Georgina
November 12, 2008 06:57 PM
John Slykhuis
Georgina needs a new civic centre.
Council was told the cost of totally renovating the existing 50-year-old building will cost $9.5 million, while building a brand new one will cost $10 million.
A needs study was done by Barry Knoll of Totten Sims Hubicki too see how the current facility could be used more efficiently.
The condition of the building was described as poor and inefficient and more than $2 million will be required over the next 15 years for repairs and maintenance.
That would include a new heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, replacing the 50-year-old wiring, replacing the windows, elevator and roof and making repairs to the foundation and masonry.
The building has major functional deficiencies, Mr. Knoll said.
“Space utilization is very poor at 52 per cent effectiveness, primarily because of the building’s small footprint, the wider corridors the extent of the washrooms and stairwell,” he said.
Air quality is poor and there are security issues as well, he added.
If the existing building is retained, additions would be necessary, he said.
Portions of the existing building would have to be gutted, other sections, including the council chamber, would have to be demolished and the entire front of the building expanded to the west.
To accommodate new staff over the next 20 years would require an additional 12,700 square feet.
A new building would be about 40,000 square feet in size and constructed either to the northwest of southwest of the existing civic centre.
Each department would have its own filing and reception area and some staff would be put in an open concept work environment.
Some staff do not require a private office, which is unavoidable at this time, he said.
With the town’s population set to increase from the current 40,000 to about 69,000 over the next 20 years, the staffing level is estimated to grow from 89 to about 139.
Council members accepted the report without comment and will await staff report at a later date.