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County staff present administration building needs assessment with $48M estimate for 80,000‑sq‑ft facility
Summary
JKF Architecture briefed commissioners on a planning study recommending consolidation of county administrative functions into a new two‑story, ~80,000‑sq‑ft building (estimated $48 million) and additional projects including a 47,000‑sq‑ft social‑services building and emergency operations options.
Consultants from JKF Architecture presented a planning and needs assessment for a proposed new Pitt County administration building and related projects, estimating major costs and options for consolidating county office functions.
The consultant said county administrative services now occupy scattered space totaling roughly 80,000–85,000 square feet across multiple downtown and office-park properties. JKF’s preferred approach would consolidate most county administrative functions into a new two‑story, approximately 80,000‑square‑foot building on the county office park, with an estimated construction cost of about $48 million. Social services was identified as needing a separate 47,000‑square‑foot building (estimated at $27 million). An emergency operations center (EOC) was proposed in one option as a new 14,600‑sq‑ft facility (approx. $12.1 million) on land near Alice Keene; an alternative would be to renovate or replace the existing Development Services building for an estimated $10.7 million.
The consultant noted potential efficiencies and the opportunity to vacate and market or repurpose older downtown county properties, but cautioned that demolition costs and market values for those properties would require appraisal and further study. The full package of recommended projects — if undertaken together — was estimated in the consultant materials at roughly $92 million; the consultant noted that phasing projects over a long time horizon tends to increase overall cost compared with a coordinated program.
Commissioners asked about the Board of Education’s office space (currently leased in county facilities) and about possible proceeds from downtown property sales; staff said the county currently budgets lease support for schools and would pursue appraisals and further coordination with the school system and regional partners if the board elects to advance the project. No formal decision or appropriation was made at the meeting; the presentation served as an informational briefing to guide future budgeting and planning decisions.
