McAllen officials review schematic design for new City Hall; options and security highlighted

City Manager presented a schematic design for a proposed five‑story McAllen City Hall expansion and described program changes, security planning and next steps for additional design options and community features. "We are prepared to ... show you [the] schematic design proposal for the city hall expansion," the City Manager said at the workshop.

The presentation, led by project staff with architect Rudy Molina of NovNet Architecture, said the draft design programs about 105,812 square feet across five floors compared with the current city hall footprint of 46,790 square feet. The preliminary program target had been 98,600 square feet; the architect and staff said the design team is continuing work to stay within budget.

The team described an initial opinion of probable cost at roughly $400 per square foot in the schematic phase, with a working estimate rising toward about $460 per square foot as the project moves into later design phases. "It's basically an atrium space that serves as a light well, so you'll always have natural light pouring into the center of the building," Rudy Molina said of the building's central feature.

Design details discussed included restricted access and layered security with a primary lobby check‑in and secondary departmental check‑ins on upper floors; elevated windows and landscape planters to provide a setback from vehicles; staff and commission parking secured…