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Germantown board awards SEH $499,400 contract to design Fire Station 2 remodel
Summary
The Germantown Village Board approved a professional services contract with Short Elliott Hendrickson (SEH) for the design and construction‑inspection phase of the Fire Station 2 remodel. Trustees debated remediation unknowns, budget risk and whether to build new vs. renovate before voting to award the design contract.
The Germantown Village Board voted to award a professional services contract to Short Elliott Hendrickson (SEH) on Monday to design and provide construction‑inspection services for the planned remodel and expansion of Fire Station 2.
Village staff recommended SEH after an RFP process that drew 11 interested firms and seven formal proposals. Chief Delaine and Battalion Chief Holmes told trustees the department has faced space and health‑and‑safety issues for years, and that a 2025 construction estimate prepared by prior consultants pegged the project at about $6,585,199; the board previously budgeted $6.5 million to move the project into design. Administrator Preclo said staff recommended awarding SEH a professional services contract with a 10% contingency and a negotiated fee totaling $499,400.
"Our goal with this project is to make sure that we are able to best serve our community and tackle the emerging hazards in a facility that is safe for our responders," Battalion Chief Holmes said during the presentation, citing recent air‑quality and moisture problems at the station.
SEH presenters outlined their approach and comparable projects, and emphasized staged construction that keeps the station operational while work proceeds. "We work in some cases with a construction manager, others with our own professional cost estimators, but keeping our eye on the cost at 30%, 60% and 90% of design," said Trevor Frank, SEH principal and senior architect.
Trustees pressed staff and SEH on several uncertainties that could change the final price: the extent of remediation required for moisture and mold (forensic envelope work by a specialist was recommended as an early step), unknown geotechnical conditions (trustees asked about high bedrock), and whether a renovation would still be the best use of taxpayer dollars versus building new. SEH and staff said contingencies and alternates are planned so the board can scale options if bids come in higher than estimates.
Trustees also discussed the procurement steps that will follow design work: a separate RFP for an at‑risk construction manager and staged bidding once designs are complete.
After questions and discussion, the board moved and seconded approval of the SEH contract; the motion carried and the board directed staff to start the design kickoff once contracts are signed. The contract award does not itself authorize construction and will be followed by budget updates and additional approvals as design work defines final costs and alternates.
Next steps include the SEH data‑collection and design phases, forensic envelope investigation to quantify remediation needs, and subsequent construction procurement. SEH and staff said they would return with updated budget estimates at key design milestones.
