News

Griffin Structures is pleased to announce that, on May 18th, 2010, the City of Fullerton City Council unanimously approved Griffin Structures to proceed with its project to deliver the City a GMP for the City’s new Community Center.   Griffin and its team have been working with the City to conduct a needs assessment and prepare a conceptual approach and design for a new community center that combines the existing Senior Center and Boys & Girls Club requirements, as well as an overlay of general community needs.  The unanimous vote provides for the delivery of a Design Development package and Guaranteed Maximum Price.   The City has established a fund, primarily consisting of redevelopment financing, in excess of $23 million. 
 
For well over five years, the City has been examining various alternatives regarding Senior Center and Boys and Girls Club facilities. In earlier studies, planning provided for each entity to be independent facilities.  After its careful consideration of options, efficiencies, benefits, and synergies, the Council recommended integrating the these funcitons into one intergenerational facility. This facility will serve the seniors as a Senior Center, youngsters as a Boys and Girls Club, and the general population as a Community Center through its broad multi-purpose aptitude.
 
The new building will be at the site of the current Senior Center on the south side of Commonwealth Avenue.   This extends and enhances the City Civic Center, with  the main City library and City Hall located on the north side of Commonwealth.  An improved signalized street crossing which connects these functions is included in the project.  In addition to replacing the Senior Center, this facility will replace the existing Boys & Girls Clubs of Fullerton's downtown clubhouse and add a gym, pool, event center, performance space, arts and crafts rooms and a senior lounge and library.
 
At the meeting to decide on moving to the next phase of this project, Councilman F. Richard Jones said that residents have been waiting for this kind of facility. "This has been a five-year project," said Fred Johnson, director of the Boys & Girls Clubs. "I think we'd be making a terrible mistake not to move forward."  "We have a window of opportunity now that comes once in a generation," said 73 year old senior Dan Kiernan. "We can get the best price we could ever get."