Poway City Hall, Poway

The new $20.4-million Poway City Hall consists of a 50,500-sq.-ft., two-story city administration building and a 6,000-sq.-ft. council chambers building with a 129-seat community meeting center. The project was phased over two years beginning in October 2002. The city administration building was completed in spring 2004. The council chambers opened in late fall of 2004, after demolition of the existing city hall and construction of an open space park was complete.

The new city hall consolidates most of the city departments under one roof-increasing productivity and centralizing services for citizens. The innovative facility is designed to draw in natural daylight and open spaces are featured throughout. A new park and children's play area further enhance the site. Designers infused Spanish with modern looks to evoke Poway's "city in the country" sentiment. The use of slate and exposed concrete effects give the building a modern feel, while stucco, heavy timbers and deep-set windows are reminiscent of the past.

The fusion of past and present can also be seen in the historical trees and archeological Kumeyaay metate stone which were preserved, stored and replaced after construction. In addition, a public art program (a first for Poway) was developed specifically for the building, which currently showcases Kumeyaay Indian artifacts and art. The tragic loss of a 200-year old oak tree, (due to disease, not related to the project) created further opportunity to incorporate Poway's past into the future. Wood from the historical oak, which graces the city's seal, was used to fabricate several pieces of furniture in the building.

Challenges included constructing the new facility while sharing a site and continuing operations with the old facility. This was accomplished through creative phasing and site planning. The phasing necessitated that some work such as the administration center balcony had to be completed with extremely limited laydown and delivery areas.

Rerouting of city employees and citizens conducting business with the city was a daily challenge. A strong flow of communication and signage were used to make pedestrian and vehicular traffic safe and convenient during all stages of construction. Off-site parking was utilized to allow space for material deliveries and logistics. One specific example was the final-phase construction of a large balcony on the new administration building. The balcony was slated for construction in the final phase because it would have impeded demolition of the old city hall, just a few feet away. In a testament to superior site planning, construction crews had just a 15-ft. corridor between the newly completed City Hall and the partially constructed chamber building in which to deliver supplies to construct the large balcony structure. With little space for storage or maneuverability, Barnhart managers meticulously scheduled deliveries to make the best use of the space available. Deliveries were well-timed and in concert with the project schedule.

Flexible and responsive scheduling was employed to maximize site utility modifications. Communication with city staff was critical to ensure limited disruption to city operations and comfort of staff. Noise, safety and dust control plans were top priorities of the Barnhart team. Working on the occupied site necessitated extra planning to ensure important city events and business were not disrupted due to noisy operations. Coordination of site utility replacements was seamlessly scheduled to avoid interfering with city staff business operations. Services were disrupted in one-hour increments only when they needed to be brought down.

Flexible scheduling was also essential when tragedy struck San Diego County. The October 2003 wildfires reached just 1 mi. away from the site, creating hazardous atmospheric conditions. Work had to be shut down for a week and new utility installations were delayed up to four weeks while energy crews focused on re-establishing power to those areas affected by damaged power poles. Barnhart managers manipulated the already tight schedule to accommodate this unforeseen challenge.

The construction management delivery system facilitated triumph over these challenges by providing flexibility in the selection of trade contractors as well as schedule and budget in an effort to provide the city with an economical, high-quality facility. This proactive approach allows Barnhart managers to develop thoughtful and effective solutions to challenges, and even develop modifications to overcome unforeseen conditions and circumstances.

Owner's Comments:

"The old City Hall definitely felt as though you were closed in tight corners, but the new one is open and airy. And now we have state-of-the-art equipment."-Paolo Romero, assistant to the city manager, Poway

Project Team:

Owner: City of Poway
Architect: McGraw/Baldwin Architects
Construction manager: Douglas E. Barnhart Inc.
Key subcontractors:
Able Heating & Air (HVAC)
Advance Plumbing
Gould Electric
E.F. Brady
J.P. Witherow (roofing)
Randy Rebar
Artimex Iron
Tower Glass
Vern Peltzer Plumbing
Nick Pecoraro Painting
Jaynes Corp.

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