Del Mar Civic Center Project 2013-2018

Del Mar's new Civic Center was dedicated on Saturday, June 30, 2018 and is located at 1050 Camino del Mar.

Quick Facts:

  • The project redeveloped the former City Hall site at 1050 Camino del Mar with new public buildings and amenities
  • Project Architect: The Miller Hull Partnership
  • Landscape Architect: Spurlock Landscape Architects
  • General Contractor: RABC-ECC, A Joint Venture
  • 8,855 square feet City Hall for administrative functions
  • 3,104 square feet Town Hall (up to 250 person seating capacity)
  • 934 square feet Breezeway
  • 15,000 square feet public plaza
  • Up to 140 parking stalls in a partially below grade structure and surface lot, landscaping, grading, and associated site improvements
  • The project site is located in the Public Facilities (PF) Zone
  • The total project budget, including design, environmental review, construction, all furnishing and equipment was $17.8 million and the project was delivered on time and on budget.

Photos of Constructed Civic Center

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Project Information

Civic Center planning was initiated by the City Council on June 17, 2013. Over the next three years through multiple City Council meetings, public workshops and polls, the City Council reviewed the facility needs, explored alternative sites, and assessed the value of renovating the existing facilities. The City Council directed staff to proceed with a new facility on the existing property. Upon developing a program and a budget, an RFP was prepared for architectural design. The Miller Hull Partnership was selected as architects following a competitive process on April 6, 2015. After a year of design, the City Council certified the project's Environmental Impact Report on January 4, 2016 and approved the project entitlement permits on January 19, 2016. The existing buildings were demolished in July, 2016 and the construction contract was awarded to RABC-ECC, A Joint Venture at the September 6, 2016 City Council meeting. A groundbreaking ceremony was held on September 19, 2016 to initiate project construction. After approximately 21 months of construction, the new City Hall opened for business on May 29, 2018 and the first City Council meeting was held in the new Town Hall on June 4, 2018.

Groundbreaking Ceremony

A groundbreaking ceremony (JPG) was held on September 19, 2016, to formally kick off the project construction.

Construction Bid Period

The bidding advertisement for the construction phase was posted on July 26, 2016, construction documents were made available to bidders on August 8, 2016, and the bidding period closed at 3:00 pm on September 1, 2016. The construction contract was awarded to the firm RABC-ECC, A Joint Venture at the September 6, 2016 City Council meeting.

Bid Information

Award of Construction Contract (PDF)

Abatement & Demolition

Full demolition of the four structures was completed as of July 2016.

Garage Revision & Project Financing

On March 21, 2016, the City Council considered the concept of a one level parking garage and approved the resolution for financing of the project.

Alley Vacation

On February 16, 2016, the City Council approved the vacation of an unimproved, 20-foot wide, east-west alley located on the City Hall site (APNs 300-093-02 and -03) at 1050 Camino del Mar, related to the new City Hall/Town Hall Project. The unimproved alley easement was never improved to provide a roadway pass-through connection from Stratford Court to Camino del Mar, is not considered for future street purposes, and has not been used for public access. As such, the mapped alley is considered as excess public right-of-way. Exhibit B Project Entitlements The City Council approved the City Hall/Town Hall project entitlements on January 19, 2016. Environmental Impact Report On January 4, 2016, the City Council certified the Environmental Impact Report for the City Hall/Town Hall project. Story Poles As the City progressed through the design process of a new City Hall/Town Hall, story poles were erected at the existing site (1050 Camino del Mar) to depict the outline and height of the buildings and to aid neighbors, staff personnel, and members of the decision-making bodies in their evaluation of a project application. The story poles depicted the outline of the proposed City Hall, Town Hall, parking garage, as well as planned new grade levels. The story poles were installed on December 4, 2015 and were removed on January 22, 2016. Design Review & CPP Meeting

The Design Review Board (DRB) discussed the project and its progress at its November 18, 2015 meeting. A Citizen's Participation Program (CPP) meeting was held on November 19, 2015.

Concept & Schematic Designs The project architects first developed a Concept Design and then refined that site concept into what is called Schematic Design. The City Council approved their Schematic Design presentation on July 20, 2015 and the Design Review Board (DRB) provided early input at its August 2015 meeting. The design team conducted a workshop on September 28, 2015 to look at various elements of the design and the community input provided substantial direction to the architects. On November 2, 2015, the City Council reviewed and endorsed the progress to move forward with the entitlement process.