Inland Empire Market Report

New Generation of Learning and Performance Centers

 

Rancho Cucamonga and Fontana are rapidly growing in population and panache. Both cities have construction underway on iconic buildings.

 

Fontana is getting fancy.

The 90,000-sq.-ft. Victoria Gardens Cultural Center will feature a 24,000-sq.-ft. municipal library, 40,000-sq.-ft. playhouse and 8,000-sq.-ft. meeting and banquet room. The $30-million facility is due to open in the summer (photo by Paul Napolitano).

Construction on the new $39-million Fontana Library and Resource Center began last month and should be completed by the end of 2007.

Designed by Denver-based RNL Design, the 93,000-sq.-ft., two-story structure is located on a 2.1-acre site. Its entrance will be framed by a large plaza with a fountain and rotunda.

The main library will house a collection of more than 141,000 books and publications, 7,500 reference items, 143 media resources and 198 periodical subscriptions.

"The architecture will be a melding of Spanish mission traditional with an infusion of modern pieces," said Kate Diamond, design principal with the Los Angeles office of RNL. "The traditional styles contribute to a sense of place and history, but the modern makes you fully aware of how much this is an investment in Fontana's future."

Building plans include public meeting rooms, a 350-seat auditorium, children's library, homework center, Friends of the Library bookstore, career center, literacy center, café, more than 250 computers and a landmark clock tower.

The JCM Group of Los Angeles is handling construction management duties. JCM said a GC was scheduled to be selected by Nov. 15.

The city of Rancho Cucamonga is developing the $30-million Victoria Gardens Cultural Center. Located across from the central plaza of Forest City Enterprises' 1.1-million-sq.-ft. Victoria Gardens outdoor mall, the 90,000-sq.-ft. cultural center will feature a 24,000-sq.-ft. municipal library, 40,000-sq.-ft. playhouse and 8,000-sq.-ft. meeting and banquet room.

The project broke ground in November 2004 and is scheduled to open next summer. As of September, structural steel and interior framing had been completed.

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"Right now, our biggest challenge is to get the building dried-in before the rains hit," said David Edwards, senior project manager with Pasadena-based CW Driver, the project's construction manager.

Crews have scrambled to erect scaffolding on the lower roof levels of the wedding cake-shaped building and were applying plaster on the upper walls as quickly as possible before the permanent roof can be installed.

"We're putting a temporary roof membrane on before we put the scaffold down," said Edwards. "And once we have the sheathing on the building, were pretty much dry and we can start our interior finishes."

Victoria Gardens Cultural Center was designed by a partnership between WLC Architects and Pitassi Architects, both of Rancho Cucamonga.

"This is definitely the most exciting project underway in Rancho Cucamonga," said Kevin McArtle, the city's director of community services and project manager for the cultural center. "In terms of having an impact on the quality of life in the community and the region, this is significant."

The library (the city's second) will have 102,000 collection items, extensive children's library services, a technology center and room for a 14,000-sq.-ft. expansion.

The cultural center will include the 540-seat Lewis Family Playhouse--a state-of-the-art performing arts center focusing on providing professional theater for young audiences.

Celebration Hall, a 425-person multipurpose room, will have dining and assembly space, audio-visual services, outdoor patios and a kitchen.

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