Clark Construction Achieves Major Milestone in Delivery of Long Beach Civic Center

Long Beach, CA - Clark Construction Group has achieved Occupancy Ready status on the Long Beach Civic Center - a multi-faceted development in the heart of Long Beach, California. The expansive project includes a new City Hall and council chambers auditorium, as well as a new headquarters facility for the Port of Long Beach, and new main library. Clark’s team reached this significant contractual milestone on June 29 – two days ahead of schedule – culminating an intensive, nearly three-year-long construction effort.

The state-of-the-art Civic Center development is being delivered under a public-private partnership, utilizing a design-build-finance-operate-maintain (DBFOM) contract with a performance-based availability payment structure for City of Long Beach components and a design-build-finance (DBF) contract for the Port of Long Beach components. The Plenary Group and Edgemoor Infrastructure & Real Estate led the development effort; Clark is the project’s design-builder, in collaboration with architect Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. Johnson Controls is the major systems provider and will serve as the long-term operating partner for City Hall, the council chambers, and main library.

Located in the city’s urban core, the Civic Center development encompasses nearly 620,000 square feet divided among the four structures and spread across six city blocks: City Hall (270,000 square feet), council chambers auditorium (7,500 square feet), Port of Long Beach headquarters (237,000 square feet), and the main library (92,000 square feet). Outside of the project’s vertical elements, Clark led roadway and pedestrian improvements, creating public plazas and pathways that serve to link the new structures. The team will also be revitalizing nearby historic Lincoln Park.

Designed to achieve LEED® Gold certification, the Civic Center buildings feature sustainable elements such as rooftop photovoltaic panels, underfloor displacement HVAC distribution, and energy-efficient equipment and lighting systems. The buildings are also equipped with high-tech low voltage systems, including automated security entrances, high-speed data cabling to every work station, and high-end, audio-visual networks. The lobby of the new City Hall building also contains an impressive 500-square-foot video wall that will greet employees and visitors upon entry.

The Civic Center project adds to Clark’s growing portfolio of work in Long Beach. The company was part of the public-private partnership that delivered the award-winning Governor George Deukmejian Courthouse in 2013. Earlier this year, the company successfully completed the Pacific Visions Wing -- a 29,000 square-foot addition to the Aquarium of the Pacific.

“This is an exciting time for Long Beach, and for our team. Clark is honored to work alongside great partners from the City and the Port, as well as with our development and design teams, to bring these important pieces of infrastructure to fruition, and continue to help shape the Long Beach landscape,” said Marc Kersey, Clark senior vice president and executive in charge of the project.

The City of Long Beach will hold a grand opening event to mark the official Civic Center opening on Monday, July 29 at 6:00 PM.