Nestled in Southern California, the City of Garden Grove embodies the synergy between urban development and its agrarian heritage. Once flowing with orange groves and strawberry fields, it has evolved into a thriving urban hub, while safeguarding open spaces. AC Martin was selected to design their new Civic Center developed via a P3 Public-Private Partnership with Edgemoor and Clark Construction, inclusive of a 104,000 SF police station, 4-level parking structure, and a 2.7-acre park.

The design is composed of a unitized curtainwall “glass box” that sits atop a solid base of precision block with a “ribbon” that hugs the building massing meandering from the exterior façade to the interior lobby and reaches a crescendo at the stair tower which serves as an illuminated beacon to the City. The “ribbon” represents the fabric of the community – a high-functioning city whose citizens support the local government, choose to fund the police, and participate in mass for City-sponsored community events. The development of the new police station and new park will reinvigorate the city center to create a welcoming, people-centric super block that can support 24/7 community activities including daily exercise routines, tai-chi classes, outdoor movies and concerts, night markets, food trucks, and more.

The double-height public lobby includes robust cast-in-place concrete columns symbolizing the strength of the process. Transparent glass promotes trust and accessibility between the police, government, and the community. Adjacent to the public lobby is a Community Room that is available for public and police events, providing space for meetings, training courses, and banquet functions. The interior spaces are designed to be durable, serviceable, and functional, allowing for future flexibility and growth.

The police station, an essential services building, can also be transformed into an Emergency Operations Center (EOC) providing a central command location for Garden Grove and its surrounding communities during a natural disaster or heightened event.