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New City Hall shows progress since January groundbreaking

By David Waller
Chair, City Hall Advisory Committee

The new City Hall started slowly due to a long cold winter and a wet spring but recently has bloomed forth. As we periodically view this new structure, it seems as if it grows almost by itself. To the contrary, a large team of professionals from the architectural, engineering, and construction community have coordinated their talents to produce a new City Hall. (See list at right.)

The major construction milestones to date include the initial phase of the site: the roadway and storm sewer construction, which are nearing completion. Other items are the concrete foundation and slab work, completed in April, and the structural frame for the building and the wrapping for the walls and roof, completed at the end of May.

Future milestones we shall see will be the roofing system in early July and the completion of the brick and stone work by late August. The major subcontracts—electrical, HVAC and plumbing—should be completed in September.

The finish work, drywall, floors, ceiling, and painting are scheduled for September completion. The total building part of the project should be finished in October with grassing, landscaping, and paving soon thereafter.

If you have not had the opportunity to see the new City Hall, drive by the intersection of Old Hickory Boulevard and Hillsboro Road. You will be proud of the new building.

Advisory Committee began working in June 2009

In mid-June 2009, Mayor Bill Coke contacted me regarding the new City Hall and asked me to chair the Mayor’s City Hall Advisory Committee. I accepted.

The committee membership includes Alison Douglas, Clay Jackson, Jim Littlejohn, Jeff Orr, and me; each of us brings extensive talents and experience. The Mayor charged the committee with advising the Commissioners on the selection of an architect, the selection of a construction manager, and other tasks during construction.

The committee has met on numerous occasions over the past 18 months and has been very productive. By mid-July 2009, the committee had produced a questionnaire for the Commissioners and the staff, asking them for their thoughts on the form and function of the new City Hall, both for the present and the future needs of the City.

In August 2009 the committee, with input from the Commissioners, the staff, and others, produced a list of 20 architectural firms to be invited to participate in the architect selection process. At the same time the committee developed a process for the evaluation of the architectural firms. The City sent out invitations to the architectural firms, with a required response date of September 24, 2009; the City received 11 proposals.

The committee met on several occasions, reviewed the proposals and came up with a short list (four) of architects to be interviewed. This short list was presented to the Commissioners, who agreed that we should move forward with the interviews. The committee interviewed the four candidates and found them all to have excellent credentials.

The committee ultimately recommended the firm of Allard Ward Architects to be the architect for the project. The Commissioners approved that recommendation on November 19, 2009. In late November, the City advertised for proposals from construction managers for this project and received four proposals. The committee interviewed these candidates and compared their experience, their fees, and monthly administrative costs. In mid-February the committee recommended that R.C. Mathews be awarded the contract as construction manager, and the Commission awarded that contract.

From March 2010 on into August 2010, the architect and the construction manager worked together, along with input from the committee, to formulate plans and cost estimates. In August 2010, floor plans, building elevation drawings, and cost estimates were presented to the Commission, which approved them with some minor modifications. From then through October, the architect was completing plans and specifications and the construction manager was identifying potential subcontractors.

The City advertised for prequalifications on the site work and subsequently for bids. Four bids were received, and the low bidder Sunrise Construction was awarded the contract. In December 2010, the City advertised for prequalifications on the other subcontracts and, after that process, advertised for bids. Bids were received on January 6, 2011, and awards were made by the City on January 20.

The total construction package came in at a projected $1,642,923, which was in the range of projections approved by the Commission in August 2010. The official groundbreaking ceremony was on January 29, and all are pleased to move forward. The Advisory Committee will continue to be part of the construction process in reviewing and recommending items related to “finish” and other items as requested by the Commission.

Open House, February 4, 2012

Forest Hills Mayor Bill Coke, Vice Mayor John Lovell, Nashville Mayor Karl Dean, and Dewey Branstetter

Nearly 100 residents, friends, and dignitaries attended.

Jim Kelly, Carole Kelly, historian Fletch Coke, and Bill Kelly. The Kellys grew up on the site of the City Hall.

Mayor Karl Dean, Shanna Hughey, and U.S. Representative Marsha Blackburn.

Kathy Celauro and City Hall Advisory Committee member Clay Jackson

Council Representative Carter Todd, Vice Mayor John Lovell, and Commissioner Lanson Hyde III.


Construction

May

Plans

The Forest Hills City Hall takes shape as site grading is completed in February, below; foundation and infrastructure installed in March, left; and City Manager Al Deck reviews the status of interior build-out with Project Manager Doug Warren in May, above.

March

Pipe

February

Bulldozer

January

Groundbreaking

Helping break ground January 29, 2011, for the new Forest Hills City Hall are Commissioner Tim Douglas, Nashville Mayor Karl Dean, City Hall Advisory Committee chair David Waller, Forest Hills Mayor Bill Coke, and Vice Mayor John Lovell.

City Hall Plans