Council briefed on architect shortlist and timeline for new fire station and village hall remodel; mayor seeks May ballot

Orange Village leaders on Aug. 6 reviewed a qualifications process and a review committee recommendation for architectural teams to develop preliminary designs and budgets for a new fire station at Harvard and Brainerd and a remodel and repurposing of village hall at 4600 Lander Road. Mayor Brent Klein told council the review committee—composed of department heads and staff—invited seven firms, received five responses, and recommended a short list for interviews. The mayor said, "I'd like to get it on the ballot in May, if we can." The committee presented findings in ranked order, identifying DSA and Richard L. Bowen & Associates as top candidates, with Prospectus and Larson Architects also recommended; Biolloski Partners was noted for its existing relationship with the village and was suggested for consideration. Klein and committee members said the firms bring differing strengths: in-house fire-station experience, public-safety design expertise, and local knowledge of village facilities. Review members recommended designing and budgeting both the fire station and village-hall remodel simultaneously so the village can present a single funding package to voters, noting efficiencies from shared design work and the need to decide on a project-delivery method (for example, design–bid–build, construction-manager-at-risk, or design–build). The review committee sought council direction to set interview schedules and to authorize administration to request fee proposals from selected firms; Klein proposed completing contracting in September to meet a timeline for a May ballot measure. Councilors asked for time to review submission packages and for community engagement to be part of the design process; Klein and others emphasized that firms included public-engagement components in their proposals. No final architect selection was made at the Aug. 6 meeting; council members were asked to return with questions at the next meeting and to consider interview scheduling.