Title
Consideration and Selection of a Conceptual Design Option for the Women's Army Corp (WAC) Building
Recommended Motion
I move that Council select conceptual design option _____ for the WAC Building and proceed to final design of the project.
County Manager's Recommendation
The County Manager recommends that Council select conceptual design option 1a to move forward to final design.
Body
According to historical records, the Women’s Army Corp. or WAC building was constructed in 1943 during the Manhattan Project as a dormitory to house members of the WAC. In 2019, the County was approached by the Christian Science Society about their desire to sell the property. County Council approved the purchase of the property and the sale closed in early 2020.
To determine an appropriate renovation and reuse of the property, the County contracted with Mullen-Heller Architecture under a services agreement to perform the design and public engagement services necessary to develop the project. To date, the design team has obtained public and stakeholder input through a series of public meetings and developed four concepts (Options 1, 1a, 2 and 3) along with estimated costs for the public and County Council to consider before proceeding on one preferred option for final design. Another part of the scope of services is to investigate the process to register the facility with the Register of Historic Places with the U.S. National Park Service and State of New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs. This historic investigation is taking place in parallel with the design efforts so that the conceptual design options can be informed by the discovered historical features of the building. A major goal of the project is to assess the building and site, determine a programmed use through community engagement and provide construction documents that will meet the program needs, yet not lose the historic character and significance of the building.
Attachment B contains the draft Historic Evaluation and Preservation Plan for the building. This plan was developed by Mullen-Heller. The conceptual design options have been filtered through the Preservation Plan lens. Option 3, which disturbs the Character Defining Features more than the other three options, is in the least conformance to the Rehabilitation guidelines outlined in the Preservation Plan. The plan is in final review with both Mullen-Heller and Los Alamos County and is expected to be finalized by the end of August 2022.
This item is an opportunity for staff and Mullen-Heller Architecture will share their work to date (Attachment A), including an update on the results of the public engagement process which took place in December and the historic evaluation. Mullen-Heller will also discuss in detail the four conceptual designs along with rough order of magnitude estimated costs associated with each option for Council consideration. To continue with development of final design and refined cost estimates, one concept needs to be selected.
Attachment C provides an evaluation matrix to serve as a qualitative tool to compare the four conceptual design options. This matrix considers the following criteria or attributes:
--Supports National Park Service/Manhattan Project National Historical Park: This criterion rates how each design option answers the questions, "Does the design support the NPS/MPNHP? Does design give MPNHP better or equal space to existing space?"
--Historic Fabric/Integrity: This criterion rates the level to which each design option maintains the original interior features and layout of the building
--Exhibit Space: This criterion rates the level to which each design option accommodates exhibit space
--Housing: This criterion rates how each design option accommodates housing including the quantity of units
--Maintenance & Operations: This criterion rates the complexity and level of effort for operations and maintenance involved with each design option (i.e. office space vs. housing vs. public access; multi-use and shared spaces; multiple lease and/or service agreements; etc.)
--Estimated Costs: Compares the preliminary estimated re-development or improvement costs associated with each design option.
County staff utilized this matrix as a basis for the staff recommendation for the conceptual option.
Once the conceptual design option is selected, the next steps on this project will be development of schematic design and construction/bid documents. It is anticipated that this project will go out for bid for construction in Spring 2023.
Alternatives
Council could ask for more options to be considered or explored before selection of an option is made.
Fiscal and Staff Impact/Planned Item
Funding for the project is comprised FY 2021 CIP funds in the amount of $350,000 for design. A construction funding projected placeholder in the amount $3,650,000 is currently shown in the Capital Improvement Project Fund Budget Summary for FY 2024 (FY 2023-2024 Biennial Budget).
Attachments
A - Council Presentation for 7-12-22
B - DRAFT Historic Evaluation and Preservation Plan for WAC Building
C - Option Evaluation Matrix