Glendale officials report steady progress on downtown campus reinvestment project

City staff gave an update March 20 on the Downtown Campus Reinvestment Project, saying exterior masonry and interior framing are moving forward and the team is preparing to begin window glazing and amphitheater work.

The presentation, introduced by city staff member Mr. Phelps and delivered by city architect Eddie Garcia, said “this is update number 31” and that work on the east facade masonry is on track "for completion ... by April," with work to follow on the west side. Garcia said crews are installing amphitheater footings and caissons and doing mockups to control finish quality. "So this is a shot of the formwork being removed after that concrete has been poured in place and cured," he said.

The update described interior progress as well: core framing, mechanical-electrical-plumbing installations, new restrooms reconfigured for ADA compliance, and two air-handling units staged for the council chambers. Garcia said the council chambers lobby and garden level framing are beginning and that the project team has identified deteriorated roof sheathing on the council chambers: "Rather than trying to patch repair elements ... we wanna replace the whole roof." He told the council the reroofing would come out of the project’s construction contingency and that staff were obtaining pricing.

Why it matters: the campus reinvestment is central to downtown redevelopment and public meeting space upgrades. The project includes expanded council-chambers lobby space, new amphitheater seating and canopy, and public-facing first-floor space that staff expect to host artwork and events. Garcia also noted two active RFPs: a call for artists for south-facing artwork along Glendale Avenue and an amphitheater-technology RFP that were closing soon.

Council members pressed staff on schedule flags and amphitheater design. Vice Mayor Tomlachoff asked whether a yellow schedule flag meant the project was behind; Garcia said the yellow reflected "a few things ... still a little bit uncertain," notably the amphitheater link, and that the team had left schedule float to avoid surprises. Tomlachoff also asked about permanent seating; Garcia described stepped, poured-in-place concrete seating with precast bench elements and an adjacent lawn for portable chairs and blankets.

On cost questions, Garcia told the council that replacing the council-chambers roof would be paid from construction contingency; "we are currently getting pricing for it though," he said. Council members asked that staff return with firm cost estimates once available.

Staff flagged upcoming work: masonry on the west elevation, start of glazing and window anchoring on the south/Glendale Avenue elevation, and continued grading and amphitheater foundation work. Garcia said substantial-completion estimates would be clearer by summer but that the team felt "in pretty good rhythm." The presentation concluded with staff saying they were ready to answer questions.

Ending: Staff will return with pricing for the roof replacement and continue to brief council on amphitheater sequencing, glazing start dates and the results of the two open RFPs for art and amphitheater technology.