Led by project architect Brett Donham, members of the town’s Police Station Building Committee evaluated two roof options for the project while on site and voted unanimously, during a meeting following that site walk, to support using a hip roof for the building.
While initial estimates put the 20,000- square-foot, two-story building at a cost of around $5.3 million, work will continue through the end of March to refine the project details and cost estimates.
Discussion of roofing options followed requests during a December meeting that the committee focus on the external aspects of the building, and that the architect draft more detailed sketches of possible designs, including sketches of a building using a gable roof.
After approximately 40 minutes of discussion about plans for the roof on Tuesday, resident Michele Stapleton said that she appreciated the committee’s engagement in the design and suggested that the group focus more on selecting a style and allowing the architect to make decisions about the exterior structure.
“There’s a saying, that a camel is a horse designed by a committee,” Stapleton said.
Donham, however, said that such a level of involvement is necessary in designing a building he said “is really someone else’s building.”
“I think if it’s beginning to sprout humps, I’ll raise my hand and let them know,” Donham said, “but they need to feel that the building is theirs.”
Donham said the committee will meet again on Jan. 24 to review applications for a construction manager for the project and to look at more design sketches for the exterior of the building.
The committee is scheduled to discuss heating and cooling system options for the building during a meeting on Jan. 31.
Donham said he hopes the committee will narrow the field of construction managers on Feb. 7, and select a winning bidder by Feb. 14.
By March 28, Donham said, the committee and construction manager should have a complete cost estimate for the project in hand.
dfishell@timesrecord.com / @darrenfishell
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