Civic Facilities Needs Assessment - City of Lake Forest, California

With the closure of the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station, restrictions on construction within the established CNEL Noise Contour were changed, allowing the City to examine the impacts of changing the designated land use. As part of the public opportunities and development exactments review, the City contracted with Griffin to assess City needs related to new City Hall, Community Center, and Sports Park facilities. This project contained six major components leading to City review of the requirements and options: (1) needs assessment, (2) facilities program, (3) site alternatives analysis, (4) conceptual design, (5) project cost estimates, and (6) financial analysis and apportionment strategy. Griffin assembled and led a team of experts that accomplished these tasks. Among the products delivered to the City were detailed needs analyses of City Hall, Community Center, and Sports Park facilities, which entailed public meetings and surveys of stakeholders, as well as analysis of City staffing and service delivery in future years, City demography, and community services goals. From this, an architectural program was developed for each facility component. Four sites were evaluated and master plan sketches were prepared to validate the program for each site option. Site neutral, but detailed, total project budget estimates were generated for the facilities, and an apportionment analysis and financing plan was generated.