In a long-anticipated presentation, Joe Feldmann, project architect with OPN Architects, brought the final layout options and cost projections for renovation of the Carroll City Hall building and the Commercial Savings Bank building on North Adams Street to the city council Monday night. He showed those in attendance the overviews of the library as an expansion in the existing space in City Hall and as it would look moving to the bank building, with the same two options presented for city offices. With the library remaining in the existing space, the plan would call for a 1,200 square foot addition to the front (north) side of the building that would provide an open, two-story entry to better utilize the second-floor space. If the library was to move to the Commercial Savings Bank building, this would require an 8,800 square-foot addition to get to identified space requirements of just over 19,000 square feet. Feldmann prefaced the cost summary by explaining how they arrived at the estimates.
The cost estimate for keeping the library where it is ranges from a little over $7.1 million to slightly over $7.6 million. Surprisingly, the cost for moving the library and doing a major expansion on the bank building came in close with a range from $6.97 million to $7.48 million. Feldmann said the costs include the replacement of nearly 40 year-old major systems, like the mechanical, electrical and plumbing.
He did, however, say the OPN architects all had a preference.
Council member Clay Haley summed it up at the close of the presentation and Feldmann gave some final thoughts.
The council accepted receipt of the over 280-page report and will be reviewing it closely before bringing the options back to the table for discussion. Copies of the proposed plans and the cost estimates can be found with this story on our website.
