By Brian Biggane
CPZ Architects Vice President Joe Barry presented the firm’s initial set of conceptual drawings for the new Town Hall to the South Palm Beach Town Council at its February meeting, with options of both a two-story and three-story building.
“The object today,” Barry told the council, “is to leave here with a consensus on a direction to further develop the design, get into the architecture, the aesthetic of the building, and then move the design forward.”
His presentation triggered a 45-minute discussion regarding the position of the building, the cost, and how all the wants and needs of the community can be addressed not only for the present but for the next 15 to 20 years or more.
The cost of the project amounts to about $6 million for the two-story building and $7 million for three stories. Town Manager Jamie Titcomb said the funds are available, but if the town decided to opt for low-interest loans, those could be obtained through the Florida League of Cities or through a federal grant, though there could be strings attached to the latter.
Both designs featured ground-level parking that, along with the offices of the Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office, comprise the first floor. The plan is to both raise the building above any potential flooding as well as complement the 17 existing parking spots behind the current building.
The square footage of the two concepts is similar, totaling 10,800 square feet in the two-story structure and 12,500 square feet over three stories. Barry said his firm has calculated the cost of about $550 per square foot, thus the $1 million discrepancy between the two concepts.
Following Vice Mayor Monte Berendes’ lead, most of the council members voiced support for the two-story concept. Sandy Beckett said she would much prefer that option as long as it would address all the needs of the community.
Barry said the second story of the two-story structure would be extremely flexible, with movable partitions creating rooms small enough for one-on-one meetings — or large enough to accommodate crowds of 100 or more — in addition to housing administrative offices.
Other spaces would be set aside for a small cafeteria, exercise room and terraces overlooking both the Intracoastal Waterway and State Road A1A.
The first story of the three-story plan would be almost identical, with the second reserved for town offices and meeting rooms and the third designated for the suggested public spaces.
Several of the dozen or more residents in attendance offered ideas for the next revision. Notable among them was Ellen Saith, who serves as chair of the Community Action Activities Board.
Saith pointed out that the technology the town has been using, such as collapsible screens to show movies, needs to be updated. Barry called her suggestions “great ideas” and said the latest technology would be featured.
When Barry mentioned that the plans called for some permanent seating in areas such as the council chamber, Saith responded quickly. “No, no, no, don’t think about it,” she said. “It’s going to be a waste of space. We need to convert space.”
Despite her objections, that matter remains open to debate.
After Barry said his plan was to move the building closer to A1A and a bit more south, as the footprint would be larger than the current building’s, there was more pushback and nothing was resolved.
Barry said another issue that needs to be addressed is an environmental assessment of the large fuel tank behind the building and what, if anything, needs to be done about it.
All parties involved reiterated the plan to present another set of amended drawings to a meeting of town residents sometime in March, but not before the next council meeting on March 11.
Comments
I read this article on CPZ Architects’ proposal for a new $6–7 million Town Hall & Community Center in South Palm Beach, and as a concerned citizen, I’d like to offer input on a more cost-effective approach. I believe we can meet our town’s needs efficiently without unnecessary features.
I suggest building a new Town Hall that meets all applicable legal requirements, such as flood elevation and ADA compliance, for our seven town employees and a shared PBSO area—since PBSO officers are primarily patrolling, they don’t need dedicated offices, just a small shared space. This building should include a room similar in size to our current Town Council Chambers, which serves our needs for meetings and public events. We should eliminate the community room entirely, including its flexible meeting spaces, cafeteria, exercise room, and balconies, as these duplicate the pools, fitness rooms, and clubhouses in our condominiums, risking an unused and costly white elephant.
This minimized design, at 6,000–8,000 square feet, could cost $3.3–$4.4 million at the proposed $550 per square foot rate, saving $1.6–$2.7 million compared to the $6–7 million plan. It avoids overbuilding for a town of our size, ensuring our tax dollars are used wisely.
As I consider this, I wonder about the cost per square foot for similar projects. Here are some examples I’ve reviewed, with their sources:
These comparisons make me question why South Palm Beach’s $550 per square foot is significantly higher, given our smaller size and similar coastal location. I hope the Town Council and CPZ Architects will consider this input and explore a more efficient design.