Yucaipa City Hall creates an energetic and inviting “town hall” forum to conduct City business for future generations by demonstrating the importance of the public voice in the Yucaipa community. The new City Hall begins the first phase of a new civic center master plan. The interpretive “craftsman style” architecture of the project pays tribute to the early 1900s Arts and Crafts movement evident in the craftsman homes predominant within the community. Carefully selected architectural forms and features are designed to create residential scale, foster community identity, and initiate an appropriate public landmark.
According to The Riverside Press-Enterprise, “The architect searched for distinct qualities that set apart the largely rural but up-and-coming city. There weren't many public buildings to base architectural themes on, so the City and the architect began examining Yucaipa's neighborhoods. “The bungalow Craftsman style was a dominant pattern which clearly related to the established community,” architect Larry Wolff said. “We thought that was a pretty good reference point for the City, so we presented some interpretive ideas to the City Council. They liked the resulting scale and warmth.”
Generations of visitors passing by on their way to nearby apple country will long identify Yucaipa with their new City Hall. The use of natural materials was used to further create a timeless and familiar architecture, providing an abundance of daylighting and healthy building interiors, resulting in numerous sustainable design elements. Savings by Design features exceed Title 24 by 35 % and qualify the project for a high level of energy efficiency. The compact plan provides quick and convenient public access to services and key City staff while optimizing future site area for open space and future expansion.
The design of the Council Chambers supports the use of laptop computers, tablets, smartphones and wireless technology, while the adjacent Community Meeting Room provides flexible overflow seating. The main public foyer is designed so that City Hall areas can be secured while allowing access to the public meeting spaces, and its monumental form creates a vital civic reference point, which establishes a strong sense of community and unifying purpose.
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