Hillsboro Civic Center facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hillsboro Civic Center |
|
|---|---|
The north side of the Center.
|
|
| General information | |
| Type | City hall |
| Location | Hillsboro, Oregon, United States |
| Coordinates | 45°31′19″N 122°59′21″W / 45.521994°N 122.989127°W |
| Current tenants | City of Hillsboro Starbucks |
| Construction started | 2003 |
| Completed | 2005 |
| Owner | City of Hillsboro |
| Height | 78 feet (24 m), 6 stories |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 5 stories (one level of above ground parking) |
| Floor area | 168,436 square feet (15,648.2 m2) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | LRS Architects |
| Structural engineer | KPFF |
| Services engineer | Interface Engineering |
| Civil engineer | WRG Design |
| Main contractor | Skanska Construction USA |
| Awards and prizes | LEED Gold Certified |
The Hillsboro Civic Center is a special building in downtown Hillsboro, Oregon, United States. It's like a central hub for the city! This big complex has the city hall, where Hillsboro's government works. It also has shops, open public areas, and homes.
The Civic Center covers about 6 acres (2.4 hectares). Its main building is six stories tall. This makes it one of the tallest buildings in Hillsboro. The whole complex is over 165,000 square feet (15,300 m²). It was built so all city government offices could be in one place.
Work on the design started in 2002. Construction began in 2003. The building was finished in 2005. It earned a special award called LEED Gold certification. This means it was built in a very environmentally friendly way. It was only the second city hall in the U.S. to get this award!
Contents
History of Hillsboro's City Center
Plans for the Hillsboro Civic Center began around 2001. The city wanted to make downtown Hillsboro more lively. They imagined a place that would be busy for 18 hours a day. This was a big change from businesses closing at 5:00 pm.
The city asked different companies for their ideas. They wanted designs for public spaces, shops, homes, and a new city hall. The goal was to bring all city government services together. It also aimed to help renew the downtown area.
In April 2002, Specht Properties was chosen to develop the project. Construction started in June 2003. Several old buildings were torn down to make space. This included an old grain store. The site was a "brownfield," meaning it was an old industrial area.
LRS Architects designed the complex. Skanska USA was the main builder. The building was ready in January 2005. City workers moved in by March. A big public opening party happened on July 16, 2005. The public part of the project cost about $34 million.
In 2005, a coffee shop opened in the retail space. Later, a restaurant also planned to open. In April 2009, the main public area was named the Tom Hughes Civic Center Plaza. This honored Tom Hughes, who was mayor when the center was built.
Architecture and Design
The Hillsboro Civic Center was designed by LRS Architects. It has a modern look with lots of glass. It also features a stone base and brick details. There are two main buildings. One holds the government offices. The other has retail spaces.
The areas around the buildings are called plazas. They have a special river design made of quartzite stone. You can also see basalt planters and old-style benches. The building has large windows facing north. These windows reflect the huge giant sequoia trees. These trees are across the street at the Washington County Courthouse. They have been there since the 1880s!
The main building is 78 feet (24 meters) tall. It has six stories. This makes it tied for the tallest building in Hillsboro. Inside, the first floor has very high ceilings. It also has a large, open space for the public. About 90% of the offices have natural daylight and views outside.
Awards for Green Building
The Hillsboro Civic Center won the award for Best Public Project in Oregon in 2005. This award was given by Northwest Construction magazine to the builder, Skanska USA.
It is also the first city hall in Oregon to get all its energy from renewable sources. The project aimed for a Silver certification for being green. But it did even better! It earned the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Gold certification. This award is for buildings that are very good for the environment. Hillsboro's city hall was only the second in the U.S. to get this Gold rating.
Many things helped it win this award. During construction, 92% of the waste was recycled. Special non-wood materials were used in some walls. Also, 18 solar panels were put on the roof. They help make electricity for the building. The city buys extra power from renewable sources. The building uses 42% less energy than similar buildings.
Other green features include:
- Sensors that turn lights off when no one is around.
- Ventilation that checks carbon dioxide levels to save energy.
- Special glass that keeps heat inside.
- Water-saving bathroom fixtures.
- Using recycled building materials.
What You Can Do at the Civic Center
The Civic Center is built across three city blocks. It has two main public areas called plazas. The North Plaza is like an outdoor theater. It can seat 700 people. If they use Main Street, it can hold up to 5,000 people! This area is called the Tom Hughes Civic Center Plaza.
The South Plaza connects the government buildings to the homes. There are 120 apartments in this part. Both plazas have water features, like a fountain in the North Plaza.
On the ground floor of the Plaza Building, there is a Starbucks coffee shop. The space designed for a library branch is now used for other government needs. From 2012 to 2017, the Washington County Museum was located here.
The government area has a large conference center. It also has the city council chambers. This includes an auditorium that seats 250 people. The Civic Center hosts a weekly farmer's market on Saturdays. There is also a marketplace on Tuesdays with different vendors. Both use the plaza area.
City services you can find here include:
- The Administration Department
- City planning offices
- The city recorder's office
- The municipal court
The mayor's office is also here. The city council holds its meetings twice a month at the Civic Center.
See also
In Spanish: Centro Cívico de Hillsboro para niños
