“Right now we are erecting steel beams and columns for the first and second floor,” said Jorge Meza, the project manager with Kitchel CEM of Sacramento who is overseeing work.
While on a recent tour of the construction zone across from City Hall, Meza said 20 to 25 workers are on site daily. Once the second floor is laid out, they will have a team working on each level simultaneously for a total of 50 to 75 workers, Meza said.
Construction of the new public-safety center began in October 2017 with the demolition of the 100-year-old San Rafael Station 51 at Fifth Avenue and C Street. San Rafael firefighters have been temporarily stationed across the street on the City Hall property while workers continue to build the new three-story complex along Fifth Avenue.
San Rafael fire Chief Chris Gray was happy to say, “It’s right on schedule and right on budget.”
The new public safety complex for fire, police and emergency services will be 44,000 square feet. It’s part of the city’s $73 million essential facilities project, which was designed by Mary McGrath Architects of Oakland. The project also includes the rebuilding of San Rafael fire stations 52 and 57. Alten Construction Inc. of Richmond is the contractor on the project.
Fire Station 52 was an aging station in service since 1957 at 210 Third St.The station at that location was torn down in February 2017, and firefighters there moved two blocks away, to 519 Fourth St., while the rebuilding is in progress.
The city has also demolished Fire Station 57 at the Marin County Civic Center and moved operations to a temporary space at 30 Joseph Court, just off Redwood Highway in northeast San Rafael. That station is also being rebuilt, but the construction has been delayed about five months and costs increased due to unsuitable soil, said Bill Guerin, director of public works.
“That’s the most significant setback to the project: both cost wise and schedule,” Guerin said.
Station 57 was originally estimated to cost about $12 million, and now that looks more like $13.4 million. The county, which owns the property and is leasing it to the city of San Rafael, had already contributed $5.5 million toward that project. Due to the increase, the county has kicked-in an extra $655,500.
Chief Gray said if all goes according to plan, Station 52 is expected to be “fully functioning along with firefighters by March (2019).” Station 57 would likely be completed this summer.
As for the public safety complex, city staff is aiming for a spring 2020 opening.
“We’re delighted to be at this stage,” Gray said. “We’re building projects here for the future that are going to be safe and modern and really serve us well.”
Faby Guillen, a project manager with the department of public works, said, “We don’t have anything like this. It’s a monumental accomplishment.”
It’s the kind of project that Meza said he is proud to be part of.
“We’re going to have our stamp on this building here,” Meza said. “And we’ll be able to tell our kids, our grandkids, we helped construct this building that will sit here for the next 100 years, and it’s one of the biggest projects in the city of San Rafael.”
Project updates can be found at cityofsanrafael.org/departments/facilities/.
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©2018 The Marin Independent Journal (Novato, Calif.)
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