Agenda - 04-16-2013 - 1 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

As of December 31, 2012, the facility is vacant except for the office of the Cedar Grove Park supervisor. All utilities have been disconnected, except for the needed conditioning to preserve the plumbing lines and control humidity. The County has limited its programming of the space over the past several years, due to a combination of falling demand and high fixed costs to maintain the facility. Several studies have examined potential uses of the building. However, no potential use overcomes the very high operating cost of the facility (estimated at $100,000 annually, when fully conditioned) and necessary capital improvements. The single most limiting factor for the facility is the lack of conventional water and sanitary sewer service. The current well and septic system can adequately service a low volume of flow — not a higher volume necessary to support the full facility and its programming capacity. Such a single system renovation to the well and septic system is estimated to cost between $500,000 and $800,000. Recent Activities County staff has recently concluded the RFQ process, recommending MBAJ Architects from Raleigh, NC as the design firm for the project. Eleven firms submitted written proposals for evaluation. Five firms were selected to interview with a staff panel consisting of Susan Mellott (who has since retired from Planning and Inspections), David Stancil (DEAPR), Jeff Thompson and Wayne Fenton (AMS), and Michael Talbert (Manager's Office). David Cannell of Finance and Administrative Services managed the RFQ process. The firms were evaluated based upon the quality of the collective presentation, specifically their responses in the areas of relevant experience with adaptive re -use design, community center design experience, and experience with historic and culturally significant projects. Firms submitting RFQ proposals were: ADW Architects, Charlotte NC Building Technology Associates, Oak Park, MI *Corley Redfoot Architects, Chapel Hill NC Davis Kane Architects, Raleigh NC HH Architecture, Raleigh NC *Isley Hawkins Architecture, Durham NC *MBAJ Architecture, Raleigh NC *RND Architects, Durham NC Robert W. Carr Architects, Durham NC Summit Design and Engineering, Hillsborough NC *Weinstein Friedlein Architects, Carrboro NC *Firms invited to interview Representatives from MBAJ Architects will be present during the work session and will be available to answer questions from the Board. Staff will present a Professional Services Agreement to the Board at the June 18, 2013 regular meeting for approval for the Chair to execute. The design will encompass all deconstruction work through final occupancy of the renovated facility. This path ensures that a single general construction firm will be responsible for the entire project to its finish and subsequent operation.