Cole County architects report design-development progress on $14 million juvenile center

Architects Alliance presented the design-development (DD) documents for the proposed Cole County Juvenile Center, saying the project remains on a $14,000,000 target and that the team plans to submit 50 percent construction documents by mid‑November.

The firm said the DD set expands schematic design choices into engineered systems — HVAC, structural framing, plumbing, electrical and security — and that the next step is a construction-document (CD) submission to support contractor bidding. Mitchell (Architects Alliance) told the commission the team expects to issue bid documents in mid‑November and run a five‑week bid period, with a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) possible near year‑end and potential site mobilization in January or March 2027 depending on weather and contractor schedules.

Why it matters: the county has aimed for a $14 million budget for the center; the DD presentation showed where design choices affect cost and constructability and identified a short list of alternates and value‑engineering options should bids come in over budget.

Key details from the DD set include a two‑zone building concept (secure detention and nonsecure respite/administration), coordinated site work with stormwater detention and relocated parking to reduce earthwork, and a trimmed program that reduced square footage in the gym/respite areas to stay within the budget target. Architects reported savings from lowering portions of the building grade and tightening the plan geometry to simplify foundations and reduce fill. Exterior materials proposed are a masonry wainscot for durability at the lowest 48 inches and metal panel elsewhere; roofing will use EPDM or TPO on flat areas and metal panels over sloped volumes.

Security, mechanical redundancy and long‑lead items were highlighted. The team priced an HVAC redundancy option — splitting a large rooftop RTU into two smaller units — at roughly a $49,000 premium for the secure area; the architects said that increases resilience but also cost. The DD set also includes a detailed door and access schedule and coordination with the security specialist for camera, control and door hardware locations.

Commission discussion touched on site buffering (the parcel is more than 7 acres with substantial vegetative buffers to nearby development and Highway 50 to the north), access and sally‑port sizing, alternates and the possibility of monthly updates to the commission. The architects said detailed finish selections and technical coordination meetings (interior/exterior finishes, security by camera/camera‑by‑camera, mechanical/electrical/structural coordination) will occur before the CD submission.

Next steps: the team will proceed into the CD phase with an anticipated November CD submission, follow‑up meetings on finishes and security, and a five‑week bidding period. If bids align and the county approves a GMP, construction could begin late winter or early spring with a roughly 12‑month construction period.

Provenance: presentation materials and timeline were discussed from the DD presentation beginning in the commission packet and the public meeting; the commission asked for monthly updates and more detailed alternates and cost breakdowns prior to the CD submission.