The Center Long Beach Facilities Plan
Location
Long Beach, CA
timeline
2022-2023
Role
Consultant
Services
More Info
The LGBTQ Center engaged City Fabrick to develop a factualities plan in response to their recently adopted strategic plan that contemplated a substantial expansion of their services and clientele.
The project included building and program analysis of their historic location on 4th Street in Retro Row as well as consideration of a second location. Through in depth engagement with the Center staff, leadership, clientele, and partners, City Fabrick developed an approach to transform the 4th Street location into a community center that can help build stronger social and emotional bonds within the LGBTQ community. A second location would provide dedicated space to establish a wellness center that helps clients physically, financially, and legally thrive.
Urban + Systems
Planning + Policy
Once establishing the concept for the future second location being a wellness center City Fabrick conducted a comprehensive geospatial analysis of Long Beach and the greater region to see where a second location might best serve the LGBTQ community. When considering existing Center locations across the region, density of residential population, health needs, and regional transportation it was determined that a second location in North Long Beach could serve both Long Beach but also the Southeast Los Angeles subregion.
Building + Interior
The design for the reimagined 4th Street Center proposes returning the historic pilasters of the south facade, while introducing modern shade elements to create patio spaces along 4th Street. Returning elements of the original storefront would substantially increase natural light into the building interior. The parking lot directly behind the building would be repurposed as enclosed outdoor space that can be used for programming and events. The 4th Street building interior would be completely reconfigured to reduce space dedicated to circulation, create multi-use spaces, and establish a more substantial space for youth. The second floor would be pulled away from the front facade to allow natural light to reach deeper into the building interior. Access, circulation, and spaces were laid out using best practices to address perceived and actual safety concerns these community spaces are facing. A proposed second wellness facility was generally proposed to provide a sense of programmatic relationships, potential scale, and cost. The wellness center had a medical wing, financial and legal service wing, and administrative wing, with shared meeting and welcome spaces where the three converge. A central courtyard was proposed to provide natural light and air within the core of a speculative commercial building adaptive reuse.
Landscape Architecture
Graphic
Engagement
City Fabrick facilitated an extensive engagement process that included staff, staff and board leadership, community partners, clients, and funders. This included surveys, interviews, focus groups, and participation at the annual staff retreat. A steering committee of board members and senior staff provided incremental guidance throughout the discovery, design, and refinement phases. At times they supported the outreach and engagement process.
