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Howard County seeks design approval for Banneker Room upgrades; design documents to proceed
Summary
Architects presented concept designs to enlarge the dais, improve sight lines and upgrade AV and lighting for the Banneker Room; staff plans to move the design toward construction documents with estimated budget funding of $700,000 in the current request.
Howard County facility staff and architects showed council members concept designs to renovate the Banneker Room, proposing an expanded, ADA‑accessible dais, upgraded audiovisual systems and new lighting and finishes to improve sight lines for in‑person and hybrid meetings.
The project team presented two dais options and asked for council feedback before preparing construction documents. County staff said they have included $700,000 in the current fiscal request to support council‑chamber work and associated AV/IT upgrades.
Krista Kerrigan, principal at Michael Graves Architecture, said the project is at the concept stage and that the team aims to prepare construction documents over the next two months. "They are just ideas. We're at the concept design stage in the project," Kerrigan said. The designs call for removing short knee walls and the existing dais to install a larger curved dais with a ramp for ADA access, deeper counters and digital nameplates linked to microphones. The team also proposed replacing ceiling fluorescents with LED fixtures, refreshing carpet, and coordinating under‑seat ventilation and AV tablet monitors so council members can see presentation content at their seats.
Zach Hollenbeck, Deputy Chief of the Bureau of Facilities, and consultants from Washington Professional Services and Michael Graves walked the council through renderings and material samples. The design team emphasized preserving public seating capacity while increasing dais space for council and visiting delegations. Hollenbeck said staff will coordinate AV and IT requirements with Washington Professional and DTCS (county technology staff) as the project moves into detailed drawings.
Council members commented on three tradeoffs: sight lines among council members, costs and lighting. Several members favored the larger, more gradual curved dais because it provides more space for visiting delegations and flexible use of the dais, while acknowledging that the tighter curve option offers closer sight lines among council members at the cost of reduced desk space. Council members also raised comfort issues; multiple members requested under‑seat heating or localized ventilation because the dais area is often perceived as either too cold or too warm.
On lighting, members and the design team discussed balancing camera requirements for broadcast and videography with occupant comfort and inclusivity. Kerrigan and staff said they will work with electrical engineers and Washington Professional to coordinate color temperatures, dimming and fixture placement to improve both on‑camera appearance and in‑room ambience. Some council members and staff suggested exploring options to introduce natural light or visual transparency between the lobby and the room, while noting related security and acoustic tradeoffs.
On cost and timing, Hollenbeck said staff have budgeted $700,000 in project request C0365: "We're hopeful that we won't need that entire $700,000 for this project," he said, while acknowledging final estimates are pending. One council member indicated plans to propose an amendment to reduce that allocation; no formal action was taken at the meeting. The team recommended advancing to construction documents and submitting an intermediate design review to the council before construction. Hollenbeck said construction could be scheduled during the council’s usual December recess, but precise phasing and duration will depend on final scope and contractor scheduling.
The council offered detailed feedback on finishes, the dais curve, nameplate and queuing technology, and assured the design team would coordinate security and facility operations considerations with county security staff. The team will return with updated construction documents and cost estimates for council review prior to any appropriation or award of construction contracts.
The presentation closed with staff confirming next steps: incorporate council feedback, complete construction documents, coordinate AV/IT specifications with Washington Professional and DTCS, issue an intermediate submission for council review, then proceed to procurement and construction scheduling.
