Public/Civic/Institutional

AC Martin, as a member of a Design-Build team with Swinerton & Walberg and Vitetta Group, provided architecture and engineering services for this 42,000 square foot State Appellate Court, which includes a 1,600 square foot courtroom, judicial chambers, and a 2,300 square foot law library. The dignified two-story design complements the architecture of downtown Riverside’s historic public buildings. An ellipse of two-story high columns connected by a steel-trellised canopy creates an elegant entrance that recalls the visual hallmarks of courthouses. The primary tenant of the building is the State of California Court of Appeal, 4th Appellate District, Division 2. The development timeline was 24 months and the facility was completed on time and on budget.

“This building sits in perfect architectural harmony and context with the greater community. The pergola, slight curvature of the front, the breezeway at the back of the building and the beautiful water fountain and courtyard are all distinctive architectural elements that exist throughout Riverside and San Bernardino counties as well as in the Inland Empire.”

- Hon. Manuel A. Ramirez, Presiding Justice Fourth District, Division Two Court of Appeal

An important parish church and chancellory, St. Basil Catholic Church is adjacent to the Wilshire Synagogue and within the former Ambassador Hotel - Wilshire Center Community. The church proper contains approx. 40,000 SF of space and seating for 1000 people. The main church contains a nave, sanctuary, narthex, sacristies, choir and organ lofts, baptistry and a carillon tower is integrated within the basic structure itself. Supporting facilities include a chancellory office, parish library and full rectory. Parking is provided for 220 cars.

The basically rectangular plan used for the body of the church is enclosed by undulating exterior walls of massive concrete slab forms, which are separated by full height shafts of a three-dimensional, stained glass and ornamental iron grid of unique sculptural quality and effect. The architectural concept recalls the Early Christian and Romanesque forms of construction, and interior finishes include rough natural concrete and full height hardwood surfaces.

Nestled in Southern California, the City of Garden Grove embodies the synergy between urban development and its agrarian heritage. Once flowing with orange groves and strawberry fields, it has evolved into a thriving urban hub, while safeguarding open spaces. AC Martin was selected to design their new Civic Center developed via a P3 Public-Private Partnership with Edgemoor and Clark Construction, inclusive of a 104,000 SF police station, 4-level parking structure, and a 2.7-acre park.

The design is composed of a unitized curtainwall “glass box” that sits atop a solid base of precision block with a “ribbon” that hugs the building massing meandering from the exterior façade to the interior lobby and reaches a crescendo at the stair tower which serves as an illuminated beacon to the City. The “ribbon” represents the fabric of the community – a high-functioning city whose citizens support the local government, choose to fund the police, and participate in mass for City-sponsored community events. The development of the new police station and new park will reinvigorate the city center to create a welcoming, people-centric super block that can support 24/7 community activities including daily exercise routines, tai-chi classes, outdoor movies and concerts, night markets, food trucks, and more.

The double-height public lobby includes robust cast-in-place concrete columns symbolizing the strength of the process. Transparent glass promotes trust and accessibility between the police, government, and the community. Adjacent to the public lobby is a Community Room that is available for public and police events, providing space for meetings, training courses, and banquet functions. The interior spaces are designed to be durable, serviceable, and functional, allowing for future flexibility and growth.

The police station, an essential services building, can also be transformed into an Emergency Operations Center (EOC) providing a central command location for Garden Grove and its surrounding communities during a natural disaster or heightened event.

The Resources Building Renovation for the California Department of General Services consists of the comprehensive renovation of the original Resources Building at 1416 9th Street in Sacramento. The existing building is 17 stories and roughly 657,000 GSF. Utilizing a progressive design-build delivery method, the Turner + AC Martin + HGA Team’s approach addressed the State’s Goals and Critical Success Factors as fundamental touch points to ensure a project that brings the highest value and differentiates itself yet honors the significance of the original International Style building.

The renovation included the demolition of the existing building’s non-structural elements and a thorough abatement of materials. The fundamental massing of the building remained unchanged. The intervention introduced a new energy-efficient skin, with an orchestrated pattern of glass spandrel panels that recall the metaphor of the original façade.

The decorative open graphic on the East and West façade has been reinterpreted with vertical fins in an alternating light and dark pattern. The podium elevations are finished with a gradient pattern of glazed brick to enliven the pedestrian experience and support the City’s initiatives for the O Street corridor. The design of the office workplace is modern and flexible to facilitate collaboration and productivity while adaptable to change in the post-pandemic world. Sustainability was a priority, and the project is on track to achieve LEED Platinum certification and targets Carbon Neutrality and Zero Net Energy.