MANEKIN CONSTRUCTION SELECTED TO BUILD NEW BOWIE CITY HALL; GROUNDBREAKING TO OCCUR SEPT. 30

Manekin Construction, LLC has been awarded the $15.6 million contract to build a new City Hall for the City of Bowie.

The three-story, 80,000-square-foot facility will be located on City-owned property at 15901 Excalibur Rd. (at the intersection of Excalibur Road and Evergreen Parkway) near the Bowie Town Center. It will replace the 39,500-square-foot facility located at 2614 Kenhill Dr. that has served as City Hall since 1978.

A groundbreaking ceremony will occur Wednesday, Sept. 30, from 9 to 11 a.m. (see media advisory attached). Project completion is scheduled for December 2010.

“We are excited about the prospects of having a modern, attractive and energy efficient building that will allow us to better serve our residents,” said David Deutsch, city manager for the City of Bowie.

BACKGROUND
According to John Fitzwater, assistant city manager for the City of Bowie, the existing City Hall facility has been overcrowded for some time, and the creation of a 57-person City Police department three years ago precipitated the need for larger space. (The police currently operate from two modular units on the City Hall site.)

In 2006, the City Council authorized an analysis of space needs. The result was a recommendation that City Hall needed to be an 80,000-square-foot space with police station. The City then considered three options: 1) expanding the current City Hall property, 2) leasing property in Market Place or 3) building on the Town Center site. The latter option was selected.

A City management team formed in 2007 to oversee development of a new City Hall, and ARCADIS
was hired provide overall project management, design review, value engineering and construction management.

In 2008, Grimm + Parker Architects was chosen to design the building and the search for a general contractor ensued. The prequalification process resulted in inquiries from 27 contractors. The management team narrowed the field to six candidates and ultimately selected Manekin Construction earlier this year.

“Manekin Construction is especially honored to be on the team for this project,” said Stephen A. Newhouse, vice president of business development for Manekin Construction. “There was an extensive selection process and we are proud to be chosen to build this wonderful facility and add it to our portfolio of municipal projects.”

The firm previously built the Carroll County Health Department facility in Westminster, and the Harford County Public Schools Administration Building in Bel Air, which earned LEED Gold certification and the NAIOP Award of Excellence, Most Environmentally Friendly Green Building. It also provided interior construction of the Howard County Government Office Building in Columbia.

BUILDING DESIGN
Located on a six-acre site with parking for 218 vehicles, the future City Hall building will comprise a structural steel frame with high density block/brick veneer and glass exterior curtain wall system. With many green features – including a green roof, the facility is designed to achieve LEED Silver Rating.

There are three overall design concepts: 1) element of permanence and stability important for public government reflected by masonry and stone 2) transparency in government reflected by the glass, and 3) a friendly and inviting feeling conveyed by a curving courtyard area to greet visitors and the use of brick, a traditional warm and friendly material. What’s more, there will be exterior and interior opportunities for public art installation.