Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Capital Project 825 Tech Center topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Gahanna projects 825 Tech Center move-in in March after finishes, director says
Summary
Senior operations director told council the 825 Tech Center Drive project is roughly 88% complete, with exterior work finished, furniture installation due in early January and an anticipated move-in window around March; project financials report roughly $59.6 million in GMP contracts and invoices to date near $51 million.
The City of Gahanna expects to narrow a March move‑in window for the new 825 Tech Center Drive complex after a status update delivered to the Committee of the Whole on Dec. 8.
Senior Director of Operations (presenting) said the exterior work is largely complete — three solar arrays are installed, the parking and multi‑use trail have been paved, lighting is in place and much of the site landscaping is finished. Interior work is advancing; the third floor is in a near‑complete “punch” state and technology and radio/9‑1‑1 systems are being installed. “We’re about 88% complete,” the director told council.
The administration said furniture installation is expected to begin in the first two weeks of January, contingent on trades clearing floors so installers can work uninterrupted. The city is finalizing a moving and logistics contract after an inventory of three affected facilities (the current building, police and the senior center). The director said the city will sequence moves — police, senior center programming and then broader city operations — and anticipated having a detailed schedule within about 30 days.
On finances, the director reported two GMP construction contracts totaling roughly $59.6 million and invoices to date of about $51 million (about 86% of invoiced value), plus allowances and contingencies. He said allowances total about $1 million (59% spent) and combined owner and construction contingencies are around $3.7 million (about 67% spent); the presentation described roughly $3.1 million drawn from allowances and contingencies to date.
Councilmembers asked about reuse of the vacated city property; the director said a highest‑and‑best‑use (ROI) study by the Montrose Group is in draft and that discussions on disposition or lease/sale will start in January or February after that study is delivered. He emphasized the senior center will continue to be programmed and maintained while disposition is decided.
The director highlighted that a small number of finishing tasks remain: stonework around entry pillars, some landscape beds near the building and a few flooring issues on the third floor. He characterized the current phase as the difficult “last 10%” of the project and said staff will present updated October financials to council when they return in January.
Next steps: staff said they will circulate a more detailed moving schedule in January and return with full financials and additional updates as finishes and furniture installation progress.
