Arts Commission taps design firm for theater Arts Commission taps design firm for theater (January 09, 2004)

Decision now goes to Parks and Rec, City Council
by Teresa C. Brown

The Pleasanton Civic Arts Commission unanimously agreed Monday night to recommend the Berkeley firm ELS Architecture and Urban Design to design the transformation of the downtown Railroad Avenue fire station into a theater and art gallery.

Civic Arts Manager Andy Jorgensen told the commissioners that with their approval of the firm, the matter would be presented to the Parks and Recreation Commission during its Feb. 12 meeting and could be on the City Council's Feb. 17 agenda for contract approval with the design firm.

As one of the panelists who interviewed prospective architecture firms, commission Chairwoman Margene Gerton Rivara, explained that ESL stood out among its peers because it had a "good handle" on Pleasanton.

"We wanted a group we could work with and won't be fighting their design styles with what we've got going on downtown," she said. "ESL seemed to stand higher on the pedestal in that I felt we would have something our community would accept."

The fire station is slated for renovation into the Old Firehouse Theater & Gallery after it is retired from service when firefighters move into their new location on Bernal Avenue. The new theater will be home to Pleasanton's first community art gallery, as well as a black box theater and art instruction rooms, for arts such as painting and sculpting.

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