Though austerity advocates and recently elected council members may disagree, the architectural community’s consensus on the Newport Beach Civic Center and Park is as clear as the ocean view from the end of its pedestrian bridge. The design by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson recently won one of 23 Honor Awards from the American Institute of Architects, after winning the AIA OC’s Honor Award last year. The national AIA award is the profession’s highest recognition of excellence in architecture, interior architecture and urban design worldwide. Here’s what the judges think: “The Newport Beach Civic Center and Park creates a center for civic life in this beachside community. Nestled within a new 17-acre park, the City Hall is designed for clarity and openness. A long, thin building supporting a rhythmic, wave-shaped roof provides a light and airy interior, complemented by connections to outdoor program elements, a maritime palette, and commanding views of the Pacific Ocean. The project’s form and expression are generated by place and sustainability, as well as the city’s democratic values of transparency and collaboration.”
