Downtown Upgrade: Revitalizing Redwood City

The city's core is getting a makeover that includes an $8-million renovation of its historic courthouse and construction of a block-long, retail-entertainment center. Both projects will be completed this year.

By Robert Carlsen

Redwood City planners are banking that the renovation of the city's historic courthouse building, along with a block-long entertainment center now being built across the street, will finally attract residents and visitors to a much-maligned downtown city center.

The courthouse project included the demolition of an annex building in front of the courthouse's entrance, which was built in 1939 but has been vacant for five years due to seismic concerns (photo courtesy of DPR Construction).

The San Mateo County courthouse, built in 1910 and now serving as the San Mateo County Historical Museum, is being renovated and expanded by Redwood City-based DPR Construction to the tune of $8 million.

DES Architects and Engineers of Redwood City is doing design work for the courthouse portico (facade), while Gonzalves and Stronck of San Carlos is the general contractor for the interior restoration and new exhibit modifications.

Also working on the interior project are Adolph S. Rosekrans Architects of San Francisco and The Crosby Group Structural Engineers of Redwood City.

Paul Willis, P.E., associate civil engineer for the city, said the courthouse's distinctive dome structure was repaired and restored after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake and is not being worked on in this current project.

"We are, however, installing a new exterior lighting system into the dome structure," he said.

And with the courthouse renovation comes a new, second-phase courthouse square, with pavilions and fountains.

DPR is serving as construction manager at risk for the courthouse portico and square projects.

The courthouse square project had an extended period of public input that added significant time to design concepts before construction documents and plans could even be started, Willis said.

San Francisco-based Freedman Tung and Bottomley, along with Finger Moy & Guadagne of Oakland, served as the architects for the square phase, the plans of which should be ready for bidding this month.

Eddie Parenti, DPR's project manager, said completion "is trending toward mid-April," about two months behind the original schedule due to some subcontractor problems and the fact that DPR's stone supplier's quarry shut down.

Parenti said the building's main finish is fiberglass-reinforced panels. Columns are being reinforced with .25-in. thick fiberglass that resembles sandstone, and all the columns will get a new lighting system, he added.

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The project included the demolition of an annex building in front of the courthouse's entrance, which was built in 1939 but has been vacant for five years due to seismic concerns.

Another annex, on the south side of the courthouse, will remain, as will an adjacent parking lot. The courthouse is situated on a city block bounded by Broadway, Middlefield, Marshall and Hamilton streets.

The renovation took almost 15 years to be approved. The county owns the property and was initially reluctant to sell it, and the city did not have the funds to renovate the building.

However, it became time to either demolish or renovate, and the Redwood City City Council and the county board of supervisors hashed out a rental agreement - the city will pay the county $1 in rent per year for the next 95 years.

The county will remain the owner of the property. Funding came from grants and city redevelopment money.

Nearly two years ago, the city embarked on the project with a courthouse square design and planning program headed by Freedman, Tung & Bottomley. Workshops were held with the public to select one of four designs.

Meanwhile, across Broadway, the city-block-long On Broadway development is slated for a fall opening. The 173,000-sq.-ft. theater entertainment center will include a two-level underground parking garage with 590 spaces (designed by International Parking Design of Oakland), 85,000 sq. ft. of retail on the first floor surrounding the entire block and a 4,200-seat, 20-screen Century Theatres cinema.

DES handled the project's structural design while the Wentz Group of Redwood City is serving as the general contractor. Field Paoli of San Francisco is the lead architect.

City planners say the new courthouse square and On Broadway will give downtown Redwood City a new look. In addition, Middlefield Road will be redesigned from Winslow to Broadway and re-named "Theater Way."

The new street design, once again by Freedman, Tung & Bottomley, will feature attractive granite paving and a European feel. It will also be designed so that it can easily be closed to traffic and used for dining or community events during weekends or special occasions.