Consultant demonstrates interactive 'facilities health check' for Verona buildings

Frank Messinio of Solutions Architecture presented an interactive facilities "health check," a web-based version of a traditional facilities audit that includes 3D scans, floor plans, room listings and indexed issue tags for each municipal building. Messinio said the tool is intended as a long-term planning resource: "We have created a facilities health check, and it is a web based, software program that addresses each of the facilities in town," and it is meant to make the township proactive rather than reactive.

Messinio walked council members through the Engineering Building example, describing categories the firm used (site improvements, building envelope, interiors, mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire systems) and a four-point priority ranking for recommended actions. He demonstrated the 3D model's zoom and tag features — "you can actually look at the exterior of this building without having to drive out there" — and noted the model can show room dimensions to within 0.25 of an inch and link directly to budget estimate line items.

Council members pressed on public access and security. Councilwoman McGrath asked whether an executive summary could be produced for public viewing; Mr. Messinio and Township Manager Kevin O'Sullivan agreed to prepare public-friendly priority sheets, while keeping detailed plans and scans restricted because of security concerns. Manager O'Sullivan said the budget estimates in the report are order-of-magnitude figures and the reports will be used to build next year's capital budget.