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Committee weighs two designs for new Middletown 9-1-1 center after cost estimates exceed target
Summary
Committee reviewed a full 7,695 sq ft plan and a smaller 5,540 sq ft alternative for a proposed 9-1-1 communications center. Using cost data from a recent Meriden bid, the larger option was estimated about $862,000 over the $10 million council guideline while the smaller plan was roughly $1.1 million under the limit.
A Middletown committee reviewed site and floor plans for a proposed 9-1-1 communications center and heard cost estimates that push the larger design above the council's $10 million guideline.
Jeff, the project's presenter, walked members through a site concept that includes visitor parking, a small entry plaza, a gated employee parking enclosure adjacent to the dispatch building, patio areas, drainage swales and limited grading to preserve site contours. He said the full floor plan measures about 7,695 square feet and includes a 40-seat training room, a small conference space, public restrooms and the communications center. "The public parking was over on the left hand side...the training room is a 40 seat, training center," Jeff said.
Using bid data from a recently awarded Meriden communications center for unit-cost assumptions, Jeff presented an opinion of probable cost that puts the larger option at roughly $10.86–$10.9 million. "Based on the data we have right now, yes, we are about $862,000 over budget," he told the committee. He also outlined a reduced alternative that removes the public/training zone and trims the building to about 5,540 square feet. That smaller option, he said, comes in near $8.8–$8.9 million and would be about $1.1 million under the $10 million target.
Committee members discussed trade-offs. Some argued the community/training room could be valuable for shared-use events and off-site training needs; others called it "mission creep" in a secure 9-1-1 facility. One member asked whether the building should prioritize overlapping staff parking to support three-shift turnover; Jeff said the design accommodates overlapping shifts.
Members emphasized the need for more accurate estimates. Jeff recommended engaging an estimator to price both options from the committee's actual floor plans rather than relying solely on the Meriden numbers. "Our estimator has agreed to price both options for us," Jeff said, adding that refined estimates will inform scope-reduction decisions and possible value-engineering, such as a smaller training room that reduces toilet counts and other support spaces.
The committee directed staff to pursue more detailed pricing and consider alternates and value-engineering to bring the project within budget. The committee also voted to remove a construction-manager-at-risk procurement option from consideration, signaling a preference to follow the general-contractor approach used on the Meriden project.
The committee expected to return next month with refined estimates and scope recommendations to guide the final design and procurement approach.
