Escondido

Two firms involved with construction of a civic center project in Beverly Hills were hired by the Escondido City Council on Wednesday to design and oversee construction of the city’s own cultural arts complex.

A Texas-based company, Robert E. McKeey Inc., was awarded a $5.8-million contract to serve as construction manager of the $55-million civic center project, which will feature a 1,500-seat performing arts theater, a 450-seat community theater, art galleries and banquet rooms.

Moore Ruble Yudell Architects & Planners of Santa Monica was awarded a $5.2-million contract to design the center.

Other contracts were awarded to Theater Projects Consultants of New York City, to help with technical and mechanical aspects of the project, and to Talaske-Joiner Group of Oak Park, Ill., for acoustical consulting services.

Construction is expected to begin in September, 1990, and be completed in March, 1993.