THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, February 11, 1995 TAG: 9502110052
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY PAUL SOUTH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: MANTEO LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines
A Washington, D.C., firm has been selected by the Dare County Capital Improvement Projects Committee as the architect for a proposed county government complex.
The firm of Spillis, Candela and Partners was chosen largely because of its experience in designing governmental complexes, and its familiarity with structures that can withstand severe hurricanes, Dare County Spokesman Charles Hartig said Friday.
Representatives of the firm will meet with the county committee at 1:30 Monday to discuss what services the firm will provide, as well as cost of those services.
The 65-year-old firm was one of 21 who submitted their qualifications to the committee. The list was narrowed to three finalists; the winner, the Pennsylvania-based Kimball and Associates, and the Raleigh-based FWA Group.
Spillis, Candela has designed government complexes in South Florida's hurricane belt, including facilities in Dade and Volusia counties.
``They have experience in designing buildings which must be strong enough to withstand major hurricanes,'' Hartig said. ``A major factor in the committee's decision was the firm's ability to build structures that could withstand a category 4 or 5 hurricane.''
The architect recently completed a government complex in Anne Arundel County, Md. In that job, the firm had to choose from two possible sites. Dare County has narrowed its site selection to a tract near the Dare campus of the College of the Albemarle, and downtown Manteo.
``The firm has a great deal of experience in working with two sites similar to the ones selected by the committee,'' Hartig said.
Potential costs of the project have not been discussed. However, Hartig said that if Spillis, Candela and the committee cannot reach agreement on services and fees, then the other two finalists will get their turn at negotiations, in keeping with state and federal law.
``The members of the committee have been very careful not to attach any monetary figure until the architect selects the most suitable site, and has developed a proposal for construction,'' Hartig said.
Dare County spends more than $400,000 annually to lease its present office space. Officials have said that a slight tax increase may be necessary to construct the facility, but that a final decision has not been made on whether or not the complex will be built.
However, Hartig said that whether the new complex is built or not, improvements must be made to county facilities.
``We have to provide better, more efficient space for government services,'' he said. ``We do not currently comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act or with requirements of the Occupational Health and Safety Administration.''
Earlier in the week, Dare County Board of Commissioners Chairman Robert V. ``Bobby'' Owens Jr. said that with the current mood of the public toward government spending, county departments shouldn't expect significant increases in funding. Hartig reiterated that the government complex was not ``etched in stone.''
``The board of commissioners is very cognizant of the mood of the people,'' Hartig said. ``This board will listen to those people.'' by CNB