Fentress’ design won first place in a national competition, based on the project’s ability to aptly represent civic architecture, create user-friendly spaces and unite Oakland’s heritage with its promising future.
The program included the restoration and expansion of the historic City Hall building, which the 1989 earthquake had severely damaged. In total, Fentress consolidated 12 governmental agencies into one central location. The massing and materials of the new Wilson and Dalziel Office Buildings blend seamlessly with the city’s fabric. As an outdoor living room for citizens, the new Civic Plaza unifies the campus buildings. It also emphasizes the City Hall’s historic prominence and revitalizes Oakland’s urban core with a renewed sense of civic pride.
