CITY OF MENIFEE
SUBJECT: Menifee Community Center Design Workshop
MEETING DATE: April 29, 2025
TO: Mayor and City Council
PREPARED BY: Mariana Mitchell, Community Services Director REVIEWED BY: Rebekah Kramer, Deputy City Manager
APPROVED BY: Armando G. Villa, City Manager
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RECOMMENDED ACTION
1. Review and provide feedback on the final design elements of the building signage and Visual and Performing Arts space of the future Menifee Community Center, Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Project No. 23-10, located on La Piedra and Menifee Road.
DISCUSSION
The City of Menifee continues to invest in high-quality public facilities that support recreation, culture, and community engagement. Among these efforts is the development of the future Menifee Community Center, Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Project No. 23-10 (“Project”), located at the intersection of La Piedra and Menifee Road, adjacent to the Menifee Library. The site was transferred to the City by the County of Riverside in 2023 to support future public use and expand access to community-based amenities.
In January 2024, the City awarded a professional services agreement to TSK Architects (“Contractor”) to lead the Project’s design, site planning, and community engagement efforts.
Since that time, the Project has moved through several key design milestones, shaped by public input and reviewed at various stages by the Parks, Recreation and Trails Commission (PRTC) and City Council. The final construction documents are anticipated to be completed by summer 2025.
The community has played a central role in shaping the project’s programming and character. A public workshop held in April 2024, along with an online survey that generated over 230 responses, highlighted a strong interest in spaces that support the performing arts, arts education, and flexible uses for gatherings and events. In response, the project design was refined to include a visual and performing arts space, multi-purpose meeting rooms, an exercise studio, a catering kitchen, office and support areas, outdoor seating, and on-site storage.
City of Menifee Staff Report
Menifee Community Center Design Workshop
April 29, 2025
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The PRTC unanimously supported these refinements at its June 2024 meeting and recommended that the facility maintain flexibility across all gathering spaces. This feedback was echoed at an October 2024 City Council workshop, where Council emphasized alignment with the adjacent Menifee Library, the inclusion of retractable seating, and public art elements that reflect local identity. During the joint workshop in February 2025 the majority of the members of the Council and the PRTC affirmed support for Palette Option 1, based upon its architectural cohesion with the library and its adaptable layout for both community and arts-based use as shown in Image 1.
At that meeting, direction was also given to explore improvements to the performance space layout, expand placemaking elements through landscape design and signage, and maximize facility parking.
IMAGE 1 – PALETTE OPTION 1
Design Updates
Since the February 2025 joint workshop, the Contractor further refined the facility design to improve both the performance and long-term maintenance of the building. One of the most notable changes involves the curtain wall system along the east-facing elevation of the meeting rooms.
Originally, the structural wood columns were partially exposed on the building’s exterior, integrated with the window wall assembly. While visually striking, this placement presented challenges related to energy efficiency and long-term weather protection. In response, the design has been revised to shift the curtain wall to the outermost edge of the building, effectively bringing
City of Menifee Staff Report
Menifee Community Center Design Workshop
April 29, 2025
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the structural wood beams inside. The proposed change creates a continuous thermal barrier across the building’s exterior, which would help improve energy performance and reduce heat loss. By relocating the wood structure indoors, the beams are now protected from sun, wind, and rain exposure, greatly reducing future maintenance needs. Importantly, the timber elements would still be visible through the large glass windows, preserving the architectural intent and highlighting the natural materials from within, as shown in Image 2.
IMAGE 2 – WINDOW WALL ASSEMBLY DESIGN UPDATE
As part of the Project’s continued refinement, the Contractor explored the feasibility of converting the Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) space into a dedicated black box theater. While this option would have provided a fully immersive performance environment with permanent theatrical infrastructure, it was determined that the cost to implement this level of specialized buildout would increase the total project cost by more than $10 million. Given the need to contain the facility development cost and the desire to maintain flexibility in community use, the design team recommends retaining a multi-use layout that supports both performances and general events.
The updated VAPA space is designed to fulfill this dual role as a performance venue and multi- purpose community gathering area. The space would now include built-in infrastructure such as telescopic seating, stage curtains, theater lighting, and audio/visual capabilities – features that allow for quick and efficient transitions between different types of programming. Dedicated storage rooms located adjacent to the VAPA space would provide easy access to equipment like portable stage platforms, sound systems, and tables, reducing setup time and ensuring the room
City of Menifee Staff Report
Menifee Community Center Design Workshop
April 29, 2025
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can accommodate a wide range of uses. These enhancements are designed to support long-term flexibility while minimizing operational costs and maintenance over time.
Next Steps
The project is now in the Construction Documents phase, where the design is being finalized with detailed technical drawings, engineering coordination, and code compliance reviews. The focus of the last community center design workshop on April 29, 2025, will center around receiving input on the final design elements of the community center including landscaping, signage and the VAPA space.
Following the April 29, 2025, workshop, feedback from the City Council, the PRTC, and the public will be carefully considered in combination with material costs and building code requirements as the overall building, parking lot, and landscape design elements are finalized and the construction documents are completed. Upcoming tasks include:
•Completing a constructability review to identify and address any potential issues before construction.
•Finalizing architectural renderings and visualizations for the final presentation. •Preparing a comprehensive cost estimate based on the updated design and market conditions.
Upon completion of these tasks, the project would be construction-ready and positioned for future funding, permitting, and implementation. This phase represents the final step in the design process, transitioning the Menifee Community Center from vision to reality, guided throughout by community input, fiscal responsibility, and long-term programmatic goals.
STRATEGIC PLAN OBJECTIVE
Community Engagement and Social Infrastructure
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with the recommended action. The design phase of the Menifee Community Center is fully funded in the FY 2024/2025 CIP Budget. Construction and development of the project site is currently unfunded. The preliminary cost estimate for constructing the community center is anticipated to be close to $1,000 per square foot. With a proposed floor plan of 20,000 square feet, the estimated project cost is approximately $20 million. A more detailed cost estimate will be provided once the interior and exterior design elements are finalized. Staff would explore funding options and pursue grant funding opportunities for the development phase of the project following approval of the facility design. Additional funding would also be required to support facility maintenance and programming in future years.
ATTACHMENTS
1. April 29, 2025 Presentation
2. February 13, 2025 Presentation