
Occupancy (IO). The IO approach
represented significant cost, and the
BPOE approach is a step lower than what
is expected of new buildings designed to
current code.

A second seismic report was submitted
to City Council by Tipping Structural
Engineers in August 2021, proposing a
Building Performance Objective for New
Building (BPON+) retrofit that addresses
a lack of lateral strength and deficient
strength at the roof-wall and floor-wall
connections. This scheme strengthens
the existing diaphragms, improves floor-
to-wall and wall-to-roof connections, and
reinforces select areas with shotcrete or
carbon fiber.

During a specific design phase for the
building, further study would be done to
locate seismic improvments, including
considering exterior fin buttresses at
the rear, with the goal of minimizing
the impact on historic finishes while
optimizing performance and cost.

Additions & Improvements

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DRAFT FINAL REPORT
May 2023
Deisgn Concept - Veteran Memorials Building
Seismic Improvement Locations
BASEMENT (10,300 SF)
FIRST FLOOR (11,300 SF)
SECOND FLOOR (6,400 SF)
ROOFTOP (4,000 SF)

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Siegel & Strain Architects
Deisgn Concept - Veteran Memorials Building
Additions
The results of arts organization
engagement showed a real need for
additional space on either side of the
stage in the large auditorium. Proposed
uses include a loading dock, additional
backstage and greenroom spaces, a new
vertical access core to the basement
level, and storage for scenery. The design
concept shows a possible configuration
accommodating these uses. A specific
design phase will need to refine the
proposed additions, and confirm if
any other spaces are needed, such as
additional class or practice rooms.

Other Improvements
A specific design will need to address
other required improvements. These
include new mechanical, electrical,
lighting and plumbing systems to bring
them into compliance with current
building code and City policy. The City
of Berkeley is committed to converting
buildings to all-electric, including this
historic structure. Relatedly, energy
production through solar panels on the
roof should be explored. A building
assessment report was completed in
2021 by Allana Buick and Bers to identify
needed improvements and repairs to the
building envelope (enclosure), and their
recommendations should be integrated
into a future project. All of this work taken
together will result in a more sustainable
and resilient building.

Accessibility upgrades will be required
throughout the building, including a new
and more gracious accessible entry ramp
sequence, a modern elevator core, and
adjustment of doors and other elements
to meet accessible clearance and reach
requirements.

Egress from the building does not comply
with modern fire codes, in particular
from the basement level, and should be
addressed during the specific design
phase to provide proper exiting paths once
space uses are confirmed. Additional exits
from areas determined to have assembly
uses will need to be provided, with access
to the public right of way or an area of
refuge.

All of these changes will need to be
addressed while respecting the historic
nature of the building, and meeting
Secretary of the Interior standards for
historic preservation. As a part of that
effort, the historic finishes will need
repairs and restoration, and non-historic
elements will be replaced with modern,
healthy and resilient materials.

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DRAFT FINAL REPORT
May 2023
Deisgn Concept - Veteran Memorials Building
Accessibility Finishes Egress/Safety
Building Performance
System Upgrades
“Please make sure
gender-neutral
bathrooms are
included.”
“it needs to appear
more open, accessible,
inviting and
welcoming”
“...refurbish front doors
and restrooms so visitors
have a more pleasant
experience.”

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Siegel & Strain Architects
Design Concept - Veteran Memorials Building
Space Use
Program Spaces
Arts Survey participants and the public
all noted a need for for multi-disciplinary
spaces available to rent by the larger
community.

During the focus group session,
participants more specifically described
a need for flexible, multi-use spaces that
can support all types of performances,
exhibitions, classes, screenings, studios,
conferences, panel discussions, and
readings.

The layout of the large auditorium should
be carefully considered to maintain
flexibility. Ideas discussed include
lowering the stage, creating additions
to the east and west for more backstage
space, and deployable risers to allow for
many performance configurations.

Some of the smaller lodge rooms on the
first floor might have specific functions - a
municipal gallery on the west side and a
classroom that supports visual arts with
storage and sinks on the east side. Others
can remain flexible open spaces.

Shawl-Anderson Dance Company
View to stage at Veterans Memorial Building
44%
of arts survey
respondents
support
rehearsal space
30%
of arts survey
respondents
support class
or workshop
spaces
Discussions with the Veterans group
during the Vision Phase showed that they
wer
e also interested in rentable spaces
for classes or meetings of their own.

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DRAFT FINAL REPORT
May 2023
Design Concept - Veteran Memorials Building
BASEMENT (10,300 SF)
FIRST FLOOR (11,300 SF)
SECOND FLOOR (6,400 SF)
ROOFTOP (4,000 SF)
Artist studio,
artist-in-residence
programs
Small performance
spaces in east and
west lodge rooms
Mechanical/Crawl Space
Auditorium
Gallery/ Visual Arts Rooms
Stage/ Backstage
Dressing Rooms
Learning Lab/ Artist Workspace
Small Performance/ Practice
Balcony Seating
Expand stage wings to east
and west, creating larger
backstage, access to
basement and loading dock

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Siegel & Strain Architects
Design Concept - Veteran Memorials Building
Support Spaces
Transforming the Veterans Memorial
Building into a successful arts center will
require significant and high-quality space
dedicated to support functions.

One major support function mentioned
by the participants in the focus group
was the ability to host donor events in a
large downtown space. During the 2020
Vision Plan, a rooftop event space was
suggested, and is shown in this design
concept, to be further studied during the
specific design phase.

Spaces between the east and west
wings on the first and second floor
can accommodate offices, restrooms,
storage, and other support spaces
required for hosting classes, events, and
performances in the venue.

The large open area on the basement
level could be repurposed for any number
of back-of-house functions including a
stage shop and additional backstage and
practice spaces for groups renting the large
auditorium.

Back-of-house types of uses include:
• Dressing/Changing rooms
• Offices
• Rehearsals
• Storage for productions and facility
• Storage for City’s public art collection
Studio Gang Island in the Sky, Chicago IL

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DRAFT FINAL REPORT
May 2023
Design Concept - Veteran Memorials Building
BASEMENT (10,300 SF)
FIRST FLOOR (11,300 SF)
SECOND FLOOR (6,400 SF)
ROOFTOP (4,000 SF)
Storage
Dressing Rooms
Stage/Sc
enery Shop
Restrooms
Lower Lobby
Commercial Kitchen
Box Office/Administration
Restrooms
Loading Dock
Main Lobby
Storage Space
Restrooms
Event Space
Rooftop Terrace
Rooftop event space
for banquets and
community gatherings
Box office with
increased
transparency to street
and entry porch

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Cost Summary
6

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DRAFT FINAL REPORT
May 2023
Cost Summary
Cost
Summary

6.1 Preliminary Cost Ranges

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Siegel & Strain Architects
Cost Summary - Preliminary Cost Ranges
Preliminary Cost Ranges

6.1 Construction Costs
Preliminary construction cost ranges provided in this report are based on the March 2023 Draft Berkeley Civic Center Design Concept Report, the 2021 Civic Center Buildings Study by Tipping Structural Engineers, and guidance from the City of Berkeley Public Works Department. See Appendix A for a full list of exclusions.

Low (x $1,000) High (x $1,000)
Maudelle Shirek Building - 27,500 GSF Existing + 15,000 GSF Addition $ 51,200 $ 62,600 Seismic Retrofit - Damage Control+ to near Immediate Occupancy $ 13,400 $ 16,400 Envelope & Systems (Electrification, Accessibility, upgrades, finishes) $ 15,500 $ 18,900 Two-story addition on West side $ 19,000 $ 23,200 PVs at new addition, panels & infrastructure $ 600 $ 800 Site Improvement & Utilities $ 2,700 $ 3,300 Veterans Memorial Building - 28,000 GSF Existing + 5,950 GSF Addition $ 26,300 $ 36,900 Seismic Retrofit - Building Performance Objective for New Buildings $ 6,300 $ 7,700 Envelope & Systems (Electrification, Accessibility, upgrades, finishes) $ 15,800 $ 19,400 New Addition at Stage $ 2,900 $ 3,500 Roof Terrace (in high range only) (excluded) $ 4,600 PVs at new addition, panels & infrastructure $ 500 $ 700 Site Improvement & Utilities $ 800 $ 1,000 Martin Luther King Jr. Civic Center Park & Streets $ 16,470 $ 20,130 Paths/paving, planting/irrigation, new trees/tree protection, utilities $ 14,670 $ 17,930 Site Improvements to 2180 Milvia entry, VMB entry, restrooms $ 1,800 $ 2,200 ESTIMATED CONSTRUCTION COSTS $ 93,970 $119,630 + Construction Contingency (10%) $ 9,783 $ 11,957 TOTAL ESTIMATED CONSTRUCTION COSTS $103,753 $131,587

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DRAFT FINAL REPORT
May 2023
Cost Summary - Preliminary Cost Ranges
Other City Costs
Leading up to and during construction, the City will incur costs related to technical studies, existing conditions, design, planning approvals, permitting and management, to name a f
ew. These costs will be further refined in future efforts as more is defined about review process, design requirements and parameters, funding and financing, and timeline.

Low (x $1,000) High (x $1,000)
Other City Costs (estimated at 20% of construction costs) $ 21,523 $ 26,305 TOTAL ESTIMATED CONSTRUCTION COSTS + OTHER CITY COSTS $125,276 $157,892 Operations & Maintenance Costs
Utilizing the 2023 annual Operations & Maintenance budget from the 1947 Center Street building, a $/SF annual cost was determined for O&M at the common and occupied spaces in city-owned buildings. That was applied to the areas of the Maudelle Shirek and Veterans Memorial Building to arrive at the following annual Operations & Maintenance budgets:

Maudelle Shirek Building $1,234,389
Occupied Space - $1,167,936
Common Space - $ 66,453

Veterans Memorial Building $1,069,860
Occupied Space - $1,012,900
Common Space - $ 56,690

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Siegel & Strain Architects
Implementation
7

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7.1 Organizational Management Structure

7.2 Funding Strategies

7.3 Recommended Next Steps
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DRAFT FINAL REPORT
May 2023
Implementation
Implementation

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Siegel & Strain Architects
Implementation - Organizational Management Structure
Organization
Management Structures

7.1 Maudelle Shirek Building -
The Seat of Berkeley’s
Democracy
With the primary uses being city and
public meeting rooms, control of the
Maudelle Shirek Building should remain
with the City. This will ensure that the
meeting spaces are available to all
citizens of Berkeley, aligning with the
Vision Statement’s ideal of a place of
shared resources and platform for free
expression for all.

As with other buildings in the Civic
Center, the Maudelle Shirek Building will
be managed through the Public Works
Department. Tenants, whether they be
City Departments or outside non-profit
entities, will enter into lease agreements
for space within the building, and pay
into the Building Maintenance Fund.

The Public Works Department utilizes
those funds to provide baseline services
including building maintenance, electrical
and communications systems, and
janitorial services.

Tenant improvements to the spaces,
including interior wall alterations,
furniture, equipment, and interior finish
improvements, are the responsibility of
the tenant Department or non-profit.

That includes design, permitting, and
management of contractors, installers,
deliveries, or other third-parties
involved in the improvements. Proposed
improvements are reviewed and approved
by the Public Works department prior to
execution.

To proceed into a specific design phase,
the City should create memorandums
of understanding with the selected
departments and vision-aligned non-
profits. How space is allocated in the final
design will be impacted by both the space
needs and available funding of the future
tenants, and will need to be finalized
before lease agreements are signed.

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May 2023
Implementation - Organizational Management Structure
Geldrop-Mierlo Town Hall, Netherlands Existing Conditions at Maudelle Shirek Baltmannsweiler Council Chambers , Germany

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Siegel & Strain Architects
Implementation - Organizational Management Structure
Veterans Memorial Building -
Municipal Arts Center
A shared resource and platform for
creative expression accessible to all.

The community-serving Municipal Arts
Center will be the artistic destination
in the heart of Berkeley serving as a
shared resource and platform for creative
expression for people of all ages across
all disciplines including music, theater,
dance, visual arts, literary arts, and
more. The Center will be accessible to all
Berkeley residents and the regional Bay
Area community.

The project team recommends a City-
owned and operated model for the
Veterans Memorial Building.

The design team and Civic Arts staff
explored two approaches to the
management of the Veterans Memorial
Building: a City-run arts space or an
anchor tenant-run arts space. Civic Arts
staff and the project team held outreach
meetings with several local privately-
run and municipal-run cultural and arts
centers to understand their operating
models. This included discussions with
operators and/or developers from the
Palo Alto Art Center (PAAC), Walnut
Creek’s Lesher Center for the Arts (LCA),
Oakland’s Kaiser Convention Center,
Livermore Valley Performing Arts Center,
and San Francisco’s Yerba Buena Center
for the Arts (YBCA).

The key finding from this initial research
was that operating an art center as a
City-run facility ensures that it remains
accessible to the entire community while
also ensuring that building uses and
programming aligns with City values.

The Civic Arts staff and design team
also met with lease management staff
in the Parks, Recreation and Waterfront
and Public Works departments to
discuss successful models and lessons
learned from other City-owned and
operated facilities and programs.

From these conversations, the project
“A public arts space
open to all artists.”
“...a space for
community arts of all
kinds - and for all age
groups”
“..bring in revenue to
maintain the
building.”

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DRAFT FINAL REPORT
May 2023
Implementation - Organizational Management Structure
Livermore Valley Performing Arts Center
team has researched how others have
operated and maintained spaces that
are ac
cessible to the community for
use while also generating revenue to
support operations. The research includes
revenue-generating programs and
offerings, required level of staffing and
management, selection of programs &
performances, and operating budgets.

Value Proposition/Offerings
Taking int
o consideration the public
support for an open and accessible arts
center for the Berkeley community,
the Vision Statement, and the desire
to maximize the activation of the Civic
Center, the Arts Center will offer
performances in the evenings and on
weekends, classes for adults and students
during the day, and afterschool and
weekend programs for adults, teens and
children, and provide space resources to
local arts organizations and artists.

The Arts Center may also include a roof
top café, as well as numerous potential
rental spaces including auditorium
rentals for performances and rehearsals,
galleries and large rooms for lectures,
panels and exhibitions, as well as other
event space for rent.

The Arts Center will attract, engage,
and retain paying presenters, audiences
and other local and regional visitors to
participate in a unique cultural synergy
expressive of Berkeley’s values and spirit.

Importantly, the Arts Center will provide
a much needed venue for local arts
organizations who currently rent event,
exhibition, performance and rehearsal
space in other Bay Area cities because
local facilities are not available.

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Implementation - Organizational Management Structure
Revenue Model
The revenue model is a multi-prong
approach. One revenue stream could be
generated from space rentals for arts
presentations by local arts organizations
and arts programming, such as classes.

Revenue could be generated as a
share of ticket sales for performances.

Rental revenue can also be earned
for community gatherings and events,
particularly the rooftop event space. The
second revenue stream is generated
through fundraising by the nonprofit
public benefit corporation whose mission
is to support the Arts Center’s mission
and to act as the fundraising arm & fiscal
agent.

Operating Structure
We envision that the Veterans Memorial
Building will be managed by the City’s
Civic Arts program in partnership
with the Public Works Department.

Management of arts-specific facilities
requires knowledge of the programmatic
needs of the various arts disciplines.

Rental agreements for space within the
building would ensure that funds are
paid into the Building Maintenance Fund
to be utilized by Civic Arts to maintain
arts related equipment and by Public
Works Department s to provide baseline
services including building maintenance,
electrical and communications systems,
and janitorial services. In addition, a
nonprofit public benefit corporation will
be formed whose mission is to support
the Arts Center’s mission and to function
as the fundraising arm & fiscal agent.

This public-private partnership will be
essential to support strategic planning,
programming, education & community
engagement, and funding of the Center.

This to-be-formed organization will
support costs related to fundraising,
marketing, furniture/fixtures/equipment,
event production, security, and auxiliary
staffing.

Civic Arts staff will continue to hold
additional outreach meetings with local
examples of municipal-run cultural and
arts centers to refine the operating model.

The long-term management and staffing
of Veterans Memorial Building and its
associated programs will be defined
through further study.

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Implementation - Organizational Management Structure
Lesher Center for the Arts, Walnut Creek
Palo Alto Art center

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Implementation - Funding
Funding Strategies

7. 2
With an approved design concept, this
project would move into its next phase
of additional recommended studies,
environmental reviews, and initiating
specific design projects. This work is
estimated to cost around $15 million and
take 2-3 years.

A variety of funding sources could
contribute to the City’s approach to
funding. The first approach would involve
many different sources of funding all
leading to one large project, phased in
over the course of years. The following
funding sources might contribute to the
project:

• Congressionally Directed Spending
Requests (aka earmarks). These are
typically in the range of $750,000-$1.5
million. The City has submitted a
request to our federal legislators for
this project and should learn in the fall
whether the earmark is successful.

If so, funding would commence in
calendar year 2024. There is no match
requirement.
• Federal Infrastructure Funding. staff
and consultants have not yet been able
to find a category within the current
funding stream that is a strong fit
for this project, but that may change
as future opportunities arise. Grant
match requirements vary.
• FEMA/Cal OES Hazard Mitigation
Grants. These grants require a cost/
benefit calculation that makes the
BPON+ standard more likely to qualify
for a grant. For that reason, the
Veteran’s Building is more likely to
benefit. Grants require a 25% match.
• Sustainability/Resiliency Grants: the
state and federal government offer
grants that might help fund the electric
conversion, green infrastructure,
permeable paving, etc. Grant match
requirements vary.
• Urban Greening Grant/Coastal
Conservancy Grant: these grants may
fund a feasibility study of daylighting
the creek. Grant match requirements
vary.

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Implementation - Funding
• City Funding. The City’s General Fund,
a future tax measure, or Certificate of
Participation could contribute to the
project. In addition, traffic safety and
stormwater elements of the project
might get contributions from Measure
BB, Gas Tax, and/or the City’s Storm
Fund.
• Foundations and/or Private
Individuals. Given the Civic Center’s
history and importance, private
foundations and individuals might be
a component to the overall funding
strategy.
• Bonding Capacity/Debt Service
- Using early construction costs
estimates, and the general fund as
collateral, assuming the Maudelle
Shirek Building has a project cost
of ~$54M, the annual debt service
would be ~$3,900,000/year (30 year
amortization). A ~$71M project
cost would have debt service of
~$4,900,000/year. For the Veterans
Memorial Building, a project cost
of ~$34M would have annual debt
service of ~$2,400,000 and a project
cost of ~$41M would have annual debt
service of ~$2,900,000. There would
be a reduction in annual debt service
of approximately $50,000/year if both
projects were financed together.

An alternative, more opportunistic
approach would be to identify specific
project components that would be
good fits for available grants, and when
successful in gaining grants, move those
elements forward, e.g., the project’s
raised sidewalks and bulbouts. This
approach would likely take more time,
involve more project cost overall (less
efficiencies of scale), but might be more
realistic.

Regardless, this project will be
significantly more attractive for funding
with an adopted design concept.

Recognizing that strong plans need
funding, and funding is attracted to
strong plans, and staff are excited to work
with City Council on moving this project
forward.

NOT UPDATED

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Implementation - Next Steps
Recommended Next Steps

7. 3
As the City continues to develop a funding
and long-term implementation plans
for the Civic Center Park, surrounding
streets, the Maudelle Shirek Building
and the Veterans Memorial Building,
immediate steps for improvements are
offered as a way to initiate improvements
and enhance the Civic Center experience.

Some of these steps can be undertaken
in collaboration with vision-aligned
partners and non-profit organizations.

Future studies and longer term efforts are
also offered with the goals of developing
specific plans that launch the Berkeley
Civic Center into its improved future.

Early Activation Projects
To offer a better experience of the Civic
Center Park, the City and City partners
could fund early activation projects
that reinvigorate the Park in advance of
more significant future improvements,
including:
• Installation of new furnishings,
including tables and seating or picnic
tables with benches, specifically
selected and placed for lunch time use
• Introduction of pop-up food vendor
events and/or food trucks during the
weekdays
• Installation of new tree protection
elements
• Biodiversity enhancement through new
plantings
• Lighting and path repairs and
upgrades
• Restroom repairs and upgrades
• Review of current special events
needs and lease agreements for Civic
Center Park, considering changes to
agreements specific to this Park
• Increase funding for Park operations
and maintenance

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May 2023
Implementation - Next Steps
Future Studies
Additional information is needed to
support specific design projects for the
Civic Center P
ark, surrounding streets,
Maudelle Shirek Building and Veterans
Memorial Building. These include:
• Topographic Survey of the Civic Center
Park, surrounding streets and building
sites
• Updated Arborist Report for Civic
Center and surrounding street trees,
and Tree Succession Plan
• As-Built drawings & Existing Condition
reports for buildings
• Traffic Study to identify the impacts
on traffic flow/circulation/delays
on adjacent city blocks, impacts on
intersection capacity, emergency
response times and parking of
introducing traffic calming devices
such as: a flush-surface shared street
on Center; bulb-outs on MLK Jr Way;
reduced parking on MLK Jr Way and
Center; raised crosswalks or tables on
MJK Jr Way at Center and Allston; and
crosswalks, either raised or flush with
pavers, on Allston between the existing
Berkeley High School gates and Civic
Center Park.
• A grant pre-application was submitted
to the California Coastal Conservancy
for funding of the Strawberry Creek
daylighting effort. While the application
reviewers were excited about the
project “because of the ecological and
community benefits”, they suggested
the City apply to the Urban Greening
program at the California Natural
Resources Agency. Members of the
CCCC and others are pursuing this
and other grant funding opportunities.

The City will need to be the lead on any
formal grant applications.

Creek grant applications should
include:

1. A detailed description of the
project location and park features
- a large green for civic gatherings,
festivals and recreation; Turtle
Island Monument and Plaza;
Mature trees (redwoods, poplars,
camphors, magnolias, oaks, and
the signature Sequoia) many of
which were planted 80+ years ago;
and pedestrian and vehicular paths
and parking areas.

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Implementation - Next Steps

2. The need for the project and
benefits to the area, which is an
urban setting.

3. Community-led planning
and engagement, involving
stakeholders such as surrounding
property owners, and primary park
users such as BHS, BCC, City of
Berkeley, Ecology Center, festival
hosts and others.

4. Plans for technical and
hydrological studies for daylighting
Strawberry Creek in the Civic
Center area.

5. Plans for a traffic study to identify
impacts to traffic flow/circulation,
emergency response times and
parking of daylighting the creek.

6. The process for applying for and
securing permits, including the
necessary studies for the CEQA
process.

7. A long-term maintenance and
management plan for the creek
and impacted areas of hte park.

8. Preliminary budget including
all technical studies, design
efforts, permitting efforts, and
construction costs.

Longer Term Efforts
Prior to the implementation of specific
project design and construction efforts,
the City may consider:
• Establish relationships with potential
non-profit partners and funding
entities to engage in a capital
improvement campaign
• Develop funding plans for each of
the constituent projects – the Park,
surround streets and the historic
structures
• Building assessment reports were
prepared for the historic structures
in 2021 identifying repairs needed
as part of the future project. In the
interim, City staff continues to monitor
the buildings. Dependent on the
project schedule, the City may need
to stabilize the structures should risk
of further deterioration arise before
construction begins.
• Initiate specific design projects,
including documentation of detailed
spatial programming
• Identify entitlement/approvals path
for specific designs including CEQA
requirements and discretionary
reviews.

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May 2023
Implementation - Next Steps

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Implementation
Siegel & Strain Architects

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Based on review & analysis of:

Report Prepared for:

Siegel & Strain Architects
Berkeley Civic Center
Design Concept ROM Cost Plan
Berkeley, California
Berkeley's Civic Center Design Concept Report
May 9, 2023 rev3
more value, less risk
www.tbdconsultants.com
2063 Grant Road | Los Altos | CA | 94024
2063 Grant Road | Los Altos | CA | 94024
TEL: (650) 386-1812 | FAX: (415) 941-9434
2063 Grant Road | Los Altos | CA | 94024
2063 Grant Road | Los Altos | CA | 94024
TEL: (650) 386-1812 | FAX: (415) 941-9434

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Berkeley Civic Center Berkeley's Civic Center Design Concept Report Design Concept ROM Cost Plan May 9, 2023 rev3
Berkeley, California

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE NUMBER

CONTENTS
BASIS OF ESTIMATE 1 -3
OVERALL COST SUMMARY 4
ROM COST DETAILS 5
CIVIC CENTER PARK COST DETAIL 6

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Berkeley, California

BASIS OF ESTIMATE

REFERENCE DOCUMENTATION
Document Date
Seismic Evaluation and Conceptual Retrofit Design by Tipping Structural Engineers 8/2/2021 Berkeley Civic Center Design Concept Report by Siegel & Strain Architects 3/10/2023 BCC2 Cost Estimate markup from Siegel & Strain Architects 4/19/2023 Discussions with and review comments from design team various

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

BASIS FOR PRICING
Site Requirements 7.0%
Jobsite Management 15.0%
Phasing 0.0%
Insurance & Bonding 2.50%
General Contractor Bonding
Sub-Contractor Bonding
OSIP
Fee (G.C. Profit) 5.0%
This Construction Cost Estimate was produced from the following documentation. Design and engineering changes occurring subsequent to the issue of these documents have not been incorporated in this estimate.

General Contractor’s/Construction Manager's Site Requirement costs are calculated on a percentage basis. General Contractor’s/Construction Manager's Jobsite Management costs are also calculated on a percentage basis.

General Contractor’s/Construction Manager's overhead and fees are based on a percentage of the total direct costs plus general conditions, and covers the contractor’s bond, insurance, site office overheads and profit.

The scope of work comprises a master plan for redevelopment of the old City Hall building and the Berkeley Veterans Memorial Building and the Civic Center Park around the City Civic Center in Berkeley. The summary page for each part shows the square foot area of each existing building as well as the new proposed program area. A midrange of the likely cost per square foot for the proposed scale of work is provided along with the resulting dollar cost in the current market. The two adjoining columns to the right show the dollar costs at 10% lower and 10% higher than the midrange. The Estimated Total Construction Costs Range are escalated assuming start of construction in 2028 with a project duration of 4 years .

At this point in time there is no information about phasing or the scenarios that might be chosen, so current costs provide the most appropriate cost ranges in accordance with the Design Concept by the design architect. This estimate reflects the fair construction value for this project and should not be construed as a prediction of low bid. Prices are based on local prevailing wage construction costs in Q1 of 2023. Pricing assumes a procurement process with competitive bidding for all sub-trades of the construction work, which is to mean a minimum of 3 bids for all subcontractors and materials/equipment suppliers. If fewer bids are solicited or received, prices can be expected to be higher. Conversely in the current competitive market should a larger number of sub-bids be received (i.e. 6 and above) pricing can expected to be lower than the current estimate.

Subcontractor's markups have been included in each line item unit price. Markups cover the cost of field overhead, home office overhead and subcontractor’s profit. Subcontractor's markups typically range from 15% to 25% of the unit price depending on market conditions.

Component cost models have been provided for some of the buildings earmarked for renovation. These are provided as a guide to how some representative costs/sf have been derived. The cost models develop $/SF costs for building systems based upon other similar building types adjusted for time and location. The cost scenarios that entail renovation benefit from existing floor plans that enable some approximate quantification of building metrics such as the total length of exterior wall, roof area, and partition length.

Site costs are also included. TBD Consultants has provided some allowances for utility work that may be required, to cover the case of new buildings in new locations, as well as the reconfiguration of site layouts or upgrades to existing infrastructure.

The general description of renovated spaces cites the updating of a percentage of finishes and equipment. Unit pricing assumes that this scope will be accompanied by some reconfiguration of spaces, and that some structural work will also be triggered. Some corresponding work to building skin and roofing is also assumed. The general contractor markups for supervision, general requirements, bonds and insurance, and fee are typical for the type of projects being considered, but will vary depending on the entire scope of work under contract.

The cost of phasing any of the projects is excluded. The basis of pricing assumes the general contractor will have full access to the unoccupied buildings and site area subject to the scope of work for the duration of any discrete project.

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Berkeley, California

BASIS OF ESTIMATE
Additional conditions of construction
The general contract will be by CM/GC method or competitively bid with qualified general and main subcontractors The entire scope of work for each scenario will be bid as one contract There will not be small business set-aside and equal opportunity employment requirements The contractor will be required to pay prevailing wages The contractor will have full access to the site during working hours; buildings will be unoccupied

CONTINGENCY
Design Contingency 20.0%
Construction/Owners Contingency 10.0% Carried "below the line" of Construction Costs

CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE & ESCALATION
Construction Start Date May-2028 Construction End Date Apr-2031 Mid-date of Construction Oct-2029 Construction Duration 36 months Escalation Period 78 Escalation End Date Construction Mid-Point

ESCALATION
Escalation: 32.77% Compounded Rate Based on a cumulative escalation over 7 years Year 1 5.50%
Year 2 5.00%
Year 3 4.50%
Year 4 4.00%
Year 5 4.00%
Year 6 4.00%
Year 7 4.00%
Unless identified otherwise, the cost of such items as overtime, shift premiums and construction phasing are not included in the line item unit price.

This cost plan is based on standard industry practice, professional experience and knowledge of the local construction market costs. TBD Consultants have no control over the material and labor costs, contractors methods of establishing prices or the market and bidding conditions at the time of bid. Therefore TBD Consultants do not guarantee that the bids received will not vary from this cost estimate.

The Design Contingency is carried to cover scope that lacks definition and scope that is anticipated to be added to the Design. As the Design becomes more complete the Design Contingency will reduce.

The Construction Contingency has not been carried to cover the unforeseen during construction execution and Risks that do not currently have mitigation plans. (As Risks are mitigated, Construction Contingency can be reduce, but should not be eliminated.) An owners contingency has not been included in this construction cost estimate, but it is advised that the owner carry additional contingency to cover scope change, bidding conditions, claims and delays.

Escalation is required to the midpoint of construction which is assumed to be 78 months from May 9, 2023 rev3 This calculation does not account for adverse bidding conditions and a separate Bid Contingency should be carried if there are limited qualified bidders or if a market research study indicates.

Duration (days), 1094
Duration (days), 1824
Duration (days), 2371
Feb-2019 Jun-2020 Oct-2021 Mar-2023 Jul-2024 Dec-2025 Apr-2027 Sep-2028 Jan-2030 Jun-2031 Oct-2032 Construction
Design
Escalation

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BASIS OF ESTIMATE

EXCLUSIONS FROM TOTAL ESTIMATED CONSTRUCTION COSTS
Costs for phasing for all projects
All City costs (i.e. soft costs, permitting and fees, inspections, design fees, technical reports, construction and project management, and financing costs) Preconstruction services
Surge & moving costs
Premium foundation systems (drilled piers, micro piles, etc.) Over excavation & recompaction of site soils
Delays in construction due to environmental mitigation measures Artwork / Public art
Utility connection fees and charges
Furniture, fixtures and equipment (FF&E) except fixed seating in auditorium space if applicable Land acquisition, feasibility studies, financing costs and all other owner costs Hazardous materials abatement
Construction/Owner's contingency
Costs for LEED certification
Operations and maintenance costs
Creek daylighting

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OVERALL SUMMARY (TOTAL PROJECT COSTS) BUILDING /

SITE AREA
$/SF
MIDRANGE MID-RANGE LOW (-10%) HIGH (+10%) COMMENTS
PRELIMINARY ORDER OF MAGNITUDE COST ESTIMATE X $1,000 X $1,000 X $1,000 Maudelle Shirek Building - 27,500 GSF Existing + 15,500 GSF Addition Seismic Retrofit - (Damage Control+) to (Near Immediate Occupancy) 27,500 $542 $14,900 $13,400 $16,400 Envelope Systems including electrification, Accessibility, all other building upgrade and finishes 27,500 $625 $17,200 $15,500 $18,900 Two story addition on West side 15,500 $1,361 $21,100 $19,000 $23,200 PVs at new addition, Panels & infrastructure 7,750 $90 $700 $600 $800 Site improvement & utilities 18,600 $161 $3,000 $2,700 $3,300 43,000 $1,323 $56,900 $51,200 $62,600
Veterans Memorial Building - 28,000 gsf existing + 4,000 sf roof terrace Seismic Retrofit - BPON+ (or Better Performance Objective for New Buildings) 28,000 $250 $7,000 $6,300 $7,700
Envelope Systems including electrification, Accessibility, all other building upgrade and finishes 28,000 $629 $17,600 $15,800 $19,400 New Additions to either side of Stage 1,950 $1,641 $3,200 $2,900 $3,500 Roof Terrace (including 1,500 sf enclosure + 2,500 sf roof deck) in High range only 4,000 $1,050 $4,200 excluded $4,600
PVs at new addition, Panels & infrastructure 7,000 $86 $600 $500 $700 Site Improvements (paved areas in back for loading/service) & utilities 5,500 $164 $900 $800 $1,000 33,950 $987 $33,500 $26,300 $36,900
Martin Luther King Jr. Civic Center Park & Streets
Paths and paving, planting and irrigation, new trees and tree protection, utilities 203,000 $80 $16,300 $14,670 $17,930
Site Improvements to 2180 Milvia Western entry, VMB entry and public restrooms in Park 20,000 $100 $2,000 $1,800 $2,200
Martin Luther King Jr. Civic Center Park & Streets - TOTAL 223,000 $82 $18,300 $16,470 $20,130 TOTAL ESTIMATED CONSTRUCTION COST 76,950 $1,413 $108,700 $93,970 $119,630 ADD CONSTRUCTION CONTINGENCY 10% $141 $10,870 $9,783 $11,957 76,950 $1,554 $119,570 $103,753 $131,587
ADD CITY COSTS including permitting, inspections, design fees, technical reports, consultants, CM, PM. This excludes environmental studies, FF&E, financing
20% $311 $23,914 $21,523 $26,305
TOTAL CONSTRUCTION COSTS TO CITY 76,950 $1,865 $143,484 $125,276 $157,892 NOTES:

Estimates provided are based on information from:

March 10, 2023 BCC Vision & Implementation Plan
Tipping Structural Engineers
Berkeley Public Works Department
EXCLUSIONS FROM TOTAL ESTIMATED CONSTRUCTION COSTS:

Costs for phasing for all projects
All City costs (i.e. soft costs, permitting and fees, inspections, design fees, technical reports, construction and project management, and financing costs) Preconstruction services
Surge & moving costs
Premium foundation systems (drilled piers, micropiles, etc.) Over excavation & recompaction of site soils
Delays in construction due to environmental mitigation measures AV, telecommunications, and security equipment
Artwork / Public art
Utility connection fees and charges
Furniture, fixtures and equipment (FF&E) except fixed seating in auditorium space if applicable Land acquisition, feasibility studies, financing costs and all other owner costs Hazardous materials abatement
Construction/Owner's contingency
Operations and maintenance costs
Costs for LEED certification
Creek daylighting
Maudelle Shirek Building - 27,500 GSF Existing + 15,500 GSF Addition - TOTAL
Veterans Memorial Building - 28,000 gsf existing + 4,000 sf roof terrace - TOTAL
TOTAL CONSTRUCTION COST INCLUDING 10%

CONSTRUCTION CONTINGENCY

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Berkeley, California

BERKELEY CIVIC CENTER - ROM COST DETAIL

ITEMIZED ROM COST DETAILS
GROSS
FLOOR
AREA
$/SF Direct Const
Cost
Gen Rqmt /
Gen Cond
Bond &
Insurance
General
Ctor Fee
Design
Contingency Subtotal Subtotal
$/SF Escalation
Total
Construction
Cost

COMMENTS

22.0% 2.50% 5.0% 20.0% 32.8% 209%
PRELIMINARY ORDER OF MAGNITUDE X $1,000 X $1,000 X $1,000 X $1,000 X $1,000 X $1,000 X $1,000

MAUDELLE SHIREK BECOMES THE BERKELEY CENTER / BERKELEY THINK

MAUDELLE SHIREK BUILDING
Functions as New Council Meeting Hall / City Offices / Community / Meeting Spaces Enhanced Seismic Retrofit (DC+) 27,500 $260.00 7,150 1,573 218 436 1,875 11,253 $409 3,688 14,900 Renovate existing building 27,500 $300.00 8,250 1,815 252 503 2,164 12,984 $472 4,255 17,200 Two story new construction 15,500 $650.00 10,075 2,217 307 615 2,643 15,856 $1,023 5,196 21,100 PVs at new addition, Panels & infrastructure 7,750 $40.00 310 68 9 19 81 488 $63 160 700 flat roof area for PV panels & system
Landscape/Exterior Improvements 18,600 $60.00 1,116 246 34 68 293 1,756 $94 576 2,300 Site Utilities 18,600 $18.00 335 74 10 20 88 527 $28 173 700 MAUDELLE SHIREK BUILDING - TOTAL 43,000 $633.39 27,236 5,992 831 1,661 7,144 42,864 $997 14,047 56,900 VETERANS MEMORIAL BUILDING - to be Converted into an "Arts Hub"

VETERANS MEMORIAL BUILDING
Function as Cultural Hive
Seismic Retrofit ROM (BPON+) 28,000 $120.00 3,360 739 102 205 881 5,288 $189 1,733 7,000 Renovate existing building 28,000 $300.00 8,400 1,848 256 512 2,203 13,220 $472 4,332 17,600 Addition to either side of Stage 1,950 $780.00 1,521 335 46 93 399 2,394 $1,228 784 3,200 connect to back stage + new elevators & stairs
New Roof Enclosure 1,500 $750.00 1,125 248 34 69 295 1,771 $1,180 580 2,400 Roof Terrace 2,500 $350.00 875 193 27 53 230 1,377 $551 451 1,800 PVs at new addition, Panels & infrastructure 7,000 $40.00 280 62 9 17 73 441 $63 144 600 flat roof area for PV panels & system
Landscape/Exterior Improvements 5,500 $60.00 330 73 10 20 87 519 $94 170 700 Site Utilities 5,500 $18.00 99 22 3 6 26 156 $28 51 200 33,950 $470.99 15,990 3,518 488 975 4,194 25,165 $741 8,247 33,500 Martin Luther King Jr. Civic Center Park & Streets
Program Room / Storage / Food / Café / Restaurant
Site paths and paving, planting and irrigation, new
trees and tree protection, utilities, furnishings and
bollards, infrastructure and lighting, playground and
skate spot, bulb outs, green infrastructure and
crosswalks
203,000 $38.33 7,780 1,712 237 475 2,041 12,245 $60 4,013 16,300 Improvements to 2180 Milvia western entry, VMB
entry and public restrooms in Park 20,000 $48.50 970 213 30 59 254 1,527 $76 500 2,000 MLK JR. CIVIC CENTER PARK & STREETS - TOTAL 223,000 $39.24 8,750 1,925 267 534 2,295 13,771 $62 4,513 18,300

VETERANS MEMORIAL BUILDING - TOTAL

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BERKELEY CIVIC CENTER PARK - SITE IMPROVEMENTS

CIVIC CENTER PARK ROM ESTIMATE GROSS
AREA
$/SF

MIDRANGE
Direct
Construction
Cost

COMMENTS
PRELIMINARY ORDER OF MAGNITUDE X $1,000

BERKELEY CIVIC CENTER PARK - LANDSCAPING

LANDSCAPE CONCEPT DESIGN
Grass / Open Green 32,000 $6.50 208
Hardscape 93,000 $35.00 3,255
Planting 27,000 $16.80 454
Playscape 13,000 $22.40 291
Pedestrian space / paths / shared street 38,000 $25.70 977 Rough Grading & Site Demolition 203,000 $4.00 812
Street Improvement + Crossings 24,500 $17.00 417
New Tree Planting 60 $3,000 180
Special feature allowance 1 $280,000 280
Turtle Island Monument 2,000 $50 100
Peace Wall 180 $200 36
Misc. park furniture / benches 203,000 $1.00 203 allowance Site lighting 203,000 $2.80 568
203,000 $38.33 7,780

ENTRY/RESTROOM IMPROVEMENTS
2180 Milvia western entry 11,500 $30.00 345
VMB entry 7,500 $30.00 225
Public restroom in park 1,000 $400.00 400
20,000 $48.50 970

LANDSCAPE CONCEPT DESIGN - TOTAL

ENTRY/RESTROOM IMPROVEMENTS - TOTAL

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Berkeley City CouncilJuly 25, 2023

Berkeley City Council
July 25, 2023