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West Grey Council is approving entering into an agreement with an architecture firm to assist with the plans for the new West Grey Police building.
During a meeting on April 4, Council received a report from Director of Development and Infrastructure Karl Schipprack.
The report recommends entering into an agreement with +VG Architects for a review of architectural plans related to the design of the new police building.
The report says in 2020, Formworks Inc. Architects was awarded the design, construction drawings, and contract administration for the design and construction of the new building, however, the process was put on hold while the municipality underwent reviewing police costing and determining if they should switch policing providers to the OPP.
Following council’s decision in January 2023 to continue to use municipal police, the construction of the building was put back on.
The report says Formworks completed the design and construction drawings and documents for the police station and were ready to be submitted for building permit and set out for construction tender. When council put the process on hold, however, the firm notified the municipality in August 2022 of their intent to terminate the contract.
When council confirmed they would continue the process, the design of the building belong to the municipality, but a new architect and contract administrator was still required to move forward.
“A new architect would have to review and redraw the construction plans to confirm they meet all their requirements because they are now taking on the liability of the design. They are also required to confirm with all the contracted engineers that they will continue on the project, and they will re-issue their plans with any code updates completed. Costs for all subcontractors are included in the tender price,” says the report.
Following the announcement of the resumption of the process, in March the municipality issued a call looking for an architectural firm. One proposal was received from +VG Architects at a cost of $119,000 for the construction documents portion, and $178,500 for contract administration.
Facing a shortfall of $242,500, as a result of some funds left over from the previous contract with Formworks, the report recommends the costs be funded from the future police station reserve.