Council approves Populous contract as design work advances for Victoria Community Center expansion

The Victoria City Council on June 17 approved a professional services contract with Populous Incorporated for design and construction administration related to the Victoria Community Center expansion and renovation.

The 7‑figure contract totals $1,999,873 and will fund schematic design, design development and completion of construction documents ahead of permitting and contractor selection, city staff said. Populous presented a revised site layout that separates a new arena from the existing buildings to preserve circulation for livestock trailers, create future expansion capacity and add an east‑side entrance to the campus.

City staff described the presentation as an intermediate design update following public input and stakeholder meetings, including consultations with livestock‑show and rodeo organizers. Todd Growler of Populous said the firm focused the current project on three core elements: renovation of the existing community center shell and dome, conversion of the existing arena to a flat‑floor multiuse event space, and construction of a covered multiuse livestock/horse barn and a new event arena.

City staff said the design team will conduct additional stakeholder reviews and public updates this summer. The firm outlined a design timeline that begins with a design team kickoff the week of June 30, moves through schematic and design development into October, and targets complete construction documents by year end. Populous and staff estimated substantial completion of core work by Jan. 31, 2027, with the goal of having the facility operational before the 2027 livestock show. Staff also said the two new buildings could be finished earlier than renovation work on the existing structure.

City staff described parallel procurement steps: an owner's representative RFQ to be issued this month with selection anticipated by August, and a construction manager at‑risk procurement planned for October. Staff said the owner's rep and construction manager will refine cost estimates and help plan selective demolition and construction phasing to avoid disruption of the livestock show schedule.

Council voted to approve the Populous contract after the presentation; no roll‑call tally was read at the meeting.

The presentation emphasized that this is an iterative design phase and that the layout shown is not final. Staff expects additional input from event stakeholders before finalizing site placement of RV hookups, carnival space and warm‑up arenas. The council will receive a separate update on financing as part of the preliminary fiscal year 2026 budget and a follow‑up briefing in July on funding and debt sizing.

The Populous contract passed on a voice vote and the council moved to the next agenda item.

Sources: City staff presentation and Populous consultant remarks recorded at the June 17, 2025 Victoria City Council meeting.