SPRINGDALE -- An architecture firm has been picked to design the criminal justice complex and remodeling for the City Administration Building.
The City Council Committee recommended Monday the city hire Duvall Decker Architects to do the work for $3,250,508.
Mayor Doug Sprouse said during the meeting four finalists were interviewed.
"But the clear choice was Duvall Decker," Sprouse said.
Duvall Decker is based in Jackson, Miss.
"We look forward to working closely and quickly with you to design and produce the conceptual plans, renderings and budgets in support of the bond election," said Roy Decker, principal-in-charge of the firm, in a letter to the city. "After approval, we look forward to the design development and construction of a facility that will serve Springdale for years to come."
Decker said in the letter the complex will be 78,600 square feet and the administration building will be 43,000 square feet. Melissa Reeves, public relations director for the city, said 43,000 is the administration building's current square footage. Decker said the budget goal for the project is $27,500,000.
City leaders hope the cost to build the complex and complete the remodel will be paid for by a 2018 bond program residents will vote on. The bond will not include a tax increase, Reeves said.
The City Council approved $3.3 million Walton Family Foundation grant to cover the cost of designing the remodel and the complex, which is to be north of the administration building, 201 Spring St.
"Duvall Decker has a great track record of being able to build within a budget," Sprouse said.
City leaders learned about the design program in 2015 and asked the foundation for more information about two months prior to the December meeting.
The complex will house the Police Department and city attorney's office, district court and the Information Technology Department. The building inspection office at 107 Spring St. and community engagement office, across the street from the administration building, will move to the administration building. That part of the administration building will be renovated to suit the change, Sprouse said.
Duvall Decker was selected from a slate of architecture firms associated with the Northwest Arkansas Design Excellence Program. The program has a pool of more than 50 architecture firms representing 15 states, the District of Columbia, Canada and Denmark.
Duvall Decker was chosen by a committee that included Sprouse, Planning and Community Director Patsy Christie, Administrative and Financial Services Director Wyman Morgan, Police Chief Mike Peters and Capt. Derek Hudson and Capt. Frank Gamble, both of the Police Department.
NW News on 05/16/2017