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Commissioners authorize architectural contract for Health & Human Services renovation
Summary
Burke County authorized the county manager to negotiate and execute a contract with Holland & Hammock Architects for architectural and civil engineering services for the Health & Human Services (HRC) renovation, with Sizemore Group named as alternate. The motion passed 4–0.
The Burke County Board of Commissioners on June 16 authorized the county manager to negotiate and execute a contract with Holland & Hammock Architects, P.A., for architectural and civil engineering services for the Human Resources/Health & Human Services building renovation project.
County Manager Brian Manning described the HRC as approximately 62,000 square feet and prioritized a phased adaptive reuse approach after reviewing space needs and options including new construction, additions and separation of functions. Manning said the county solicited qualifications under the Mini-Brooks Act, received five proposals and advanced two finalists. "Of those 5, our team went through and evaluated based simply on experience and proposal," Manning said, describing Holland & Hammock as having stronger in-house construction administration capability compared with the alternate firm.
The procurement recommendation called for a single-prime construction contract to reduce scope gaps and change-order risk and to produce more competitive pricing in the current market. Architect Greg Melton (present at the meeting) described the building—s structural characteristics that make it a candidate for thorough adaptive reuse and phased construction.
Commissioner Barry moved to authorize the county manager to negotiate and execute the contract with Holland & Hammock, with authority to proceed to the Sizemore Group if an agreement could not be reached; the motion passed 4—0. The manager estimated design and construction implementation could be elongated by phasing but suggested an 18-month construction timeline with substantial completion by Dec. 31, 2027, assuming schedule and funding.
The board's authorization allows staff and counsel to finalize contract terms and return for any formal appropriation or bond authority if debt financing is needed. The project remains subject to future capital funding decisions and grant opportunities discussed by staff.
