Venture Architects presents five options to replace aging Henry Dodge building; costs range $40M–$83M

Brad Quasney of Venture Architects presented five broad options to the Dodge County Board on March 17 to address the county’s aging facilities, saying the Henry Dodge building “has generally outlived its life” and needs replacement or substantial renovation.

Quasney laid out the options and attached preliminary cost estimates: Option 1, construct a new Henry Dodge building and renovate the existing admin building while occupied, about $83,000,000 (roughly $583 per square foot); Option 2, build a new Henry Dodge and temporarily relocate staff during renovation, about $81,000,000 (~$570/sf); Option 3, buy and renovate the old county office building, about $54,600,000 (~$610/sf); Option 4, build a new administration building and remodel the current building, about $40,000,000; and Option 5, build one new consolidated facility for both sites, about $58,000,000 (~$580/sf). Quasney cautioned that these are high-level, conservative numbers based on square-footage estimates and that schematic design and bidding would refine costs.

Why it matters: the Henry Dodge site houses Human Services functions that are split across locations, and Quasney said the county’s single biggest operational need is a consolidated medical examiner office. He described the medical examiner need as primarily office and cooler space rather than full autopsy suites, meaning a space near sheriff detectives and storage could meet requirements without expensive surgical facilities.

Supervisors pressed for more documentation and for clarity on scope and tax impacts. “I just absolutely am dismayed that we’re sitting here discussing this without any kind of hard paper in front of us,” Supervisor Guggenberger said, urging staff to provide the committee’s draft report and the final cost breakdown. Several supervisors said the board had asked for packet materials in advance and requested a written final master plan with full cost breakdowns. A staff member said a recent draft had been emailed at the start of the presentation and that a final master plan report and the missing cost details should be available within about 10 business days.

Board members debated how to structure any project to limit tax impacts and to avoid overbuilding for future needs. Quasney said the team had sized buildings to provide at least a 50-year planning horizon and recommended engaging finance staff and bond counsel before locking to a specific option; he cited a separate county example where deeper financial analysis enabled more building for a similar tax impact. Supervisors also asked whether renovations would trigger full code and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) upgrades; Quasney said if renovations touch more than about 50% of the building, the entire structure would need to be brought up to current code.

What happens next: Quasney said he will deliver a final master plan report with full cost breakdowns and appendices once outstanding cost items are confirmed. The board asked administration to circulate the document to supervisors for review before further action.