Council selects DSA for new fire station and Bowen for Village Hall renovation

The Orange Village Council voted Oct. 8 to select two architectural firms for separate municipal projects and authorized the mayor to negotiate contracts with each.

Mayor Klein summarized a committee review held Sept. 12 that considered four firms and recommended two firms: DSA (selected for the new fire station project) and Richard L. Bowen & Associates (selected for the Village Hall renovation). "We felt that the committee felt there were 2 firms that really had far more experience in the areas of police and fire," Mayor Klein said, and the committee recommended pursuing scopes of service and pricing for each project separately and for a combined contract if desirable.

A council member who participated in reference checks reiterated support for the selections but urged that the council provide clear leadership and avoid frequent scope changes during design. "We as a body don't go back and forth and change things, you know, later on," the council member said, noting that a clear direction helps projects move forward more efficiently and at lower cost.

Council then voted to select DS Architects as the architect for the new fire station and Richard L. Bowen & Associates for the Village Hall renovation and authorized the mayor to negotiate contracts with each firm; both motions passed on roll call with all members voting in the affirmative.

Why it matters: Selecting architects starts the formal design process for two capital projects that will define public‑safety workspace and municipal operations for years to come. The mayor said the projects should proceed as two distinct procurements for practical purposes.

What’s next: Legal counsel will transmit a contract form to the architects for pricing and scope negotiations; proposed contracts will return to council for approval.