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Palmdale hears design update for Cimboli Center consolidation and renovation
Summary
Architects presented a two‑phase plan to combine the Cimboli Center with the library into a single cultural center, detailing flexible meeting spaces, a three‑story glazed concourse and an estimated phase‑1 cost of roughly $21 million (including soft costs and contingency). Council pressed for more outreach and clear funding timelines.
SVA Architects presented a two‑phase concept to Palmdale city leaders to renovate and combine the Cimboli Center and the city library into a single cultural center designed to serve intimate gatherings and large events.
"The first was to create multiple activity spaces and flexible meeting areas for a wide variety of groups from as small as 6 to 500," said Robert Plaio, director of design at SVA Architects, during the presentation. The plan shows a three‑story glazed concourse, a grand staircase to subdividable ballrooms, two smaller service kitchens rather than one large hospitality kitchen, upgraded electronic and data infrastructure and new circulation and security points.
Architects described the work as a two‑phase program. Plaio said phase 1 focuses on the Cimboli Center renovation and site work to enclose the breezeway between the center and the library; the library renovation would follow in phase 2 so library services can use completed Cimboli facilities during their construction. Plaio told the council the team is "about 75% through design development" and expects another month to finish design development, followed by roughly four months for construction documents, plan check and about 18 months of construction for phase 1.
On cost, staff and the design team provided a near‑term estimate for the phase 1 package. City staff described a phase‑1 base construction figure of roughly $15 million for the Cimboli work, with a total phase‑1 estimate presented to council at about $21 million after soft costs and a contingency allowance; the architects said phase‑2 (the library work) would add further cost and that total combined estimates reported to the council are in the tens of millions.
Council members questioned accessibility and acoustics—seeking reassurance that sound from trains and events would be isolated from meeting spaces—and asked whether the elevator would be larger than the existing unit and whether an escalator had been considered. Plaio said the elevator footprint would remain but the car would be upgraded and that acoustical design and the ability to close corridors for evening events were included in the plans. He said an escalator was cost‑prohibitive at this point.
Several council members urged broader community outreach and bilingual engagement, noting that the cultural center will serve a diverse pool of user groups and asking for opportunities for the public to review presentation materials in person. Staff and the architects said they will post design boards and continue community and council outreach through the remaining design development period.
The presentation closed with staff noting the plans are still adjustable during the remaining design development phase and that council and community input would be invited and considered before final design documents are completed.
