During the first half of the twentieth century, Long Beach civic institutions such as City Hall and the main library were well-loved and well-used monuments, but misguided urban renewal in the 1970s led to the destruction of the old civic core, including City Hall, the Carnegie Library and Lincoln Park. Subsequent construction consolidated six blocks into one giant megastructure, transforming City Hall into an over-scaled fourteen-story tower. The main library was isolated beneath a roof garden and landscaped berms while Lincoln Park was reduced to a shadow of its former glory.

The Long Beach Civic Center / Lincoln Park Renovation resuscitates Long Beach’s civic heart by adding 40,000 square feet of new uses and restoring the pedestrian-friendly block structure of the historic city. City Hall, the main library and Lincoln Park were returned to their individual city blocks and each facility received a functional makeover and distinguished new facade.