Watch how it happened!
(Click on image to enlarge.)

UPDATE FOR NOVEMBER 10, 2011:

Main Mall

Main Mall (Click on photo to enlarge.)

After approval by the Board of Directors at their September meeting, the preliminary renovations of the Main Mall located at the heart of the property began last month. Approved renovations included the addition of structural steel elements, lighting and landscape at an estimated cost of $2 million. As the central thoroughfare of the property including The Hangar and the four main exhibit buildings, Main Mall is a central element of the 2003 Master Plan, which included transforming this pedestrian mall into a scenic promenade that celebrates the property’s history as part of the Santa Ana Air Base. This phase of the renovations is expected to run from November 1, 2011 to April 1, 2012.

Since beginning last month, crews have removed the grassy center of Main Mall and begun the first stages of creating the scenic promenade with decorative concrete band as the central walkway. Next, paver stones will be added to the area. Additionally crews have removed the light poles and the ficus and palm trees in the area. The trees will be relocated to another part of the property.

Gate 4
Crews are completing the final landscaping as a part of the $25,000 capitol project renovations of the Gate 4 area off Arlington Drive.

Lot D
As part of the tree line improvements in this area, the trees will be removed next week. Then the underground utilities will be installed. The following week crews will pour concrete to form the new curb and gutter.

Pacific Amphitheatre
In April and May, several improvements were made to meet ADA requirements, including extending existing seating platforms in the Orchestra and Terrace seating levels, as well as adding ADA- appropriate railings on both sides of the seating areas. Additionally from April to June, crews completed the sound wall painting project for maintenance purposes.

Blue Gate
In mid-October, the extension of the steel perimeter fencing at the Blue Gate was completed as part of an upgrade of the main pedestrian entrance area.

Other Recently Completed Projects
The OC Fair & Event Center staff has been busy since April 2010 making improvements and upgrading the property. Here is a list of some of the other the many projects completed:

• Campground: In June 2011, some of the grass areas north of Lot P were replaced with asphalt to provide more exhibit space for the newly expanded Ice Museum featured during the 2011 OC Fair. In September, asphalt was also added to the area north of the gazebo to straighten the existing roadway.
• Lot I (Carnival Lot): In May 2011, the structure with restrooms and showers were removed.
• Other miscellaneous projects: re-striping of parking stalls in Lot F and large display frames added to the front of The Hangar building for Sponsor signage during Fair and other promotional uses year-round.

UPDATE FOR APRIL 8, 2010:

Hangar Building
The OC Fair & Event Center Technology Department is installing fiber optics and equipment for WiFi and an audio system within the new structure.

Green Gate
The pattern concrete walkway, which requires multiple set-ups and pours, is about 80 percent complete. An asphalt patch back around the tree islands and perimeter will be complete by Friday.

Miscellaneous: Crews are in the finishing stages of the Livestock Restrooms with plumbing and underground drainage near the parking lot side of the new facilities. The repairs for the underground utilities in the Main Mall are in the clean-up stages and the remaining trenches will be filled soon. Crews expect to break ground on the Gate 4 ½ project, which will upgrade the vehicle entrance gate to be more similar to Gates 5 and 8 off Arlington Drive.

UPDATE FOR MARCH 18, 2010:

Hangar Building
Final touches for the new Hangar building are in the works with crews working on completion of the interior flooring and the asphalt surrounding the building. The 31,000-square-foot structure is the newest exhibit building at the OC Fair & Event Center offering an additional 23,000-square-foot exhibit space, meeting rooms, storage space and an exhibit show office under its 50-foot-tall arched ceiling.

Green Gate
OC Fair & Event Center crews have completed the underground utilities and are in the final phases of rough grading. Next, the contractor will resume the final grading and compacting before laying out and forming the patterned concrete surface.

Miscellaneous: With the drywall complete, OC Fair & Event Center crews are painting the interior wall surfaces of the new, permanent restrooms in the Livestock Area. Next, crews will install the stainless steel wainscoat paneling and porcelain floor. On the exterior, crews are installing block veneer and color coating the stucco finish.