Community Center Design Development Phase Update
The Los Altos Community Center is in the middle of the Design Development phase, the second of the three design phases. As we work to refine the Schematic Design accepted by City Council on March 13, 2018, the Design Development Working Group (DDWG) continues to provide input in the design process. The DDWG, consisting of staff, architects, engineers and community members, weighs in on flexibility and viability of design elements, provides feedback representative of the community, focuses the design toward operational and programming needs and continues to solicit input from stakeholders.
One of the team’s focus areas is on incorporating high-performing and sustainable green elements in the new Community Center. Some of the elements staff and the design team are investigating for integration include: daylighting studies to allow for ample daylight throughout the building which would also result in reducing lighting needs; study of access to quality views to increase the comfort and productivity of building occupants; CO2 monitors to allow for automated outside airflow; sun shading to reduce glare and minimize solar heat gain; reducing indoor water use and low-water native/adaptive landscaping species use; management of rain and stormwater to minimize and reduce site water run-off and increase water quality; study of the Solar Reflectance Index value of materials to reduce the heat island effect; installation of all-electric systems to minimize carbon use; and study of lighting materials and their placement to reduce or eliminate up-light, glare and light pollution.
The City Council will receive an update of the project at its July 10, 2018 Council meeting. An open house will be held prior to the Council meeting so the public will have a chance to view the current design drawings, meet the architect and city project team and ask questions on the progress of the project. More information on the open house will be provided to the public as soon as the project team finalizes all the details.
As part of the Design Development process, the Community Center Project will be brought to the Complete Streets Commission (CSC) for review at its June 27, 2018 meeting. After CSC review, the project will be reviewed by the Planning Commission. In accordance with the City’s Open Government Policy, a Public Notice sign will be posted at least 10 days before the first scheduled Planning Commission meeting, anticipated to be on August 2, 2018. The Public Notice will be maintained in-place through the Council meeting scheduled for September 11, 2018. The start of construction is anticipated in summer 2019.
