County consultants lay out conceptual plans, timeline for new Pinellas government campus

County staff and outside consultants told commissioners on Aug. 29 that the new Pinellas County government campus is advancing through planning but remains conceptual on key details such as parking, building adjacencies and transit access. Barry, the county lead on the project, introduced a CBRE‑led team that emphasized a deliberate approach to matching space to rethought business processes before finalizing design.

"I'm Leanne Corst and I'm responsible for CBRE's Southeast Region Government practice," said Leanne Corst, who described a three‑building approach that separates Justice & Records, Administration and Development Services and prioritizes “one‑stop” customer service and efficient staff adjacencies. Consultants said they have translated agency interviews into three scenarios for the site, pointing to tradeoffs between surface and structured parking and different locations for the justice and admin buildings.

Michelle Ferguson of Raftelis, the process consultant, said the team inventoryed about 14 downtown properties to map workflows and identify efficiencies that could cut the county’s existing footprint. "We focus that process mapping on development review," Ferguson said, noting how shared lobbies and consolidated customer service points reduce duplicative space.

Architect Bob Peck of Gensler said the scenarios are intentionally conceptual but reflect interviews and projected square‑footages. "Driving all of the concepts you're gonna see were a couple of major factors: a one‑stop convenient center for constituents, a workplace that supports a high performing county workforce, and a right‑sized county center," Peck said.

Robert Shaw, the owner’s representative, presented a conservative timeline that keeps the team on track for design services to follow visioning, with a construction start goal in early 2026 and a potential completion in 2028 if the schedule holds. Commissioners pressed consultants on law library space, security setbacks for Justice facilities and whether the county should build all buildings at once or phase the work. Consultants said phasing, transit coordination with PSTA and a traffic study by Kimley‑Horn are active items.

Next steps include more detailed charrettes with commissioners this fall, continued traffic and transit coordination, and follow‑up on financing and property appraisals for downtown sites that could be marketed for redevelopment to offset costs.