Architectural design sparks controversy in California

on Thursday,April 07,2011 21:04

An idea for the Civic Center in Elk Grove, California has been a hot topic for nearly 10 years. The city council of the small city hired a well-known architect, Zaha Hadid, who worked in Hong Kong, Seoul and Milan before the recession hit, according to the New York Times.

The design process came to a halt when the economy turned, and now that it has shown signs of improvement, discussions about the center have restarted. However, with the passing years came new members in the city council, and the ones who remain are not those who once supported Hadid's unique designs.

This past week, her ideas were brought to the council. The latest proposal for the $159 million civic center, which would stretch across 78 acres, received an overall negative response. The plans detailed a performing arts center, sports complexes and a library, according to the Times.

However, some residents of Elk Grove are hoping a design by Hadid will eventually be approved.

Architecture students who are seeking job opportunities after they graduate may have decent chances of finding employment. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, positions in this field are expected to increase by 16 percent between 2008 and 2018.