City Center Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids City Center Building |
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Hayward City Center Building
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| Former names | Centennial Tower |
| General information | |
| Status | Abandoned |
| Type | City hall Business offices |
| Location | 22300 Foothill Boulevard |
| Coordinates | 37°40′46″N 122°04′56″W / 37.679405°N 122.082353°W |
| Construction started | 1966 |
| Completed | 1969 |
| Opened | October 18, 1969 |
| Closed | 1998 |
| Demolished | 2020 |
| Owner | Mika Realty of Los Angeles |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 11 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Mitchell Van Bourg |
The City Center Building, also known as Centennial Hall, was once the tallest building in Hayward, California. For many years, it stood empty in downtown Hayward. It used to be Hayward's City Hall, where the city government worked. The building was taken down between January and September 2020.
Contents
A Look Back: The City Center Building's Story
Building Hayward's Tallest Tower
The City Center Building opened on October 18, 1969. It was made of strong concrete with steel inside. The original plan was for a 20-story building with a movie theater. However, only 11 floors were built, and there was no cinema.
From 1969 to 1998, this building served as Hayward's city hall. The top floor was where the city government made important decisions. Other floors were rented out to different businesses. An architecture expert named Allan Temko once called the building "the toaster." This nickname made many people dislike its design. Later, the Centennial Hall Convention Center was added nearby.
Changes and Challenges
In the 1980s, a shopping and business area called PlazaCenter was built next to the City Center Building. This new complex was on the land where Hayward High School used to be.
A big earthquake, called the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, happened in 1989. This earthquake damaged the building's structure. Because of the damage, the city government had to move out.
In 1998, after a new city hall was finished, the City Center Building closed to the public. The city sold the building for $1.5 million. The new owners wanted to turn it into apartments, called condominiums. They even renamed it "Centennial Tower." But changing it into apartments was too expensive, so the plan never happened.
In 2006, there were talks about tearing the building down. But a year later, those plans were canceled. The nearby Centennial Hall Convention Center closed in November 2009 and was later demolished.
Hayward's New City Hall
The new City Hall opened in January 1998. It is located at B Street and Watkins Street. This spot is right next to the Hayward BART station, making it easy to reach.
The Building Before Demolition
Before it was torn down, the City Center Building was empty for many years. The inside walls, pipes, and heating system had all been removed. Many windows were broken or boarded up. You could see Graffiti on the windows and upper floors.
In January 2008, a fence was put up around the building to stop people from damaging it. In March 2010, a fire started on the top floors. People who were homeless sometimes stayed on the first floor. They would take out copper pipes to sell for money.
What Happened to the Site
In early 2008, there were plans to fix up the tower. This included making it safer for earthquakes and turning it into office spaces. There were also ideas to build apartments over the Centennial Hall parking garage, which was also demolished.
The building officially closed in 2009. In 2010, the city started looking for companies to demolish it. Instead of tearing it down right away, hazardous materials were first removed from the site. The full demolition of the City Center Building began in January 2020 and was completed by September 2020.
