Adamson University

College of Architecture

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN 08

What A Civic Center Is?

Corona, King Marco B.

BS Architecture 401
T/Th/F (4:30-9:00)

Arch. Roberto S. Duran

Instructor

CIVIC CENTER
Definitions from Dictionary:
(1) a large building or group of buildings used for entertainment, social, and business events:

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Source: Cambridge Dictionary Online (http://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/civic-centre)

(2) a building complex housing a theater or theaters for the performing

arts and sometimes exhibition halls, a museum, etc., and usually
constructed or maintained by municipal funds.
Source: Dictionary.com (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/civic-center)

Definitions from Encyclopedia:

(1) grouping of municipal facilities into a limited precinct often adjacent to the central
business district. In smaller cities the civic centre is sometimes combined with the
cultural centre. The civic centre has its ultimate base in the Hellenistic concept of an
acropolis and in the Roman idea of a forum. As municipal functions grew in scope and
personnel, the idea of a central location and arrangement became popular.
Source: Britannica Encyclopedia (http://www.britannica.com/technology/civic- centre)

(2) A civic center or civic centre is a prominent land area within a community that is
constructed to be its focal point or center. It usually contains one or more dominant public
buildings, which may also include a government building. Recently, the term "civic
center" has been used in reference to an entire central business district of a community or
a major shopping center in the middle of a community. In this type of civic center, special
attention is paid to the way public structures are grouped and landscaped.
Source: Wikipedia, The Free Encylopedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civic_center)

SAMPLE LAYOUTS AND PHOTOGRAPHS OF CIVIC CENTERS ABROAD

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SOURCE: http://www1.toronto.ca/wps/portal/contentonly?vgnextoid=539b9561d1352410VgnVCM10000071d60f89RCRD

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SCARBOROUGH CIVIC CENTER, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

SOURCE: http://www1.toronto.ca/wps/portal/contentonly?
vgnextoid=c07a957970422410VgnVCM10000071d60f89RCRD&vgnextchannel=68f2590dd3412410VgnVCM10000071d60f89
RCRD

EAST YORK CIVIC CENTER, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

SOURCE: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_York_Civic_Centre

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SOURCE: http://www1.toronto.ca/wps/portal/contentonly?vgnextoid=539b9561d1352410VgnVCM10000071d60f89RCRD

[AUTHOR NAME]

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SAMPLE LAYOUTS AND PHOTOGRAPHS OF LOCAL CIVIC CENTERS

PUEBLO DE PANAY, Roxas City, Capiz, Panay

SOURCE: http://www.pueblodepanay.com/about-us

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CITY CIVIC AND LIFESTYLE CENTER, San Jose Del Monte City, Bulacan

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SOURCE: http://wikimapia.org/24869858/The-City-Civic-and-Lifestyle-center#/photo/2602759

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DANAO CITY CIVIC CENTER, Danao City, Cebu

SOURCE: http://www.zamboanga.com/z/index.php?title=File:Danao_civic_center.jpg

MINDANAO CIVIC CENTER, Tubod, Lanao Del Norte

SOURCE: http://timothysebastian.lens.ph/architecture-lanao-del-norte/

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NARRATIVE

Before conducting research about what a civic center is, my initial perception about this
type of structure/development is that, it is a group of civic buildings in a large complex primarily
consisting of city/municipal/provincial halls, offices or extension offices of different government
agencies, and if the site permits, government hospitals and sports facilities may also be located.
And when I think of an example of a civic center, I can picture the Quezon City Hall and the
structures surrounding the vicinity like the Hall of Justice and COMELEC Office. Based on what
I have researched from different sources, my initial perception is closely related to what a civic
center really is. Aside from government-related functions, a civic center may also be a venue for
cultural, social and business events. In a city or province, it should be the focal point where
dominant structures are located. I can assume that it is the center of power because usually,
structures needed to run and administer a government is located here like city halls, provincial
capitols and government departments/offices.

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