Date: Fri 19-Jun-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

Kaestle-Boos-office-space

Full Text:

Selectmen Select Firm To Study Office Space Needs

BY STEVE BIGHAM

The Board of Selectmen voted unanimously Tuesday to hire Kaestle Boos

Architects, Inc of New Britain to conduct the town's all-important municipal

space needs study.

First Selectman Herb Rosenthal hopes the study will finally give direction to

the town's efforts to find safe and adequate office space.

The architects have 120 days to complete the study, meaning the town could

have recommendations in hand by late October or November.

Architects Rusty Malek and Mark Weismann met with the selectmen this week to

discuss the three-part study. Kaestle Boos was chosen because of its

experience in designing town halls and studying municipal space needs,

according to Mr Rosenthal. The firm is currently conducting a massive

municipal space needs study for the town of Needham, Mass.

"They've done so many of these, and I think that is why our space needs

committee recommended them to the Board of Selectmen," Mr Rosenthal said.

Town officials say the study will be comprehensive with an eye on providing

space for the next 20 years. Selectmen Bill Brimmer, chairman of the town's

municipal space needs committee, said the study is important in that it

affects everyone in town.

Mr Rosenthal said the band-aid method of addressing the town's infrastructure

problems is no longer acceptable.

"We used to make due by just saying `how do we get by for now.' We need a plan

to make sure we do this right," the first selectman said.

First, the architects will conduct a study of all those existing facilities

that could play a part in the town's proposed overhaul. They include Edmond

Town Hall, the Hook & Ladder Firehouse, Town Hall South, Watertown Hall at

Fairfield Hills and the former Gordon Fraser building, which is currently on

the market. This portion of the study will cost $10,000

Next, Kaestle Boos will gather information from the various town agencies to

conduct an overall analysis of the town's space needs. It won't be just a

"wish list" of what each department needs, though, according to Mr Rosenthal.

Kaestle Boos will look at restructuring and how the town can find new ways to

make the most of its space. This part of the study costs $17,000.

Finally, Kaestle Boos will draw up actual concepts of how to solve the town's

space needs woes.

"They'll be taking the facilities that are now available and combining them

with our needs to come up with a conclusion. They'll come up with several

concepts," Mr Rosenthal said.

This portion of the study costs $13,000.

Kaeslte Boos will also take a close look at Watertown Hall to determine its

viability as a school for fifth and sixth graders.

After the study is complete, Mr Rosenthal said the Board of Selectmen will

review the recommendations, come up with a proposal, then make a request for

funds, according to Mr Rosenthal, who said he expects there to be several

hearings and meetings on the issue.

Notwithstanding previous comments that he was not averse to renovating Town

Hall South to help solve the problem, Mr Rosenthal said he plans to keep an

open mind on the issue.

"I have no preconceived notions. Whatever solution becomes obvious as the best

for the town is the one I will support," the first selectman said.

Several town employees were forced to move out of Town Hall South 16 months

ago after the building fell victim to flooding and general deterioration. Two

weeks ago, fire trucks were ordered off the floor of the Hook & Ladder

firehouse after engineers deemed the building structurally unsafe.