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Gahanna outlines phased move to 825 Tech Center Drive, targets late‑April public opening
Summary
City staff told council the move to 825 Tech Center Drive will be phased over four to five weeks with essential life‑safety and public‑safety systems completed first; staff estimated operational occupancy in about 60–75 days and identified tentative public meeting and opening dates in April.
Mr. Schultz delivered a move‑in update for 825 Tech Center Drive, describing a four‑ to five‑phase move plan and saying the city expects to begin operating from the new facility "within the next, 60 to 75 days" once prerequisites such as life‑safety systems and public‑safety technology are complete.
The plan splits work into weekly phases: week 1 focuses on bulk items and archival record moves (banker boxes and storage racks); week 2 moves staff workspaces so some staff can begin working in the new building; week 3 is the heaviest moving week (including property/evidence room moves that require chain‑of‑custody care) and is the first week staff would be functioning from the new facility; final weeks include field services and senior programming with field services intentionally moving last to allow the communications center to be fully trained on building systems.
Schultz noted public operations logistics: the plan calls for city hall to be closed Monday and Tuesday of the staff transition week, with phone answering out of 825 Tech Center Drive by Wednesday; he said there will be short overlaps so police services remain available at current locations while the new location becomes operational.
Staff gave a tentative schedule for last meetings in the existing building and first meetings in the new building: April 6 would be the last council meeting in the old facility, April 15 might be the last public meeting in the old room, a tentative community/opening date was discussed for April 25, and the first public meeting in the new building was planned as committee immediately followed by council on Monday, April 27.
On technology, Schultz said implementation of streaming and AV equipment is progressing but the IT enclosure and streaming servers on the first floor were still unfinished; he said the overall AV and conferencing interfaces are being built similar to the current system and that an audio vendor based in Gahanna is implementing the AV package.
Schultz told council staff will provide condensed safety orientations and short onboarding videos for boards, commissions and staff members to explain storm‑shelter routes, emergency egress and security features on the dais.
Next steps: staff will continue prerequisite systems work (life‑safety, communications), finalize a detailed week‑by‑week move schedule for staff, return to council with a financial recap (anticipated in May), and schedule a follow‑up site visit for council when the first floor is more complete.
