Stanford University Libraries iiL§19£,J25 779 186 m //i 'if' <i( tkm ram Frank Lloyd Wright Collection wm D Gift of Professor and Mrs. Paul R. Hanna IH9H OBJwaBBkYiJ'M'.s WmBBA maBM ill HWHBmmL Jtf.' //: mMmm HH ,.,.7v£fiK fii'MM W >-v$iV3 dmftf iffjfi MyJJi(7Jtiw/7?amm WmSBm V It 4ZJ/'I*WJfl vv. I i i • BBk #2w Mm WKEMSmWwBmm BHH HHL EH. >»&$$%, ffinEH Bfl Ml '''' i\ UHBHHmH ' HiBSPWB US ilii Frank Lloyd Wright Collection Gift of Professor and Mrs. Paul R. Hanna Stanford University Libraries FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT GENERAL VOLUME 6 January, 1970 Through November, 1974 I I IU THE CIVIC CENTER MARIN COUNTY CALIFORNIA In 1956 the Marin County Board of Supervisors authorized an ex- penditure of $511,000 for the purchase of a 140 acre site about three miles north of San Rafael for development of a civic cen- ter complex and county fairgrounds. Coupling the seat of county government with the necessary facilities to make the selected site into a center of community activity had long been the dream of many far-sighted citizens. World famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright was engaged by the Board of Supervisors to prepare a Mas- ter Plan to encompass the elements of this daring concept. In March 1957 Mr. Wright present- ed plans for the first construc- tion phase - the Administration Building. A year later he added plans for the fairgrounds pavil- ion, playgrounds, lagoon and gen- eral civic areas. The Master Plan connected gently sloping hills with graceful hori- zontal buildings springing in great arches over entrance road- ways between the hills. Rising from these arches the various levels of the building seem to float from hill to hill. From without, the buildings form a tranquil line in harmony with the surrounding landscape. In an address to the people of Marin County in July 1957, Mr. Wright said: "Beauty is the moving cause of nearly every issue worth the civilization we have, and civilization without a culture is like a man without a soul.... The good building is not one that hurts the landscape, but one that makes the land- scape more beautiful than it was before that building was built." Mr. Wright died in April 1959 and his preliminary plans were left in the hands of a group of his associates, The Taliesin Associated Architects of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation. The experience and understanding of this group conformed with Mr. Wright's basic architectural principles. 1 . ADMINISTRATION BUILDING This first phase was financed by accumulating County general funds between 1958 and 1962 on a pay-as-you-go basis. A construction con- tract was awarded in January I960 and the Administration Building was completed in October 1962. It houses the County's Administra- tive, Financial, Public Works, Planning and Welfare Departments as well as the main branch of the County library. A plastic skylight covers a central mall extending the length of the building, giving natural light to usually darkened areas. It is designed with areas open to the sky which permit circulation of out- side air. This makes a natural setting for gardens inside the build- ing in which native trees and shrubs of the Bay Area flourish. Clivia beds on the entrance level lend a beautiful verdant color. In early spring their enormous clusters of bright orange blossoms amaze the most fastidious gardeners. Some of the many striking features of the building are the warm earth red interior walls with golden trim, chambers that can be merged together, continuous balconies with circular openings - each framing its own view of the landscape. Special walnut furniture enhances all rooms and was made in the work shops of correctional institutions of the State of California. Its handrubbed quality makes every area especially attractive. Tables and chairs in the library are especially suited to either little or big people. The County library is on the fourth floor immediately under the dome. There are no windows in the main area and indirect lighting around the cir- cular wall is reflected from the ceil- ing to provide a soft light on working areas which eliminates all glare. Art displays are exhibited in various areas and in the foyer of the Board of Supervisors chambers by special arrange- ment and supervised by the Marin Museum Association. MARIN COUNTY CIVIC CENTER AND FAIRGROUNDS . HALL OF JUSTICE The Hall of Justice will continue the style of the Administration Building and is designed for requirements of County judicial func- tions. Attached at the North West area of the Administration Build- ing, it will bridge two hills and have two arched drive-through entrances. These entries separate the main public access from all traffic to the jail Upon the completion of the Hall of Justice, practically all County governmental operations will be united under one roof. Inter-depart- mental liaison with readily available public access should tend to improve efficiency. This building will house the Courts, Law Agencies, offices of the County Clerk and Recorder and the Health Department. It is designed to provide for additional court rooms with the advent of future population increases. This new wing will be completed in the spring of 1968. Many revolutionary design concepts of courtroom, jury rooms, judges chambers and general judicial space requirements have been care- fully considered and incorporated in the plans. Round courtrooms represent a major break with tradition, spectators will sit in curved rows and a curved table will serve attorneys in the jury trial. A lectern in the middle of the well will permit judge and jurors a clear view of the witness and attorney arguing the case. These and many other facets were the result of many hours of work with Bar Association members, judges and specialists in court pro- ceed i ngs FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS The overall plan envisions numerous other buildings and site development concepts looking forward to a future day when this Civic Center will be the focus of activity for the majority of the County's citizenry. The Veteran's Memorial Auditorium will become reality within the next few years. It encompasses an 880 seat permanently stepped floor theater with stage and a separable flat floor exhibit area of approximately 13,000 sq. ft. which can be adapted by use of telescoping risers to provide additional seating up to 2,000 in the theater area. Provision is made for a massive movable bi- parting vertical steel acoustic partition to form a complete separation between the small 880 seat area and the larger flat floor space. When in place, this partition will permit indepen- dent simultaneous operation of both facilities. The Fair Pavilion, the Natural History Museum, the Children's Island, the Fine Arts Museum, and the Community Building are now under early design consideration. Additional governmental and service facilities will be built as need demands and financing will permit. A restaurant, heliport, and yacht basin will some day complete the complex in its presently considered scope. The Health and Welfare Building is shown on the Master Plan as a separate structure near and running parallel to the Redwood Highway on the west side of the Civic Center property. It will accommodate the Welfare Department and such related activities as then may be in existance. I Initial planning indicates completion ^ of construction in 197^, but this program could be accelerated to meet space requirements if financially feas ible. SOME LITTLE KNOWN FACTS The total cost of the Administration Building including architect's fees, furnishings, site development and landscaping was $5,152,000. The estimated cost for the complete development of the Hall of Jus- tice is $11,300,000. These figures do not express adequately all of the elements of the growing community pride in the accomplishment which the Civic Center Complex represents. The predominant landscaping theme in the selection of planting for the grounds was to utilize native flora with attention to minimum maintenance costs. Consequently plants of evergreen varieties pre- dominate - pyracantha, ceanothus, juniper, acacia, ivy and ice plant. The main entrance driveway to the Administration Building is divided by Mount Fuji flowering cherry trees. The internal planting beds feature such items as olive trees, bamboo, star jas- mine, lantana, schefflera, azaleas and clivia. The seasonal beds around the fountain on the cafeteria plaza are always bright and colorful . The Administration Building requires 500 tons of refrigeration for summer cooling. The cooling tower is under the cafeteria plaza so as not to defile the building design. The two 1 50 h.p. boilers are vented through a smoke stack concealed in the golden aluminum spire and are capable of generating 6,000,000 B.T.U. each. All the fountains utilize recirculated water. The fresh water level in. the la- goon is maintained by run-off from sea- sonal rain and the extensive sprinkling system for maintenance of the grounds. The Administration Building is a center of county activities, accommodating meetings of all manner of c iv i c 'groups Almost every evening several groups meet in various rooms. These organiza- tions vary from government affiliated activities to small committee meetings of such dissimilar nature as investment clubs to k-H activities to Great Books discussion groups. 6. ACKNOWLEDGMENT Achievement of the County Civic Center project is a tribute to the efforts of farsighted and progressive Supervisors, County officials, and Marin County Citizens who have been determined To provide a central focus for both governmental and community act i vi t ies To do no violence to the natural beauty of the Marin County sett i ng To provide adequate space and facilities for local government services To provide flexible space arrangements allowing for changing needs To utilize sound and lasting creative architectural concepts.