Out of twenty-three projects London Based Zaha Hadid architects proposal took the first place for a massive new Civic Center in Elk Grove, to be created in collaboration with local practice Stantec set to work as executive architects. This project will contain children’s museum, library, hotels, conference center, performing arts facilities and a sports field.
The mayor was thrilled that they had landed such a big fish. “We hit a home run on this one,” gushed James Cooper, the mayor at the time. “The citizens are so excited. The big thing is to let her be an architect and not stifle the process. We want her to think of something different. This is a new chapter in Elk Grove’s life.”
It was a chapter, though, that ended with the recession. And the idea gathered dust until last summer, when the city resumed its relationship with Ms. Hadid’s firm to fashion the center’s master plan, the process in which the scale and proximity of the structures is determined, though the actual design of individual buildings will be decided later.
While I agree that this is an amazing building form, it will be interesting to see how the designers resolve the connection to the street and access to the building.