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BACKGROUND The Firehouse Arts Center, a City Council priority, was an adaptive reuse project which converted the vacant historic fire station on Railroad Avenue to an arts facility. The original brick fire station, built in 1929, underwent a seismic retrofit to meet current building standards. Expansion to this building that took place in the 1960's was demolished and replaced with new structures. Other construction activities included the installation of underground utilities, site grading, paving and landscaping work that is generally associated with such a project. The improvements resulted in a venue that accommodates the following amenities: • a 227-seat intimate theater with flexible seating, • a 2,000 square feet art gallery (historic building), • two classrooms with acoustical dividers for instructions in the arts, • a 1,350 square feet grand lobby, and • staff offices (upstairs in the historic building). The Firehouse Arts Center project was built with financial contribution from the Pleasanton Cultural Arts Foundation that raised $1.77 million in funds and pledges towards the capital project. As the funds are received from this source, they will be allocated to the Capital Improvement Project Reserve (CIPR). Shortly after the start of construction on the arts facility, the adjoining transportation corridor was purchased from Alameda County and a separate CIP project was created to transform this adjacent property into parking amenities serving the Firehouse Arts Center. The design of the corridor was developed in accordance with guidelines set forth in the Downtown Master Plan for the Downtown Parks and Trails System and consists of the following elements: • 92 stalls for Arts Center patrons (4 of which are stalls for the disabled), • Multi-use trails, and a lighted, landscaped pathway leading to the Arts Center, • 3000 square feet of patio space, serving as an extension of the lobby, • Granite seat walls, banner poles, and a sculpture area featuring a life-size bronze Monet statue. This project also involved preparation of a hydro-modification master plan and conducting geotechnical analysis. DISCUSSION Construction on the arts facility began in June 2008, and was followed almost a year later by construction on the transportation corridor. One of the challenges faced by the project team was ensuring that construction of both the facility and parking amenities were carefully coordinated to ensure compatibility, and completed simultaneously. Fortunately staff was able to negotiate an amendment to the construction contract with the general contractor of the Firehouse Arts Center (W.A. Thomas and Company) and the two projects were substantially completed in September 2010. Page 2 of 3