The Bowling Green City Commission on March 18 approved a proposal to redesign and expand the city’s government campus in downtown Bowling Green, Kentucky. The project is estimated to cost $30 million.
The centerpiece of the project is a new 60,000-square-foot building to be constructed on the existing 2.5-acre campus at 10th and College streets. According to officials, the facility would bring several city departments together in a single space and provide a new meeting room for commission proceedings.
According to officials, these departments are currently housed in several outdated buildings on the campus, all of which are not up to standard for dealing with increased population growth and future needs. City officials also note that Bowling Green is the third-largest city for growth in Kentucky.
To make way for the new facility, the city plans to demolish the current Public Works building, the City Hall Annex and an additional building behind City Hall. They note that due to its historical significance, the current City Hall building itself will not be demolished.
Instead, the current City Hall building, originally constructed in 1907, will receive several interior upgrades. These include modernizing heating and cooling systems, improving lighting and increasing energy efficiency. The last time the building was renovated was in the mid-1980s, when it received updated restrooms and an elevator, among other smaller changes.
According to officials, the new $30 million renovation project will be funded through a combination of city savings and bond issuances. City officials have indicated that the municipality carries very little outstanding debt, leaving it in a position to take advantage of its bonding capacity for an investment of this scale.
The project is also expected to qualify for state historic tax credits, which officials say could offset roughly $1 million in costs.
The project is expected to take three years to complete, with some departments moving into temporary workspaces in the meantime. Project teams are now beginning the design phase, with demolition and construction to follow.
For more of the latest from the expansive government marketplace, check Government Market News daily for new stories, insights and profiles from public sector professionals. Check out our national contracting newsletter here.
