Changes are Coming to the Civic Center

Exciting investments are coming to the Civic Center starting this summer! These changes are community investments that will link major water infrastructure, continue investments in access to early childhood education and increase sports field space for Santa Monica’s active residents and young athletes.   

Construction is already underway on the Early Childhood Lab School and beginning August 1, 2019, the Civic Multipurpose Sports Field and Sustainable Water Infrastructure Project will be underway. These investments will close the Civic Center surface parking lot. This will impact visitors, neighboring businesses, including the courthouse, as well as City staff. Parking is available in the Civic Center structure and in nearby downtown structures for the duration of construction and into the future. 

Here are the projects that will soon transform the Civic Center campus. 

• City Services Building (CSB)  – broke ground in September 2017.
• Early Childhood Lab School (ECLS)  – broke ground in March 2018. This project invests in access to early childhood education and training the next generation of early childhood educators. This is a partnership with Santa Monica College, to be operated by the Growing Place.  
• Civic Center Multipurpose Sports Field – Projected to open in 2020, this project will increase sports field space for our active residents and young athletes. In conjunction with the construction of the field, the Belmar History + Art project will commence to commemorate the history of the African American residents and business owners of the Belmar neighborhood, which was formerly situated in what is now the Civic Center campus. A team has been gathered to develop art and interpretive elements and an educational program centered at the new field. Learn more about the Belmar History + Art project at santamonica.gov/arts/belmar.
• Sustainable Water Infrastructure Project (SWIP) – This project will begin construction in February 2020. The surface parking lot will be closed starting Monday February 3, 2020 and is anticipated to re-open in summer 2022. This project will link major water infrastructure projects to eliminate imported water by 2023.  
 

In the Autumn of 2023, the City will be seeking clearance from the California Department of Housing and Community Development in accordance with the State’s Surplus Land Act to engage freely in negotiations involving the future of the Civic Auditorium.