Aerial rendering of the East County Service Center and the five County Supervisors prepare to break ground on March 31, 2026. Sources: (left) CC County (right) Office of Supervisor Ken Carlson.
New one-stop hub will bring essential services closer to residents
By Kristi Jourdan, PIO & Director, Office of Communications & Media Contra Costa County
(Martinez, CA) – Contra Costa County today celebrated the groundbreaking of the East County Service Center (ECSC), a major investment in public infrastructure that will bring multiple County services together in one convenient location for East County residents.
The three-story, 117,000-square-foot facility will serve as a one-stop hub for a wide range of services, reducing the need for residents to travel across the County to access support.
“Today marks an important step forward for East County,” said Chair Diane Burgis, District 3 Supervisor. “For too long, residents have had to travel long distances to access essential services. The East County Service Center will change that by bringing services closer to home and making them easier to navigate.”
Rendering source: CC County
A One-Stop Hub for Services
The ECSC will house approximately 440 staff across nine County departments, including Employment & Human Services, Contra Costa Health, the District Attorney, Public Defender, Probation, County Clerk-Recorder & Registrar of Voters, Veterans Service Office, the Department of Information Technology, and the District 3 Supervisor’s Office.
By co-locating these departments, the County aims to improve coordination across programs while making it easier for residents to access multiple services in a single visit.
“The East County Service Center is designed to improve both access and experience,” said Chief Assistant County Administrator Eric Angstadt. “This is more than an office building — it’s a community-centered space that supports collaboration, efficiency, and better outcomes for residents.”
The County Supervisors have some fun celebrating the groundbreaking. Photos: Office of Supervisor Diane Burgis
Designed for Community
In addition to service counters and office space, the facility will include shared training and conference rooms, public lobbies on multiple floors, and family-friendly amenities such as lactation rooms and a children’s play area connected to family services.
Outdoor features will include a public plaza, gathering spaces, and a community events gazebo, creating a welcoming environment for both services and community use. The building is also planned with sustainability in mind, including both geothermal and solar power providing all the buildings power needs, a battery backup system to run parts of the building in case of power outages and a mass timber structure that greatly reduces the carbon footprint compared to traditional building methods.
Rendering source: CC County
Strategic Location in a Growing Region
The ECSC will be built on County-owned land for the last fifteen years along Technology Way in Brentwood, near Brentwood Boulevard and Business Center Drive. East County has experienced significant growth over the past decade, with population increases outpacing other parts of the County.
The County recently expanded the project site with the purchase of five additional acres, allowing for a redesigned site plan that replaces a structured parking garage with surface parking — resulting in an estimated $15 to $20 million in cost savings.
Funded Through Dedicated Capital Resource
The East County Service Center’s estimated cost of $150 million is funded by the County’s Capital Reserve, with partial cost recovery expected from state and federal grants and program services housed at the new facility.
Each year, the County contributes a portion of General Fund year-end savings to the Capital Reserve. These funds are set aside specifically for such planned, long-term capital investments.
Contra Costa County and East County elected officials and staff participated in the groundbreaking ceremony. Photo: Office of Supervisor Diane Burgis
Looking Ahead
The ECSC is the first major project to emerge from the County’s Capital Facilities Master Plan adopted in 2022, which outlines a long-term strategy to modernize public facilities and develop regional service centers across East, Central, and West County.
Construction is now underway, with completion anticipated in 2027.
“As we look to the future, this project reflects a simple but powerful idea,” Burgis added. “Government services should be easy to find, easy to access, and centered on the people they serve. The East County Service Center brings us closer to that goal.”
Watch the East County Service Center in Brentwood overview video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCBpP-0iBNw
Leave a Reply