Facilities master plan update: county outlines courthouse complex, parking garage, animal services schedule; jail condition review estimates major mechanical/e‑

At a wide‑ranging facilities update on Jan. 28, Alachua County facilities staff briefed commissioners on the master plan’s Phase 1 projects — the civil courthouse complex (chilled‑water plant, parking garage, core courthouse), armory renovation to house Fire Rescue headquarters and the Emergency Operations Center, a new animal services facility, and a recently acquired warehouse to support department relocations.

Facilities Director Travis Parker said the chilled‑water plant and related site work are permitted and components are staged at the county warehouse; construction is expected to start shortly with a target completion in mid‑2025. The parking garage design is advancing under a design‑build contract; permits are expected in February and work to begin this spring. The larger civil courthouse structure is on a design path with a potential start later in 2025; Parker estimated an inclusive project cost on the core complex in the range discussed in staff materials (site, utilities and building work).

Parker reported that the armory renovation award was issued and notice to proceed issued to the contractor; Fire Rescue headquarters and the EOC will move into the armory once construction is finished. The county’s warehouse acquisition (about 61,000 ft²) will allow phased relocations: growth management into the existing facilities building, EPD into the former Fire Rescue headquarters, and other departmental moves. Bids for several smaller projects — Scottish Inn conversions and the farmer’s market/site improvements near Station 33 — were underway.

Separately, staff presented a facility condition overview of the county jail (about 314,000 ft², built in 1999). Facilities estimated substantial mechanical and building work would be required for a full renovation: roughly $30 million for mechanical systems (heating/cooling, RTUs and related chilled‑water distribution), about $7.7 million for electrical upgrades (panels, communications and UPS for the communications center), and additional costs for plumbing, roofing and other building envelope work. Facilities stressed those are high‑level, order‑of‑magnitude estimates intended to frame options: keep and renovate versus new construction. Parker said many systems (rooftop units, cast‑iron pipes and older low‑voltage systems) remain serviceable now but will require phased replacement and careful coordination because the jail is an occupied facility.

Ending — Facilities will bring procurement items and final design packages back to the board as each project moves to construction; staff will continue to refine cost estimates for the jail and for the animal services facility as design work advances.