Plans have been put into motion to start the renovation process for the Town of Taber’s side of the administration building.
At town council’s June 28 regular meeting, councillors unanimously approved a recommendation to proceed with the Town of Taber Administration Building project.
As such, the town will enter into agreements with Sahuri and Partners Architecture Inc. out of Calgary, in a deal that is to not exceed $250,000 in terms of costs for the town.
According to Mayor Ray Bryant, renovations are due. With the building over 40 years old, many inefficiencies exist in the facility, which formerly housed a number of different offices.
“There’s so much inefficiency and wasted space. We did look at something 10 years ago and we kept putting it off and putting it off.”
“We need to provide a good working environment and provide better service to the community. We need to move this forward. The time has come that we need to move forward.”
The town’s chief administrative officer, Gordon Frank, said Sahuri was selected out of nine proposals, which were narrowed down by a building review committee.
Sahuri has now been tasked to study the building, which will include an assessment for hazardous materials, and an examination of space-requirement needs, future growth requirements and a structural assessment. Frank added there is asbestos in the building, and an evaluation will be needed on that.
The $250,000 the town has budgeted with see Sahuri take the process through to the tendering process, as the firm will also have a hand in the final drawings, contracting and site supervision.
“They will be there from beginning to end,” said Frank.
In the town’s request for proposals, the deadline for the design phase was set for Aug. 31 of this year. It is expected the project will go out to tender late this year, with a projected start date of January or February in 2011.