Lake Forest Civic Center
Government Buildings
Lake Forest, CA
Lake Forest Civic Center
Lake Forest was building more than just buildings—it was creating the city’s new civic heart. A $1B Civic Center Complex with five separate structures, a community-facing design, and a once-in-a-generation spotlight.
City leadership needed a partner who could deliver on every front—across five facilities, tight timelines, public visibility, and complex contractor coordination.
Unique Challenges faced by Lake Forest
We were brought in early, before concrete or contracts, to take ownership of the outcome—not just the process.
Our job? Make sure this didn’t become a typical government project. No delays. No change-order spirals. No finger-pointing. Just a high-quality civic legacy delivered on time and within budget.
Conflicting contractor timelines and unclear delivery sequences
SOLUTION: Ran integrated scheduling across all 5 buildings—tightened timelines, prevented bottlenecks
Design oversights and costly rework risks
SOLUTION: Delivered full constructibility and QA reviews before build began
Political and community pressure
SOLUTION: Provided City leadership with clear, defensible reporting and stakeholder alignment
Multi-team, multi-discipline complexity
SOLUTION: Served as the City’s Owner’s Rep, integrating every trade and decision into one cohesive roadmap
Risk of budget drift over a $1B scope
SOLUTION: Flagged design gaps, bid inconsistencies, and helped control scope creep from day one
Outcomes Delivered to Lake Forest
- Civic Center was delivered on schedule and within budget
- City had zero major delays or rework across the 5-building scope
- RED BRICK managed construction review, PS&E (Plans, Specs, & Estimates), contractor compliance, and program scheduling
- City leadership had full visibility into decisions, trade-offs, and timelines—minimizing political and public risk
We’re not clipboard consultants or PMs-for-hire.
When you need to coordinate millions in scope, avoid costly missteps, and walk into a council meeting with confidence—we’ve got your back. We lead from the inside, not from the sidelines.
