Aiken Standard - Complex proposals are in, so now what?

Aiken County has received 13 architectural proposals laying out a significant expansion and modification of the County Complex on Richland Avenue.

Now the plans go to County Council, which will begin the process of narrowing down the proposals until an undetermined number of finalists remain.

Council appointed some of its members to a building committee several years ago which may get first crack at sifting through the paperwork. Preliminary discussions could begin Tuesday at Council's regularly scheduled meeting.

"They will start talking about how to weed through everything," County Administrator Clay Killian said. "I am betting full Council will interview the finalists."

After a cursory glance through the "voluminous" pages of the proposals, Killian said it looks like there are "good" ones in there from firms in North Carolina, South Carolina and several other states.

"Some I know, some I knew from working with them before and some I've never heard of," he said.

The firms were asked to submit plans on the design and construction of 120,000 new square feet on the site, coupled with the building's existing 66,000 square feet.

Killian said the County is not talking with an entity about buying land on which to build a complex but said the door has not yet closed on that possibility.

"Right now, the focus is on this site," he added.

He said last month that a selection could come as early as January but that may be "aggressive" considering Council meets only once a month and holidays are coming up.

"It's still a target in my mind," he said.

The County has $12 million set aside from the first round of the one-cent sales tax program to fund the project, and additional funds could come from other sources like a bond referendum.

The current complex is roughly 80 years old, having first served as the County Hospital. In addition to needing more room to house its offices and employees, staff has said the building needs a new roof, new plumbing, new wiring and new heating and cooling systems, among other things.