Harper Woods council approves architect contract for $8.2 million community center

The Harper Woods City Council voted unanimously to approve an agreement with Hannah Architects to complete design and construction administration for a proposed community center at Salter Memorial Park, approving the city-manager-recommended contract and authorizing the acting city manager to sign.

The agreement moves the project past schematic design into design development and positions the city to prepare construction documents and bid the work. Hannah Architects and a pre-construction contractor provided an estimate that places the project cost at about $8.2 million, with the architect reporting the firm’s total fee for the full contract is under 5 percent.

Why it matters: Council members said the facility would provide recreation, heat- and cooling-center capacity and year-round programming, while residents and some council members raised concerns about the city’s readiness to cover remaining costs and asked for clearer funding commitments and options to phase the work.

The architect, Beverly Hannah, president and CEO of Hannah Architects, presented the design and program concept, describing a roughly 13,611-square-foot building with a full-size gymnasium, multipurpose community rooms, a commercial kitchen and administrative space. Hannah said the design emphasizes daylighting, connections to the senior center and flexibility: “This design is capable of being expandable,” she told council. She also clarified the firm’s fee structure: “Our total fee for the whole project is less than 5%,” she said, responding to a question about perceived architectural fees.

Hannah’s project team and a pre-construction estimator provided a budget breakdown during the presentation. The estimator’s schematic-design figures included an estimated building construction cost of about $5.4 million; site work of roughly $707,137; kitchen equipment estimated at $156,000; and project-level contingency/soft costs that brought the total construction-cost estimate to about $6.3 million before contractor overhead and contingency. With those additions the architect’s summary figure was $8,200,000.

Acting City Manager John Szymanski, who recommended approving the architect agreement, told the council that state and other outside funding sources are being pursued and emphasized that the city intends not to raise property taxes for the project. “No taxes are gonna be raised for the community center,” Szymanski said during the discussion.

Several residents and council members urged caution. Public commenters asked for clearer detail on maintenance and operating costs and whether the city has guaranteed the additional funds needed beyond state earmarks and other anticipated grants. One resident asked how the city would pay ongoing utilities and staffing; another urged the council to delay or phase construction until more firm funding was in hand. Council members discussed phasing options and whether the gymnasium or community wing could be constructed first. The architect noted phasing is possible but warned mechanical and rooftop HVAC locations on the gym will require design adjustments if the project is staged.

Council discussion also covered the process steps that follow approval of the architect contract: the city will complete design development and construction documents, select a general contractor through bidding, then enter construction administration. Hannah explained a contractor had produced two independent pre-construction cost estimates (schematic and design-development phases) to inform the budget, but the city will still solicit general contractor bids when documents are ready.

The council also asked about the architecture contract line items. Council members were told the previously approved architectural fee (about $211,600) will increase to a total of $330,104 as the scope expanded; the council was told the additional architect fee will be paid from grant funding and not from the general fund.

Outcome: Councilmember [motion maker not specified] moved and the council approved the resolution to enter the architect agreement and authorize the acting city manager to sign. Roll call recorded yes votes from Councilman Jenny, Councilwoman LaPratt, Councilwoman Sawicki, Councilman Tucson, Mayor Pro Tem Williams, Mayor Kendall and Councilwoman Constantino; the resolution passed unanimously.

Next steps: With the contract approved, the architects will proceed to design development and prepare construction documents. Council members requested periodic updates on confirmed funding sources and recommended including community advisory input as the design is finalized.

Supporters said the center would provide critical indoor space, a cooling center for seniors and long-term recreational capacity; skeptics asked the council to secure more committed funding or phase the work. The city manager said he is pursuing additional grant commitments and will brief council privately on potential funding partners.