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Commissioners consider selecting Franklin Associates to design Howard School indoor sports facility
Summary
Hamilton County commissioners discussed a resolution to select Franklin Associates Architects Inc. to design a multiuse indoor sports facility at Howard School; the transcript records discussion of scope, funding and community uses but contains no recorded final vote.
Hamilton County commissioners considered Resolution 925-8, a proposal to approve Franklin Associates Architects Inc. to design a new indoor sports practice facility at Howard School and to coordinate several planned site improvements.
County leaders described the project as part of a larger, multi-year county and city effort to invest in downtown Howard School as a community asset. The mayor said the county identified and reallocated previous bond funds to make $10,000,000 available for improvements at Howard, of which $2,000,000 has already been spent on a career and technical upgrade and baseball/softball lights. The item before the commission was the selection of an architect; any contract and detailed scope of work would come back to the commission for approval.
Discussion at the meeting focused on the facility's likely uses, size and supporting renovations. The mayor and other speakers described the envisioned facility as multiuse — accommodating soccer, football practice, ROTC, physical education and community programming — and as a potential sports-tourism asset because of its downtown footprint. An initial design target mentioned in the meeting was about 22,000 square feet; early footprint estimates ranged from roughly 150 by 150 feet to configurations driven by site constraints. County staff said the architect selection is the first step; Franklin would return with a scope, contract and final size-and-cost estimates.
Howard School Principal Dr. Ware thanked commissioners and said the upgrades represent “opportunity, hope, and strength in our community.” Multiple commissioners praised Dr. Ware and emphasized the project's potential to free up the old gym for educational uses and to add parking, theater renovations, HVAC upgrades, a new chiller, security and fencing.
Speakers also noted site-specific design considerations such as perimeter fencing for safety, parking needs and HVAC engineering (including large fans and air circulation for turf facilities). Commissioners and staff said they expect additional design work on the theater, chillers and security systems to be rolled into the architect's contract for efficiency, but the transcript does not record a formal vote, mover/second or final approval on Resolution 925-8.
