RFP Staff
♦ On Monday evening no real surprises occurred during ADW Architects unveiling of the West End Plaza’s Space Needs Study. Rowan County requires plenty of space (Approximately more than 438,000 square feet) for their Board of Elections, Veterans Service office, Facilities Maintenance, Social Services, Health Departments, Sheriff’s office, Animal Control, and Probation Office needs over the next 10 to 15 years according to projections.
Space needs, as shown by the presentation, plays out in the following figures. Over 5 years an estimated 411,673 square feet are needed. In 5 to 10 years an estimate of 428,876 square feet are required. In 10 to 15 years its forecast that 438,081 Square feet will be needed. The West End Plaza will not be filled in the near future according to the figures shown in the Space Needs Study. According to the study’s estimates for the future, the West End Plaza will not be large enough to fit all the county departments.
ADW Architects space needs projects were largely based upon future space requirements, presently occupied space, county department requests, and tours of county offices. The study divided county space needs into 5 year, 5 to 10 year, and 10 to 15 year projections.
The space needs of Veteran’s Service Office and the Board of Elections were not put forward as projections, but as presently requested space.
The Department of Social Services showed the largest projected increase of required space. Over the next 15 years the department of Social Services will need 20,190 square feet above its present utilized space. Including its currently employed space, Social Services are projected to require a whopping 63,043 square feet for its daily operations. Additional space requirements will be needed with the next 5 years mostly as office and client interview rooms.
The study showed the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office followed Social Services in square footage requirements and needs 12,314 square feet beyond its current space. The Sheriff’s Office future needs are said to be evidence storage areas.
The state’s Probation Department, for which the county is legally required to provide space, presents a growing challenge. At present the county leases approximately 12,000 square feet for probations which is projected to grow to 19,000 square feet over 10 to 15 years. Space for the Probation Department must be in close proximity to the County Courthouse. Space in Downtown Salisbury is costly. If space needs grow as projected, the County may be forced to construct probation offices Downtown and purchase land or may opt to continue leasing. Various factors will be weighed down the road.
ADW Architects will present a Master Plan in April at which time the firm will make suggestions where the county departments might be located. Previously the commissioners approved Veteran Services, the Board of Elections, and Facilities Maintenance to move into the West End Plaza. The Health Department and Social Services are tentatively suggested for the West End Plaza with the Sheriff’s Office possibly going to a county property on East Innes.
