The Orion Center, (Project No. 3572), will centralize the city’s maintenance and operations functions into a single location on Orion Way, on a site between Police & Fire Headquarters and Fleet Maintenance building. Co-location results in increased efficiency of operations, reduced environmental impacts to the community and improved cross-training and collaboration. The project also creates an opportunity to repurpose two different city properties: the Public Works Maintenance yard located at 405 Oak Street and the Parks Maintenance yard located at 1166 Carlsbad Village Drive. 

The project is expected to be completed in summer 2026. The total estimated project cost is $48.8 million.

Conceptual Design, Front View 

Conceptual Design, Side View

View larger images and location map
View elevation renderings
Read the staff report
Watch the City Council Presentation

Environmental review process

City staff completed the environmental review for the project. View the notice of intent to adopt a mitigative negative declaration published on Jan. 27, 2023 and other environmental documents for the project on the city's website.

Questions and Answers

What will the building be like?

The Orion Center will be a modern and eco-friendly building, including:

• Flexible workspace and warehouse space
• Room for a materials storage yard onsite 
• A parking garage
• Secure property and crime evidence storage for the Police Department
• Solar power
• Electric vehicle charging stations

Who will work there?

Staff from the following divisions will work at the Orion Center:

• Utilities/Carlsbad Municipal Water District (Public Works Department)
• General Services (Public Works Department)
• Construction Management & Inspection (Public Works Department)
• Parks Maintenance (Parks & Recreation Department)

Police Department staff will access the facility on a regular basis but not have offices on site.

What’s next?

Staff plans to return to the City Council in spring 2023 for authorization to complete design work needed to build the project. 

Contact

Steven Stewart, Municipal Projects Manager, steven.stewart@carlsbadca.gov, 760-602-7543