Alamance commissioners approve design-build method for Elderly Services building renovation (4–1)

Alamance County commissioners voted 4–1 to adopt a design-build resolution authorizing the county to use that procurement method and to select design-build for renovations of the Elderly Services building.

County project manager Ross Baker told the board design-build would assign a single company responsibility for both design and construction, providing schedule and cost certainty. He said the renovation is a candidate for design-build because the county has a shell to work from and needs speed to relocate planning, inspections and some environmental health functions into a single, accessible Martin Street location.

Baker said the county has set an upper budget limit of $5 million for the renovation and estimated a 12-month construction timeline from the date a contract is signed. "Design-build offers you some cost certainty and speed," Baker said, adding that the county would still competitively solicit proposals and evaluate firms on criteria including the ability to deliver on the stated budget.

Commissioner Thompson cast the lone dissenting vote; the other commissioners approved the resolution and the project selection by voice vote. Commissioners discussed whether the relocated court-related functions would be permanent and how some displaced county functions could be temporarily relocated during a larger courthouse project.

The decision allows staff to proceed with preparing procurement documents for a design-build request for proposals, and staff said they would return with contractual and timeline details as bidding progresses.