New public buildings in recent years generally have been dismal affairs, products of prosaic architects and petty bureaucrats hiding behind the excuse of budget constraints.
It is a rare and needed example in this post-Proposition 13 age of successful, economical civic design. Coming at time when it seems the public sector has all but abandoned its role in shaping cities to private interests, the center asserts itself in planning, design and execution to dominate the clutter that is downtown San Bernardino. The center is dramatically sited on what had been 4th Street between Arrowhead and Mountain View avenues, providing the sprawling city a desperately needed focal point, and those in the building some very scenic views of downtown and beyond.
Closing the street also provided the county a relatively inexpensive site with no relocation and demolition problems for the construction of the center, which is the first and critical stage in a long-range, sympathetic plan to redevelop the county complex of government offices and courts. The plan and the design for the center is a joint venture of Kurt Meyer Partners and Archiplan Collaborative, with Meyer serving as the principal in charge.
Coordinating the effort for the county was administrative officer Robert Rigney and project manager Robert Wilkinson. It was an exemplary effort. The center first and foremost seems to be a pleasant, efficient place in which to work, get some paper or other stamped, or a question answered.
The circulation pattern on the two lower public floors is simple and various public counters and meeting areas are accessible.
