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QUESTIONS
ANSWERS
What was the
cost of the project?
The total project budget is $117.5 million, with $84.4 million for building
construction costs. On Jan. 31, 2005, the City
Council awarded the contract for the project to Clark Construction Group.
The project was completed under budget and ahead of time.
For more information on the scope of the work undertaken as part of the project see
Construction - Project Overview.
How was the project funded?
Project funds were secured through a combination of local tax
revenues, the sale of bonds and an increase in the percentage of
electricity revenues that were annually transferred from the city's light
and power fund to the general fund. The project was supplemented with
grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the State
of California and contributions from individuals (see
Grants & Fundraising).
What
activities were included in the overall project?
The move-out and move-in of employees and offices; the seismic upgrade and
historic restoration of the building; the repair or replacement of
infrastructure; the addition of new safety systems, including fire
sprinklers; new and upgraded elevators, and improvements to meet the requirements of the Americans
with Disabilities Act (ADA). The project scope also includes protection of
the trees in the courtyard and trees surrounding City Hall.
When was the project
completed?
The project was completed, and employees fully reoccupied City Hall by
July 2007.
Why did City Hall
need a Seismic Retrofit?
Extensive study conducted over the past 15 years revealed that City Hall
would not withstand an earthquake of 7.0 on the Sierra Madre
fault or 8.0 or higher on the San Andreas fault without destruction of
the building and possible loss of life. An earthquake of that magnitude
is predicted by Caltech scientists within the next 30 years. As a
result, in 2003 the City Council approved a plan for the seismic retrofit, historic
restoration and infrastructure upgrade that will ensure that City Hall
will continue to stand proud and serve the community for the next 100
years. In January 2005, the City Council approved Clark Construction
Group as the building contractor for the project. Construction began in
March 2005 and was completed in June 2007.
What is a Base Isolator?
The type of base isolator to be used for City Hall is a 'friction
pendulum' type isolator, with a steel ball that will float between two concave metal plates (looking much like a
hamburger between two buns). These units were installed beneath the
building columns. During an earthquake, the isolators will allow
the ground to move independently below the building structure, which will
reduce the tremors that are experienced by the building and its occupants
while safeguarding the historic building from earthquake damage.
Please click
here for more
information on the City Hall building's base isolation system.
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