HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 09-02-1997 - 9c 1
'1 ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Action Agenda
Item No. q—C
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: May 21, 1997
SUBJECT: Skill Development Center Renovations
DEPARTMENT: Manager's Office and Purchasing & PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/1)
Central Services
BUDGET AMENDMENT: (Y/N)
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
Floor Plan Albert T. Kittrell,Assistant County Manager
Pam Jones, Purchasing Director
TELEPHONE NUMBERS: --ext. 2300
Hillsborough 732-8181
Chapel Hill 968-4501
Durham 688-7331
Mebane 227-2031
PURPOSE: To consider approving the plans for the proposed Skill Development Center, 503
West Franklin Street, Chapel Hill; and to consider dissolving the Facility Development Task Force,
whose work has now been completed.
BACKGROUND: On April 25, 1997 an architectural charrette was held at the proposed building
for the Skill Development Center. The purpose of the charrette was to receive input from the
public, human services agencies and interested local officials regarding building renovations. The
day concluded with a rough preliminary design of the building. Following the charrette, staff met
several times with the Skill Development Center Facility Construction Task Force to refine the
preliminary plan.
On June 17, 1997 Commissioner Brown, County Manager, County Staff and Facility Construction
Task Force Representative interviewed potential architects for the building design. The Board
approved the architectural design firm of Dixon/Weinstein for design services on June 30, 1997.
During the month of July, County Staff and the Facility Construction Task Force met with the
architects several times to finalize the design. The architects and County staff also met with
agencies occupying the building for their final input.
Attached is a design of the Skill Development Center which is recommended to the Board for
approval by the Facility Construction Task Force and the agencies occupying the building.
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The agencies occupying the building are: Employment Security Commission, Social Services
Department-Work First Program, Durham Technical Community College, Joint Orange Chatham
Community Action Agency-Job Training Partnership Act(JTPA), Orange County Literacy Council,
Vocational Rehabilitation Services (part-time) and Chapel Hill-Carrboro/Orange County Schools
Job Ready Program(part-time).
The building features are as follows:
Receptionist/Waiting Area
A facilitator will greet clients immediately identify their needs; and direct them to the appropriate
agency.
Children's Waiting Room
A waiting area designed specifically for kids. While parent(s)are receiving services, children will
be entertained temporarily with toys and educational materials. Daycare services will be provided
off site.
Conference Rooms
Small and large conference rooms will be available for agency staff and for public use at nights and
weekends.
Resource Area
Public-Access computers,job listings,training and employment information,newspapers,
telephones and reference materials will be located this area for client use.
Agency Offices
Clustered offices will be convenient for clients and encourage greater interaction among agencies.
Visiting Offices
Allied agencies which will provide related services to clients perdiocially,but do not require
permanent office space. Also, employers will also use office space for interviews and other
personnel activities.
Classrooms for Skill Training
Durham Technical Community College has identified two classes(nursing assistant and computer
lab) for potential students. Day and evening classes will be offered by DTCC based on the labor
market analysis and input from the Skill Development Advisory Committee.
Facility Development
Several goals were cited for this building by the design charette participants and the Facility
Development Task Force. Among them the creation of space with a non-institutional feeling and
space that would provide a high level of energy efficiency. The Task Force recommends the design
presented for the Board's consideration as reflective of both of these goals.
To provide a non-traditional feel to the building,the architect has designed a smaller scale lobby
area which feeds into a resource center and will feature soaring ceilings with exposed ductwork and
other workings of the building which are normally hidden behind ceilings. The theme will be
carried out futher through his use of non-traditional style lighting and painting the existing concrete
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floors rather than carpeting them.. Block or stucco walls will create the corridor which serves as the
main street for the space.
In addition, the building will incorporate energy efficient ideas through both the selection of the
heating and cooling equipment and the extensive use of daylighting. Daylighting will be
accomplished by opening up window areas which have been bricked over and adding roof monitors
to allow light to wash into the interior spaces of the building. Admitedly, the roof monitors will
add up front cost to the project, but it is anticipated that they will pay for themselves in 6-10 years
through the reduced lighting energy costs.
Preliminary cost estimates indicate that the renovation as designed will cost between$650,000
($49/sq. ft.)- $780,000($59/sq. ft.)to complete . As a point of comparison, the Southern Human
Services Center, currently under construction, is being built for around$100 per square foot,
excluding the cost of site work.
Pending approval by the Board of Commissioners and the Department of Insurance, the plans for
this facility should be completed by the end of September, 1997 with bids to be received by the end
of October, 1997. If acceptable bids are received as a result of the first bid solicitation,the Board
could approve the contract and construction could start by December 1, 1997. The project
completion time has been estimated at four to six months, thereby potentially allowing programs to
begin in the newly renovated facility in June, 1998.
The Facilities Development Task Force has completed the work requested as it respects the
development of this facility. Dissolution of the sub-committee is therefore recommended.
RECOMMENDATION: The Manager recommends that the Board approve the final plans for the
Skill Development Center and authorize the dissolution of the Facilities Development Task Force.
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