Council awards $2.5 million contract for City Hall HVAC, plans phased work and temporary relocations

The Lockport City Council on a unanimous roll call vote approved Resolution 25-016 to award the 2025 mechanical renovations contract for City Hall to Friedler Construction Company for $2,498,800.

Council members and staff said the two-phase project replaces the building’s chiller system with rooftop and DOAS/VRF equipment, updates lighting, and includes an allowance for possible additional remediation discovered during wall work. Darren (city staff) said the city had budgeted $3.2 million for the work and that the lower bid preserves budget room for contingencies, including potential lighting upgrades.

Darren said the work is expected in two phases so the city can keep essential services operating: "We're trying to have substantial completion by November. The budget savings, there's a couple ideas. Obviously, we need to maintain some of that, to hold on to because we're not sure. Once we open up some of the walls in here there might be some additional remediation, some costs." He added the project schedule anticipates moving meetings and services to other locations while construction occupies portions of City Hall.

Project technical details discussed at the meeting include removal of the existing chiller in favor of a rooftop unit for the gym; a DOAS (dedicated outside air system) with electric heat pump assisted by gas for very cold days for the office/boardroom areas; and VRF (variable refrigerant flow) electric units inside rooms. Ron, a representative of Trio referenced during the discussion, explained asbestos-abatement work will be sequenced after demolition and before mechanical installation so any additional wrapped piping or materials discovered can be removed as part of the project timeline.

Staff said electrical capacity informed the decision to proceed in two phases rather than three: the building could not support the chiller and phase work simultaneously without risking a loss of heating or cooling. Darren said the project includes about $75,000 of lighting work in the resolution and that the city may revisit adding a natural-gas generator in an interior location later without increasing external footprint.

Council members indicated they will be briefed on the detailed plan for temporary relocations of services such as water billing and permitting during construction. The council approved the motion on a recorded roll call; the resolution passed.

The council did not identify a mover or seconder on the public transcript. The city said it budgeted $3.2 million for the project earlier in the year and awarded the contract at the lower bid amount to preserve funds for contingencies and possible additional work.

The contract will require coordination between construction, the city’s mechanical engineer and multiple vendors; staff said they will return with implementation details and a plan for maintaining city services during the renovation.