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Centennial Tower (Hayward)
Encyclopedia
The tower at Hayward City Center, known briefly as Centennial Tower, is clearly visible as the tallest building in downtown Hayward
, California
. It is the second tallest in Hayward after Warren Hall on the Cal State East Bay
campus. It is now an abandoned building located between Foothill Boulevard and City Center Drive, in the City Center section of Downtown Hayward
, adjacent to the PlazaCenter mall. It was formerly known as the Hayward City Center Building.
building on October 18, 1969. It was originally planned to have 20 floors and a cinema, but only 11 floors were built, with no cinema. The building served as Hayward's city hall from 1969 to 1998. Its top floor was the seat of municipal government and other floors were leased to businesses. It was designed to replace the old Hayward city hall, now located in the Alex Giualini Plaza
. It was the first building in the planned City Center complex. Architectural critic Allan Temko
nicknamed the building "the toaster" in the 1970s, strongly influencing public opinion against it. The Centennial Hall Convention Center was added to the complex.
In the 1980s, the PlazaCenter complex of retail and commercial businesses was built next to it, on the former grounds of Hayward High School
.
In 1989, the Loma Prieta earthquake
damaged the building's structural integrity and the city government moved out of the building.
In 1998, after the completion of the new city hall, the building was closed to the public. The city sold the building for $1.5 million in 1998 to a developer who planned to convert it to condominium
s. They renamed it "Centennial Tower" and sold it to another developer. Condominium conversion was never implemented, as it was considered too expensive. In 2006 plans were made to demolish the building. A year later, the demolition was canceled. On November 1, 2009, the adjacent Centennial Hall Convention Center closed.
opened in January 1998. It is located at B Street and Watkins Street, next to the Hayward BART station
.
is visible on the windows and top floors. In January 2008 a fence was erected around the building to deter vandalism. In March 2010 a fire broke out on the top floors of the tower.
Hayward, California
Hayward is a city located in the East Bay in Alameda County, California. With a population of 144,186, Hayward is the sixth largest city in the San Francisco Bay Area and the third largest in Alameda County. Hayward was ranked as the 37th most populous municipality in California. It is included in...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. It is the second tallest in Hayward after Warren Hall on the Cal State East Bay
California State University, East Bay
California State University, East Bay is a public university located in the eastern region of the San Francisco Bay Area. The university, as part of the 23-campus California State University system, offers over 100 areas of study...
campus. It is now an abandoned building located between Foothill Boulevard and City Center Drive, in the City Center section of Downtown Hayward
Downtown Hayward
Downtown Hayward is the original and current city center of Hayward, California, and is home to the current Hayward City Hall, along with the two previous city halls, Alex Giualini Plaza and The Tower at Hayward City Center...
, adjacent to the PlazaCenter mall. It was formerly known as the Hayward City Center Building.
History
The City of Hayward opened the steel reinforced concreteTower block
A tower block, high-rise, apartment tower, office tower, apartment block, or block of flats, is a tall building or structure used as a residential and/or office building...
building on October 18, 1969. It was originally planned to have 20 floors and a cinema, but only 11 floors were built, with no cinema. The building served as Hayward's city hall from 1969 to 1998. Its top floor was the seat of municipal government and other floors were leased to businesses. It was designed to replace the old Hayward city hall, now located in the Alex Giualini Plaza
Alex Giualini Plaza
Alex Giualini Plaza is a park surrounding a vacant building in downtown Hayward, California. The building was Hayward's first city hall. It is located on Mission Boulevard and D Street.- History :...
. It was the first building in the planned City Center complex. Architectural critic Allan Temko
Allan Temko
Allan Bernard Temko was a Pulitzer Prize-winning architectural critic and writer based in San Francisco.Born in New York City and raised in Weehawken, New Jersey, Temko served as a U.S...
nicknamed the building "the toaster" in the 1970s, strongly influencing public opinion against it. The Centennial Hall Convention Center was added to the complex.
In the 1980s, the PlazaCenter complex of retail and commercial businesses was built next to it, on the former grounds of Hayward High School
Hayward High School
Hayward High School is a public high school in Hayward, California, one of four high schools in the city. It is one of the oldest high schools in Northern California. The official mascot for Hayward High is the "Farmer" which dates back to Hayward's period as an agricultural center...
.
In 1989, the Loma Prieta earthquake
Loma Prieta earthquake
The Loma Prieta earthquake, also known as the Quake of '89 and the World Series Earthquake, was a major earthquake that struck the San Francisco Bay Area of California on October 17, 1989, at 5:04 p.m. local time...
damaged the building's structural integrity and the city government moved out of the building.
In 1998, after the completion of the new city hall, the building was closed to the public. The city sold the building for $1.5 million in 1998 to a developer who planned to convert it to condominium
Condominium
A condominium, or condo, is the form of housing tenure and other real property where a specified part of a piece of real estate is individually owned while use of and access to common facilities in the piece such as hallways, heating system, elevators, exterior areas is executed under legal rights...
s. They renamed it "Centennial Tower" and sold it to another developer. Condominium conversion was never implemented, as it was considered too expensive. In 2006 plans were made to demolish the building. A year later, the demolition was canceled. On November 1, 2009, the adjacent Centennial Hall Convention Center closed.
New Hayward City Hall
The new City HallHayward City Hall
Hayward City Hall is the third and current Hayward city hall building, located in downtown Hayward, California, USA. next to the Hayward BART Station. The city hall opened in January 1998, replacing the abandoned Hayward City Center Building, which served as Hayward's city hall for 29 years from...
opened in January 1998. It is located at B Street and Watkins Street, next to the Hayward BART station
Hayward (BART station)
The Hayward station is a Bay Area Rapid Transit station that serves the Downtown Hayward area of Hayward, California. It is directly across the street from the rear of Hayward City Hall. The station consists of two train platforms and a free five-level parking garage.-History:Service at the...
.
Current conditions
The building remains vacant. The interior walls, pipes and heating system have been removed. There are numerous broken or boarded-up windows. GraffitiGraffiti
Graffiti is the name for images or lettering scratched, scrawled, painted or marked in any manner on property....
is visible on the windows and top floors. In January 2008 a fence was erected around the building to deter vandalism. In March 2010 a fire broke out on the top floors of the tower.