Greenville firm to design complex

Aiken County Council has chosen McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture out of Greenville as the firm that will provide design services for the County Complex.

The resolution authorizing a contract with McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture was unanimously approved. Councilmen Willar Hightower and Scott Singer were absent.

The firm has estimated a fee of $24 million on assumed total construction cost. It is unclear at this point whether the existing building on Richland Avenue will be reused. So, cost estimates for the firm's fees were provided for the concept and design phase (phase one) and an estimated cost for all new construction and an estimated cost for construction using the existing buildings including renovations and additions (phase two).

The proposed fee for phase one is $239,400.

The proposed fee for phase two with all new construction is $1.51 million.

The proposed fee for phase two reusing the existing building is $1.68 million.

"It is easier to build anew," said County Administrator Clay Killian. "It is more difficult to reuse that building because of its age."

The current County Complex is roughly 80 years old and was once the county's hospital.

Killian said the building is a nest of issues with outdated plumbing and electrical systems and has its share of space issues. About 250 employees work at the main County Complex, with another 75 at a patchwork of office buildings around Aiken.

McMillan Pazdan Smith assumes the project to be about 150,000 to 200,000 square feet. The current building is 66,000 square feet.

"They (the firm chosen) have good experience across the board, good team members and a good understanding of the process," said Councilman Gary Bunker.

The architectural firm will now begin to meet with staff and County Council to hash out a design.

In other business Tuesday:

* Council appointed Andrew Marine, Mark Gibson and Randy Morgan to the Capital Projects Sales Tax Commission. The municipalities have named Nora Sanders to the commission and the City of Aiken has named Wade Brodie. The City of North Augusta has yet to name its appointee.

* Council endorsed a fireworks show to be held at the Western Carolina State fairgrounds. Bunker gave $1,000 from his contingency fund to the Western Carolina State Fair Foundation in support of the show.