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Board authorizes negotiation with Hamrick Architects for Human Resources Center renovation
Summary
The Burke County Board of Commissioners authorized the county manager to negotiate and execute a contract with Hamrick Architects (Holland & Hemric) for design and civil engineering services for the Human Resources Center (HRC) renovation; if negotiations fail, the manager may negotiate with the Sizemore Group.
The Burke County Board of Commissioners on June 16 authorized the county manager to negotiate and execute a contract with Holland & Hemric Architects, P.A. (listed in the meeting as Hamrick/Hemrick) for architectural and civil engineering services to renovate the county’s Health and Human Services Building, commonly called the Human Resources Center (HRC).
County staff described the HRC as a roughly 62,000-square-foot facility more than 50 years old that houses public health and social services staff and serves a high daily volume of employees and members of the public. The manager said county planning produced four options for the building (new construction, addition and adaptive reuse, separation of departments, and phased adaptive reuse) and staff recommendation favors a phased adaptive reuse to maximize space and minimize long-term cost.
The board heard that the project will require careful logistical phasing because the building must remain in use while renovations occur. Staff estimated an 18-month design and construction timeline with substantial completion targeted for Dec. 31, 2027, if the project proceeds on the proposed schedule.
County staff outlined the procurement process: an RFQ produced five submissions; Holland & Hemric and the Sizemore Group ranked highest after interviews. Staff recommended Holland & Hemric because of its in-house construction administration capability and prior public-sector experience that staff said reduces scope gaps and change orders.
Commissioner Barry moved to authorize the county manager to negotiate and execute an agreement with Holland & Hemric Architects, P.A. The motion passed 4-0. The motion included authorization for the county manager to negotiate with the Sizemore Group if an agreement could not be reached with the recommended firm. Greg Melton, the project architect present for Holland & Hemric, answered procedural questions during the presentation.
Why it matters: The renovation is a major capital project prioritized in the county’s capital improvement plan; it affects delivery of public health and social services and will be funded through a mix of capital reserves, grants if awarded, and potentially debt financing if necessary.
What’s next: County staff will finalize contract negotiations and return to the board with procurement and project timelines as required by county purchasing rules and the county attorney’s review.
