Beloved Marin Civic Center To Be Spruced-Up

MARIN COUNTY, Calif. — The Marin County Civic Center will soon regain its signature “Marin Blue” roof as part of a specialized cleaning and maintenance project set to begin this summer, county officials announced.

Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, the historic Civic Center’s roof has become pale gray due to accumulated dust and dirt. The 470,168-square-foot structure—Wright’s largest completed public project—features a distinctive blue-coated concrete roof, which was last replaced in 2020 and requires cleaning every five years to maintain its vibrancy.

The Marin County Department of Public Works (DPW) will oversee the project, which will be advertised for public bids by the end of March, with the contract expected to be awarded by the Board of Supervisors in June. Cleaning is anticipated to begin in August and take approximately two months.

DPW estimates the project will cost $1.5 million, funded through the Capital Improvement Program.

The process will involve multiple high-pressure washes, power scrubbing, and hand scrubbing, using biodegradable soap that is safe for plants and animals. Any necessary repairs will also be addressed.

Since its construction over 60 years ago, the Civic Center roof has undergone four layers of recoating and patchwork. In 2015, a roof assessment found that routine repairs were insufficient, leading to a full roof replacement from 2018 to 2020. The roof’s membrane material is expected to require recoating at the 20-year mark to ensure long-term durability.

The Marin County Civic Center is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and remains an architectural landmark.