GAINESVILLE – A major renovation project is about to get underway at the Hall County Government Center on Browns Bridge Road.
Thursday evening the Hall County Commission unanimously approved a contract of nearly $7.1-million to have the entire HVAC system replaced and to have a new suspended ceiling system installed throughout the building.
In addition to the new HVAC system and ceilings the county plans to replace the building’s lighting system, removing the current fluorescent lights and replace them with a cost-effective LED lighting system. That work will come under a separate contract.
The five story building was constructed in 1982 by Liberty Mutual Life Insurance. The last upgrade to the HVAC system was in 1990.
Hall County purchased the 118,767-square feet structure on approximately 33-acres in 2010 for $6.1 million. An additional $2.9 million was spent converting the building to better meet the county’s needs. It opened to the public in 2012.
The cost of the renovation will be paid for with SPLOST VIII funds. Work is expected to begin in March and will require nearly a year to complete.
Walt Davis oversees major maintenance projects for Hall County and earlier this week he described for commissioners what the contractor (Trane US, Inc. of Doraville, Ga.) would be doing. “They will basically gut this building,” Davis said.
He said nearly two years had been spent working with department heads and other staff members finalizing the details of the renovation effort because, “Business has to continue while we are doing this project. We’ll be working to make sure there is as little disruption to the county’s business as possible.”
“We’ll start on the fourth floor and work our way down,” Davis said.
Davis, who also oversees the Hall County Correctional Institute, was asked if any prisoner labor was planned for the project. He said that was not a part of the plan at the moment.
