RAND’s relocation assists city in bid to revamp area
By JAMIE WETHERBE Special to the Daily Press
CIVIC CENTER — By the time the RAND Corp.’s new 309,000-square-foot, five-story headquarters is completed next fall, Santa Monica could very well have itself a new landmark.
The research-based, nonprofit organization has been a fixture of Santa Monica’s oceanfront since the 1950s. But the current office building, which is 290,000 square feet and houses 1,100 employees, has become outdated. RAND is constructing a new building next door on Main Street, across from City Hall.
With construction underway, the building’s design — often described as football-or fish-shaped — has attracted the attention from design professionals and passersby alike. While some deem the design innovative, others find it simply odd.
The unique ellipse design is really the result of the shape of the lot — sandwiched between Main Street’s bend and a storm drain, said Iao Katagiri, RAND’s director of community relations.
“The architects did a wonderful job with the restraints... I think it’s going to look very graceful,” she added.
“The architects did a wonderful job with the restraints... I think it’s going to look very graceful.” — – IAO KATAGIRI Director
After 20 years of nixed plans and land negotiations between RAND and City Hall, the company’s move from 1700 to 1776 Main St. has been a long time coming.
RAND, located in its existing building since 1953, has been contemplating a move for more than two decades. The current building suffered millions of dollars in damages during the 1994 Northridge earthquake.
As a research corporation, RAND investigated the cost to restore its headquarters and found it was equivalent to building the brand-new facility, which will cost about $72 million.
The current project finally got underway three years ago, after RAND sold about 11 of its 14 acres to the Santa Monica Redevelopment Agency for $53 million. In turn, City Hall approved the project on the remaining three acres. Construction began last year on the project.
The new complex also will change the face of Santa Monica’s civic center, which is planned to be overhauled in the next decade.
A curved driveway at the midspan area of Main Street will provide a passenger drop-off zone away from the roadway and a parking garage with more than 800 parking spaces will be added. A new street — Vicente Terrace — will be developed from the existing alley that connects Main Street to Ocean Avenue to allow entrances to the garage.
Coast redwoods will be planted around the building that could reach up to 70 feet within 15 years. And the building’s carpet and furniture are environmentally friendly.
The new headquarters also will contribute to City Hall’s plan to revamp the entire Santa Monica Civic Center area, estimated to cost in upwards of $120 million.
The 11 acres will be turned over to City Hall by the fall of 2005, after RAND’s current facility is demolished. And as part of the Civic Center Redevelopment Plan, residential units and a village green will be constructed where the current RAND building now sits.
RAND research areas include education, energy and environment, health care, national security, public safety, science and technology, transportation and substance abuse problems.
Previous board chairmen include Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and the former Treasury secretary, Paul H. O'Neill.
RAND also has offices near Washington, D.C. and countries in Europe, including Germany, England and the Netherlands.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on November 24, 2003. Read the original PDF.