PROJECT OF THE YEAR: STRUCTURES $25 MILLION–$75 MILLION
Tongva Park & Ken Genser Square Managing Agency: City of Santa Monica, California Primary Contractor: W.E. O’Neil Construction Primary Consultant: James Corner Field Operations Nominated By: APWA Southern California Chapter n 1993, the City of Santa Monica adopted their Civic Center planning document for the community, the Civic Center Specific Plan. The Tongva Park and Ken Genser Square Projects were envisioned in this plan. The parks opened to the public in 2013.
A Request for Proposals was issued in October 2009 and the design team was selected in April 2010. In June 2010, the community engagement and design processes began and construction started in April 2012. The parks were substantially completed in July 2013 at a cost of $42.3 million, $7 million under budget.
Tongva Park is a sixacre in-fill development connecting City Hall to the iconic Santa Monica pier. Ken Genser Square is a one-acre site directly in front of Santa Monica City Hall.
Certain construction efforts that would be disruptive or dangerous to the public were conducted during the early morning hours over closed streets. An example of this was the midnight installation of the two welded steel overlook structures weighing 20,000 and 30,000 pounds.
Streetscape improvements and pedestrian and bicycle paths connect these new open spaces to the community. The parks are islands of serenity in the heart of Santa Monica and address the need for recreational space and nature. These civic parks are unique because of the intensive community participation process conducted to help create a modern design referencing historical precedents, the sustainable use of a native plant habitat which changes color with the seasons and by the utilization of a design-build process to construct the many amazing and unique park elements. 90
APWA Reporter
Water elements originate at City Hall in Ken Genser Square and, through a series of runnels, extend through Tongva Park. A single runnel links the water elements flowing downhill to the ocean, alcoves carved into the hillsides offer seating for contemplation, and nest-like overlooks are perched on the tallest of the hills to frame special views of the Pacific and the pier.
July 2014
The resulting design is an interpretation of the idea of the arroyo, a landform that existed in this location historically and is part of the natural topography of the region. Inspired by the historic arroyo landscape of washes and ravines, a series of braided pathways emerge from City Hall, extend west to Ocean Avenue and weave the two new parks into the fabric of the city. These fluid pathways connect City Hall to the adjacent pier and the beach.
A webcam (posted on the project website) was mounted on City Hall which had an expansive view of both construction sites. The webcam continuously streamed live the construction process for public observation. Periodic construction site tours were given to public officials and to Board and Commission members. Photo by Tim Street-Porter