Project Data:

Completion Date:     5/1/2023

Square Footage:      5500

Building Use:           Marine Safety Headquarters, First Aid, Administrative Offices, and Various Storage Spaces

Project Description:

Built in 1968, San Clemente Marine Safety Headquarters is a familiar landmark on the Southern California coast. Located directly on the beach, the administrative headquarters of the lifeguard corps has fallen into disrepair due to coastal erosion and harsh salt winds. However, renovating the existing structure in its current location would be expensive, not align with modern standards, and rising sea levels and storm surges will increasingly threaten the property. So, we created a new public plaza in the bluff above the beach, in the area known as the “Pier Bowl.”
The design takes advantage of topography by placing the new public safety facility -the administrative headquarters of the lifeguard corps- underneath a new public plaza. By moving the facility off the beach and into the bluff, it protects the building from flooding and gives staff uninterrupted views of the beach while significantly expanding and improving public space and amenities, giving the beach back to the community and providing 20,000 SF of reclaimed public space along the shore.
On the bluff, extending the terrace outward increases the usable plaza area by 12 times and the linear footage of seating by 25 times. At the north end of the new plaza, a raised amphitheater provides views of the pier, the beach, and the ocean from a higher elevation. Next to the amphitheater, the re-imagined clock tower will serve a new purpose in its new home. The new clock tower, made from the stone of the existing tower will now pull warm air up and out of the building, creating a passively cooled space below. The clock tower is also constructed with open joints, allowing subtle light to seep out and create an ethereal and memorable image on the skyline. Now the clock tower will double as a thermal flue while continuing its legacy at the more visible public plaza.
Finally, the team envisioned the plaza to maintain the same amount of planted area as the existing park. The planting design incorporates California native coastal plant material that is low-water use, restores site soils, provides habitat for local fauna, and limits the use and spread of non-native or invasive plant species, creating a healthy and vibrant natural system. These options require less maintenance and reduce the need for chemical inputs creating an overall healthier environment. Trees provide natural shading in hot months and solar heat gain in winter months pulling from the native coastal mix that are salt and wind tolerant. The planting design allows for use of three-inch layer of mulch to reduce soil temperature, minimize weeds, and control evapotranspiration of water from the site soils. The combined use of the strategies helps to expand the use of precious resources.
The resulting new space will enjoy good natural light, passive ventilation, and extreme energy efficiency. The building will use 87 percent less energy than average and lives the principles of designing for integration, community, energy, and change.

Firm Name:              HMC Architects

Completion Date:     5/1/2023

Square Footage:      5500

Building Use:           Marine Safety Headquarters, First Aid, Administrative Offices, and Various Storage Spaces

Location:                 San Clemente, CA

Project Description:
- Integration
Extending the terrace outward increases the usable plaza area by 12 times and the linear footage of seating by 25 times. This new extended space includes a raised amphitheater at the north end of the new plaza. It provides views of the pier, the beach, and the ocean from a higher elevation, a vantage point that is unique in the city. The amphitheater faces a stage-like platform next to the reconstructed clock tower, where special events and performances can happen. Under the raked seating platform is access to the program space below.
The clock tower is reconstructed with open joints, allowing subtle light to seep out and create an ethereal and memorable image on the skyline. The updated landmark links the memory of the community and creates a new experience.
- Equitable Communities
Moving the facility off the beach and to the bluff protects the building from flooding and gives staff uninterrupted views of the beach while significantly expanding and improving public space and amenities, giving the beach back to the community and providing 20,000 SF of new public space along the shore. The new grand stair and sloping accessible sidewalk gives greater access to the beach from the plaza above and serves as a visible public landmark.
- Ecosystems
This project studies the impact of removing and replacing an existing Marine Safety Headquarters structure due to rising seas on the most visible, and arguably most beautiful site in the community. The project also considers how to protect the natural habitat once the project was moved to its new location. The result is a planting design that incorporates California native coastal plant material that is low-water use, restores site soils, provides habitat for local fauna, and limits the use and spread of non-invasive plant species, creating a healthy and vibrant natural system. These natural coastal landscapes also require less maintenance and reduce the need for chemical inputs creating an overall healthier environment. The combined use of the strategies helps to expand the use of precious resources.
- Energy
Cradled in the thermal mass of the earth, the new subterranean space utilizes:
• Glazing shaded by terrace overhang allows views of the beach and lets in light
• Reconstructed clock tower doubles as a thermal flue
• Glass pavers atop seat wall create a skylight along the east wall allowing light into the program space below
Now, the space will enjoy plentiful natural light, passive ventilation, and extreme energy efficiency, with the building anticipated to use 87 percent less energy than average.
• pEUI: 16 kBtu/sf/yr
• Baseline: 125 kBtu/sf/yr
• Energy Savings: 87%

Design Architect:
James Krueger: james.krueger@hmcarchitects.com 619-744-4077 AIA San Diego

Associate Architect or Firm:

Landscape Architect:
Landlab, Neil Hadley, nhadley@land-lab.com

Owner / Developer:
City of San Clemente, Amir Ilkhanipour

Engineer:
M/E/P Engineer: P2S, Travis Taylor, travis.taylor@p2sinc.com
Civil Engineer: KPFF, Todd Graham, todd.graham@kpff.com
M/E/P Engineer:(IMEG) Qeumars Mazloomian- Principal / qeumars.mazloomian@imegcorp.com

General Contractor:

Consultant:
Coastal Engineer- Moffat + Nichol, Chris Webb, cwebb@moffattnichol.com

Photographer:
Chris Grant: chris.grant@hmcarchitects.com