The City of Santa Cruz and the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music announce the development of conceptual plans for a possible renovation of the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium. Through a rigorous and open proposal process, the firm ELS Architecture and Urban Design was selected to lead the project, with funding provided by a grant from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation. ELS will be tasked with looking at practical and affordable ways to enhance the use of this historical building as a performing arts and cultural center.
Because a number of sports and floor-focused events have moved, or are considering moving, to the new Kaiser Permanente Arena, the Leadership Team felt there was an opportunity to focus renovation planning on performing arts and cultural activities.
Project Manager Jim Brown conducted the user needs assessment that suggests a wide range of improvements that would make the facility more comfortable for patrons, accessible for performers, desirable to potential producers, and cost efficient for the City, which owns and operates the Civic Auditorium.
In 2012, a Civic Planning Leadership Team was formed. Through the Cabrillo Festival, the team applied for and received funding from the Packard Foundation to conduct a needs assessment of current and potential Civic Auditorium users, and to design conceptual plans for a future Civic Auditorium renovation.
“The Civic Auditorium has such a rich history in our community, and we are thrilled to be working with ELS to reimagine and reinvigorate a venue, unlike any other in our county, where our community gathers for so many diverse events,” said Ellen Primack, Executive Director of the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music and chair of the Civic Planning Leadership Team.
“I’m pleased to see this project moving forward for the benefit of all Santa Cruz’ residents,” said Martin Bernal, Santa Cruz’ City Manager. “A vision for an enhanced Civic that further supports our community and our economic vitality downtown is very much welcomed.”
The Leadership Team selected ELS based on the firm’s deep experience in historic theater renovation. Two past ELS projects include renovation of the California Theater in San Jose and the San Jose Civic Auditorium, a facility from the same era and with the same basic structure as the Santa Cruz Civic.
Conceptual designs for the Civic will be drafted based on past studies and priorities established by a working group of Civic staff and current users. ELS will also look at ways to dovetail required building maintenance with renovation efforts. Designs will be completed in May of 2014 and will be the foundation for future work with City leadership and the public to identify ways to support the development of this prized community resource.
The Civic Planning Leadership Team is co-chaired by Ellen Primack, Executive Director of the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music, and Dannettee Shoemaker, Director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Santa Cruz, which stewards the Civic.
Other members include: Ceil Cirillo, former Redevelopment Agency Director, City of Santa Cruz • Christina Cuevas, Program Manager, Community Foundation Santa Cruz County • Jan Derecho, Executive Director, Santa Cruz County Symphony • Mark Ellis, Chief Building Official, City of Santa Cruz • J Guevara, Economic Development and Redevelopment Manager, City of Santa Cruz • Greg Handberg, Senior Vice President of Properties, Art Space • Nancy Loshkajian, fund raising consultant • Michelle Williams, Executive Director, Arts Council Santa Cruz County • Dick Wilson, former Santa Cruz City Manager • Kelley Lindquist, President of Art Space, has served in an advisory role.