RICHMOND GLOBE
Sept. 16 - 22, 2009

Hundreds Celebrate Grand Re-opening of
Richmond Civic Center Complex

By Tuseda A. Graggs

Early morning thunderstorms didn’t deter hundreds of East Bay residents from venturing out to Richmond’s grand-opening gala for its newly renovated Civic Center on Saturday.

Outside performance stages were scrapped and a cadre of dancers, singers and musicians were sent to the nearby Richmond Auditorium instead — but the show went on.

The city’s celebration featured a ribbon-cutting ceremony and dedication program, food vendors, jumpers, local companies, churches, vendor booths and a health van from First 5 California.

The refurbished buildings — at 440 and 450 Civic Center Plaza — were open for the public to tour. The $100 million renovation project was completed in June and city departments moved in throughout the summer.

The Civic Center modernizations were necessary because the original City Hall plaza needed major seismic retrofitting work. Additionally, over the years, water regularly flooded the basement and mold had formed, making the buildings unsafe.

While doing the seismic upgrades, the City Hall was gutted to the concrete foundation where waterproof materials were used and moats created to prevent future flooding. However, the main hallway and huge staircase from the “old” City Hall were preserved and upgraded and remain in the new building.

Also, about $1.3 million in artwork — much from Richmond and Bay Area artists — beautifies both the inside and outside of the facilities on fountains, elevator doors and walls. Many of the artists were on hand Saturday to talk with visitors about their work.

“This is just wonderful,” said MaryAnn Walker, of Richmond, who was among a tour group viewing the artwork. “It’s so nice to be able to ask questions because the artists are right here. It’s nice when we have something positive to celebrate.”

The Richmond Arts Center, which sits behind the auditorium at 2540 Barrett Ave., was also open Saturday for attendees to wander through and enjoy more artwork. Linh Tu, of Richmond, was in the Arts Center’s sculpture garden with her 2-year-old daughter, Sophie, as she played among the statues that were just about her size.

“I didn’t even know about the Civic Center opening. I saw the sign for the Arts Center Open House and came over,” said Tu, who lives down the street from the center. “But I did go in to see City Hall. It looks so nice. We went and watched a Mexican band perform. She’s having a good time.”

The Arts Center hosted a lemonade social during the celebration and later Saturday evening, an artist’s reception for internationally known Stephen DeStaebler of Berkeley.

The Arts Center also underwent a remodel, said Executive Director Nancy Servis. The center received earthquake retrofitting, new windows and a new roof, she said. Guillermo the Golden Trout — the huge, multicolored steel fish that hangs on the side of the Art Center — was also refreshed with clean, brightly colored scales.

Although the center was open during the remodel, Servis wants the public to know it’s back to full strength.

“We’re through the worst of it and we’re looking forward to a really great year,” she said.

Alice Hantke and Joe Peoples, of Richmond, strolled through all the remodeled buildings.

“I think this is wonderful,” said Hantke. “It’s great because people have to have a sense of belonging and that they connect with government. This (event) does that. I pray to God that people will respect it and maintain it.”

Augusta Jackson, of Richmond’s New Bethel Baptist Church, who was stationed at a booth, was happy with the event.
“This is great,” Jackson said. “We had a big bowl of brownies this morning at our table and they’re all gone now, so I’d say we had a very nice turnout.”