HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 13587
City of Palo Alto (ID # 13587)
City Council Staff Report
Report Type: Consent Calendar Meeting Date: 11/1/2021
City of Palo Alto Page 1
Title: Approve a Design Change to the Public Safety Building Community
Room Exterior
From: City Manager
Lead Department: Public Works
Recommendation
Staff recommends that Council direct staff to modify the exterior design of the Public Safety
Building Community Room to include more windows, add more exterior wayfinding signage,
and modify its door to the plaza for both ingress and egress (Option C as described in the
report).
Background
In December 2015, Council selected Parking Lot C-6 as the site for the Public Safety Building
(PSB) within the California Avenue Business District.
The Architectural Review Board (ARB) recommended approval of the PSB design on September
20, 2018. In the recommendation, the ARB deferred the decision about the Community Room
exterior to City Council “for refinement of the design to emphasize its availability to the public
as a City-managed civic space, including treatment of the door directly into the plaza, signage
and, if possible, additional windows keeping in mind the security concerns of the principal users
of the building, that is to say the Police and Fire Departments.”
On November 5, 2018, in conjunction with the ARB recommendation, Council directed staff to
keep the more secure and less inviting exterior design of the Community Room to align with the
operational and security needs of the Police Department (CMR #9685). The Community Room
has also been referred to as the Multipurpose Room.
On February 1, 2021, Council authorized a construction contract with Swinerton Builders for the
new PSB (CMR# 11752). During discussion of that item at the Council meeting, staff
recommended redesigning the Community Room exterior to make it more inviting and open,
consistent with its planned use as a Community Room.
On August 30, 2021, Council authorized Amendment No. 2 to Contract C17165953 (CMR
#12318) with RossDrulisCusenbery Architecture, Inc. (RDC) that included added scope and
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funding to prepare options for the Community Room redesign.
For reference, below is a night-time rendering of the current approved building design. The
Community Room is the shorter structure on the left between the flags and the main building.
Discussion
During the staff presentation and award of the PSB construction contract in early 2021, it was
suggested that the decision regarding the Community Room exterior be reconsidered to make
the room more open and inviting to the public. The ARB had originally advocated for this when
passing the matter to City Council.
Three options for Council consideration for the Community Room exterior are:
• Option A: No changes. Leave the exterior as previously approved.
• Option B: Change door only and add signage. The exit-only door would be modified for
use as an entrance and be comprised of full lite ballistic glass.
• Option C: Change door as in Option B and change the brick wall beside the door to
ballistic glass with mechanical shades and add signage
The entrance door area for Options B and C would include additional wayfinding signage and
security features to facilitate evening meetings with the main lobby open, while the main
building is secured. Restrooms are available in the lobby. Basic renderings of the three options
are shown below.
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Option A – No Change:
Option B – Convert Door Only to Glass:
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Option C – Convert Door and Change Brick Wall to Glass:
Staff recommends moving forward with Opton C to provide the most inviting and open
modification while maintaining the ability to secure the room. The mechanical shades will
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provide privacy when required during sensitive police training meetings. On the inside of the
room, Option C would eliminate a large format video monitor on the interior side of the brick-
clad wall.
Estimated costs and summary of the changes for the options are provided in the following
table.
Options: A. No Change
B. Convert Door Only
to Glass
C. Convert Door and
Change Brick Wall to
Glass
Ballistic Protection? Yes Yes Yes
Scope
Changes:
None Modify exit-only
door to a full lite
ballistic glass door
with wayfinding
signage.
• Glass Curtain Wall
• Mechanical
• Electrical
• Signage
• Technology
Estimated Design Cost: $0 $1,000 $10,000
Estimated Construction Cost: $0 $15,000 $180,000
Total Estimated Cost: $0 $16,000 $190,000
Timeline
The construction of the PSB is in progress and scheduled to be completed Summer 2023. The
recommended motion is not expected to impact the project timeline.
Resource Impact
Funding for the recommendation in this report is currently available in the encumbered
contracts covered by the PSB project budget (PE-15001). Design of Option C will impact the
Additional Services budget with the design consultant, RDC. If Council approves the staff
recommendation, staff will return in early December for a contract amendment with RDC to
replenish the Additional Services budget from funding appropriated by the City Council for PE-
15001 as part of the FY 2022 Adopted Budget.
Stakeholder Engagement
Public Works has been and is engaging designated staff from key departments that will be
occupying the PSB upon completion. Additionally, the PSB design was reviewed and
recommended for approval via the ARB process that notifies nearby residents and publishes
formal meeting agendas online and via newspaper advertisements. The project website is
regularly updated with current information and email newsletters are sent to persons who sign
up to the mailing list via the website.
Environmental Review
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An Environmental Impact Report for the PSB and the New California Avenue Area Parking
Garage was prepared and certified by Council on June 11, 2018 (CMR #8967), by adoption of
Resolution No. 9772.
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