1998-05-28 Work Session
NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERSBOOK 26
WORK SESSION, SPACE NEEDS STUDY, MAY 28, 1998PAGE 506
ASSEMBLY
The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners held a Work Session on Thursday, May
28, 1998, at 10:30 a.m. in Room 501 of the New Hanover County Administration Building, 320
Chestnut Street, Wilmington, North Carolina.
Members present were: Commissioners Buzz Birzenieks; Ted Davis, Jr.; Charles R. Howell;
Vice-Chairman Robert G. Greer; Chairman William A. Caster; County Manager, Allen O’Neal;
County Attorney, Wanda M. Copley; and Clerk to the Board, Lucie F. Harrell.
Chairman Caster called the Work Session to order and advised the purpose of the meeting
was to hear a presentation from BMS Architects on space needs.
PRESENTATION OF UPDATE ON 1991 SPACE STUDY PERFORMED BY BMS
ARCHITECTS
County Manager O’Neal expressed appreciation to the persons present from the judicial
system and informed the Board this was indicative of the space needs for courts. He advised that Mr.
Bruce Bowman, representing BMS Architects, was present and would present a space plan based on
the 1991 Long-Range Space Needs Study.
Mr. Bruce Bowman reported the firm was requested to update the 1991 Long Range Space
Needs Study to decide how immediate and future space needs can be met in the downtown area.
Information for the study was obtained through questionnaires, interviews, and assessment of existing
space. Once this information was received, the firm assigned space standards, tabulated space needs,
and identified and prioritized relationships. Options were explored for available space and
recommendations were made with suggested phasing and projected construction cost.
Many of the County departments are in need of space; however, the critical needs are in the
Judicial Building and Judicial Annex. There is an immediate need to address space for the following
offices: District Attorney, Juvenile Services, Trial Court Administrator, Elections, and Clerk of
Courts.
Other priority space needs are offices located in the Annex Building: Water and Sewer
Finance Department, Engineering Department, Inspections Department, Parks Department and the
Human Relations Department.
Currently, the County is short 20,000 square feet of meeting its present space needs. This
figure is projected to increase to 23,000 square feet in three to five years. Most of the solutions will
require a minimum of two years to implement.
Discussion was held on how the space needs standards were developed. Mr. Bowman
explained that uniform standards are used by architectural firms throughout the State. He advised
that he would be glad to forward a copy of the standards used in the study to the Board of County
Commissioners.
Commissioner Birzenieks asked what operational hours were used in studying the space needs
for the courts? Were shifts or longer hours considered?
Mr. Bowman responded the study was prepared on the current hours of operation, 8:00 a.m.
until 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. No shifts were considered; however, this could be an option
that would allow for shared offices.
The following recommendations were made:
?
Furnish court related functions with adequate and appropriate space to perform their duties.
?
Provide easy access for departments with frequent public contact.
?
Consolidate group related departments for a one-stop service concept.
NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERSBOOK 26
WORK SESSION, SPACE NEEDS STUDY, MAY 28, 1998PAGE 507
?
Consolidate most of the county departments to one administrative location.
?
Create a hub of county services which would more effectively respond to needs.
?
Remain in the downtown area for convenience to the public and departments with ties to the
courthouse.
?
Provide the county with flexible and expandable space to meet future needs with minimum
cost and disruption.
The following solutions were presented:
?
Move Juvenile Court and counselors to the EMS Building.
?
Move Administration offices from the County Administration Building and Annex Building
to a new downtown location meeting current space needs.
?
Move Register of Deeds office to the County Administration Building.
?
Expand court related departments at the Judicial Building and Judicial Annex.
An expansion to the Judicial Building and Judicial Annex will require an additional 13,324
square feet to accommodate the following departments for a period of three to five years: Clerk of
Courts, District Attorney, Courts, Judges, Trial Court Administrator, and Elections. The following
departments within the Judicial Building will be moved to a nearby location: Register of Deeds,
Juvenile Court and Counselors, and Vice/Narcotics.
The County Administration Building would be used to house the following offices: Tax
Department, Community Service Program, Guardian Ad Litem, Register of Deeds for a net total of
31,000 square feet with an expansion area held in reserve in the amount of 9,792 square feet.
All of the administrative departments were reviewed and it was decided to construct a new
administration building to house the County Manager, Public Information Officer, Legal Department,
County Commissioners, Budget Department, Finance Department, MIS, Human Resources, Human
Relations, Inspections Department, Fire Service Administration, Engineering Department, Water and
Sewer Finance, Planning, Parks, and Natural Resources Conservation for a total square footage of
48,176.
The new administration building would be a 6-story building constructed with 62,400 square
feet constructed on the annex site connected to a 5-level parking deck to accommodate 276 parking
spaces. The Judicial Building, Judicial Building Annex, EMS Building, and existing County
Administration Building would be retrofitted. The project would be in five phases and take
approximately three years to complete at a projected cost of $10,350,000 as listed below:
New Construction at Annex Site:
New Administration Building 62,400 SF X $110/SF = $ 6,865,000
Parking Deck 80,000 SF X $ 20/SF = 1,600,000
On grade development 75,000
$ 8,540,000
Retrofit Costs - Judicial Building
13,528 SF X $ 20 SF = 270,560
Retrofit Costs - EMS Building
14,000 SF X $ 30 SF = 420,000
Retrofit Costs - Existing Admin. Bldg.
20,350 SF X $ 20 SF = 250,000
Total Phase Project Cost
$10,350,000
NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERSBOOK 26
WORK SESSION, SPACE NEEDS STUDY, MAY 28, 1998PAGE 508
Ms. Mary Sue Oots commented on the need to have a fire-proof vault and improved elevators
in the County Administration Building and asked if these items had been included in the projected
cost?
Mr. Bowman responded the cost of the vault was included in the retrofit. The elevators were
not included; however, upgrading existing elevators with new shafts would not be that expensive.
Discussion was held on the need to provide space as soon as possible and if the architect had
considered other sites in the downtown area. Deputy County Manager Atkinson reported that
builders were interested in constructing a building in the downtown area with the County purchasing
the building upon completion of the project. If the legal logistics of this type of arrangement can be
worked out, the building could be constructed in approximately one year. This would greatly relieve
the space needs for the courts.
After a lengthy discussion on the proposed project for the Annex Site and the possibility of
allowing a developer to construct a new building within a shorter time frame, the Board directed staff
to negotiate with the developer about constructing a building and present a report on both options.
County Manager O’Neal advised he felt staff could discuss this issue with the developer and
present a report within two weeks.
After further discussion, the Board agreed to schedule another Work Session on Thursday,
June 11, 1998 to hear the report on the two options.
ADJOURNMENT
Chairman Caster adjourned the meeting at 11:04 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Lucie F. Harrell
Clerk to the Board