Zaha Hadid’s civic center design divides California city

I have been a resident of California since 1993, living in the San Francisco area and then greater Los Angeles area the entire time. I have to admit that I have never heard of this town called Elk Grove - until now. If the goal of Elk Grove's new civic center is to create "an iconic piece of architecture (that) could vault the young city to higher heights," Ms. Hadid's architectural statement will accomplish this objective in spades, and in many respects has already firmly placed this progressive, tiny city on the map. Like great art, all architectural masterpieces inspire awe, wonder, dialogue, and just as often - ongoing, passionate debate. Hopefully, Elk Grove council members will have the courage to rise above their individual prejudices of what they may consider good taste, and implement the noble vision first established by their predecessors. If City officials elect instead to settle on a final civic center design easily understood by all, they will relegate Elk Grove's stature as a potentially significant place of interest to that of mediocrity, as they fade into obscurity like so many other places at Anytown, USA. Marc Bourdages Director of Design & Construction ForeSite Advisory Services, LLC M: 310.947.2362

I have been a resident of California since 1993, living in the San Francisco area and then greater Los Angeles area the entire time. I have to admit that I have never heard of this town called Elk Grove - until now. If the goal of Elk Grove's new civic center is to create "an iconic piece of architecture (that) could vault the young city to higher heights," Ms. Hadid's architectural statement will accomplish this objective in spades, and in many respects has already firmly placed this progressive, tiny city on the map. Like great art, all architectural masterpieces inspire awe, wonder, dialogue, and just as often - ongoing, passionate debate. Hopefully, Elk Grove council members will have the courage to rise above their individual prejudices of what they may consider good taste, and implement the noble vision first established by their predecessors. If City officials elect instead to settle on a final civic center design easily understood by all, they will relegate Elk Grove's stature as a potentially significant place of interest to that of mediocrity, as they fade into obscurity like so many other places at Anytown, USA. Marc Bourdages Director of Design & Construction ForeSite Advisory Services, LLC M: 310.947.2362