Oklahoma County PBA hears progress updates on ARPA-funded capital projects

The Oklahoma County Public Building Authority (PBA) advisory committee on Jan. 13 received progress reports on a range of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) capital projects including elevator replacements, a new 11th-floor exterior stairwell, HVAC pod work and remediation at the county front entrance.

Committee members were told the 11th-floor stairwell sections are being built off-site and should be brought to the county for installation in about one to two months, and the contractor intends to schedule work to avoid disrupting court proceedings. Bill White, the owner’s representative, said the elevator work is progressing through submittals and that the project team plans to remove a 208-volt step-down transformer so elevators will connect directly to a 480-volt supply; KONE had not yet provided final manufacturing dates for the elevator cabs. White said the preconstruction notice for the elevator work issued Jan. 6, with a preconstruction meeting set for Jan. 16 and a target completion of February 2026 for that contract.

White reported that clerks’ office renovation work remains on schedule for a March 31 completion and that front-entrance asbestos abatement was completed over the preceding weekend, though some weather-related delays have occurred. He said drainage culvert work is essentially complete and that dampers for an unspecified project are now on-site. White also said 7th-floor HVAC pods A and B are complete, with pods C and D being worked on that week and basement work nearly finished.

The advisory committee also discussed the Kraus (emergency operations) project. White showed photographs and said site pad and underground utilities work is underway; funding for a communications tower and low-voltage electrical work is in place and the county will seek pricing to proceed. He said some bids for the ICB remodel came in over estimate and staff are working with the contractor to bring those items within budgeted allowances.

Committee members asked about the status of the Metro 1 garage and were told weather-tight electrical connections have required rework and the contractor (DG) had been asked to redo the weatherproof EMT and box connections. There was also a question about a 6th-floor HVAC component that has been on back order; staff said they would investigate and report back.

White said the behavioral health services facility was scheduled for consideration by the Board of County Commissioners and that the project team had continued to review budget documents.

The committee received the owner’s-rep report and voted to accept the report during the meeting. Members also said the PBA will begin providing photographs in meeting materials as projects proceed.

The advisory committee did not take new funding actions at the meeting; the items were progress updates and scheduling reports intended to keep the PBA and staff coordinated as projects continue.