A City Hall to call their very own

Laguna Niguel on Monday will unveil its first permanent City Hall at 30111 Crown Valley Pkwy.

Since its incorporation in 1989, City Hall has been in rented industrial space at 27841 La Paz Road.

The cost of the new 40,800-square-foot project is estimated at $29 million — including land acquisition — and was designed in an abstract, mission-traditional style by senior designer Rick D’amato from the design firm LPA Inc.

City Manager Tim Casey, who has been with Laguna Niguel since its inception, said he’s excited about the new City Hall, which will not only serve city officials but the community as well.

The project has been years in the making. The city identified the site in 1992, and the ball started rolling. Construction began in 2010.

“We made a conscious decision early on that we wouldn’t even think about making a permanent location for City Hall until we could complete all the other projects and facilities that are important to our residents,” Casey said. “Until we could say with a straight face that we put those priorities first, then we could move forward.”

The building will include the City Council Chambers, a multipurpose room, city offices, an outdoor amphitheater and an outdoor “history walk,” which tells the story of Laguna Niguel from prehistoric days to present day. They’ll also have interesting indoor elements, such as a replica of a saber-toothed cat.

The city will rent out 1,000 square feet to the Chamber of Commerce and will also have administrative space for the Sheriff’s Department. The adjacent Laguna Niguel Library is also being renovated and expanded in conjunction with the City Hall project.

“We see a light at the end of the tunnel and can’t wait to get it,” Casey said prior to the move. “It’ll be a wonderful facility that will serve the community for many years to come.”

The first City Council meeting in the new chambers will be Sept. 20.