825 Tech Center Drive update: construction progress, EV rough‑in and new senior center details

Director Schultz told the Committee of the Whole that construction at 825 Tech Center Drive has advanced quickly and that the project will return to the council monthly through the ribbon‑cutting date.

Why it matters: The site combines a new City Hall, police facilities and a purpose‑built senior center that will expand program space and amenities for Gahanna residents; council heard that the project team added an EV‑charger electrical rough‑in and continues to manage allowances and contingencies.

Construction status and budget Curtain wall installation is complete on the building’s western façade, roofing over the expansion areas is largely finished and interior slab pour-backs and framing are underway, Schultz said. The multipurpose room is “completely dried in” and the detention/holding facility “has begun to take shape.” Furniture, moving and logistics procurement RFPs were published and Schultz said the furniture package will likely come before council for approval later in the spring.

Contingency and allowances stood at roughly 18% (about $867,000) at the time of the report; Schultz said Bulletin 5 included a substantial addition for the rough‑in of EV charging infrastructure across multiple parking islands. He described the decision as forward‑looking, explaining the city elected to install conduit and related infrastructure now so future electrification can be added without re‑excavating paved areas.

Senior center program and design Schultz devoted substantial time to the senior center, located in the north wing of the site. He described the design as purpose‑built to increase usable program space while growing the facility’s programming capacity: the city estimates programmable space increases roughly 119% compared with the existing facility, while the overall physical footprint of the senior center increases by about 40%.

Key features described for the senior center included a 1,640‑square‑foot senior lounge, a divisible multipurpose room with adjacent pre‑function space, a demonstration kitchen with a catering/back‑of‑house area, an art room with a kiln-sized room for two kilns and significant storage. Schultz said the multipurpose room’s dividing wall can open to allow class seating arrangements that incorporate the demonstration kitchen.

Accessibility and circulation Council members asked about restroom fixture counts and accessible parking. Schultz said fixture counts were set to meet code and that the design includes single‑occupancy restrooms in addition to banked restrooms; the project also provides limited‑mobility parking near the entrance and a members‑only rear entrance for senior‑center members. In response to requests for a covered drop‑off area, Schultz said the city is reevaluating a covered canopy at the front curb line but warned that adding a covered drive or extended portico has design, clearance and emergency‑vehicle circulation challenges and would likely raise the cost into the six‑figure range.

Next steps Schultz said he will return with monthly updates; furniture procurement will proceed through an RFP process and the city will continue to track allowances, bulletins and weather impacts to schedule. Council members asked that options for a covered drop‑off and other accessibility accommodations be presented for review before a final decision.