3 contractors vie for Valdese public safety construction project

Updating, renovating, or constructing new facilities for the Valdese police and fire departments has been on the town council’s metaphorical and literal agenda for years. Thursday’s meeting might inch the project forward.

Three contractor firms have made their best pitches in a four-hour meeting on May 22. And now it’s up to the council to decide which proposal best suits the project’s logistical requirements and financial parameters.

From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., the council, senior staff, and Facilities Review Committee members listened to the presentations. Moss-Marlow, D.R. Reynolds Company, and Wharton-Smith were interviewed and recommended by the review committee.

The chosen firm will evaluate and present the findings for the following options for the public safety project:

• Renovate the 215 Main St. East for a police station
• Build a new fire department on the vacant, town-purchased lot at 200 Massel Ave. SW
• Build a combined police and fire department on the Massel lot

This public safety project would be carried out under a design-build contract.

The design-builder (one of these three firms, if selected) acts as the construction manager to source out subcontractors and collaborate with the owner on the overall vision. The design-build can result in a more efficient construction process with streamlined communication and expedited delivery.

The different roles in the design and construction processes would work together on the front-end of the project and allow the council to have more control in the development process.

The council is proposed to decide on a firm during the regular meeting on Monday, June 2.

MOSS-MARLOW

Based in Hickory and a neighbor of Valdese since 1909, Moss-Marlow specializes in residential and commercial developments.

For this project, they would partner with Stan Winstead of Winstead Architecture. Winstead has worked on many emergency service facilities.

The two companies have collaborated on the following projects:

• St. Stephen’s Catawba County EMS base
• Catawba County EMS base in Hickory
• Bethlehem Baptist Church in Taylorsville

Winstead was an architect for the Newton Fire Station and has worked on larger-scale projects like schools.

For renovating the Main Street building, the building seems to be structurally sound and has adequate space for the police department. A renovation would create a quicker timeline, but timing ultimately depends on what issues they find once work begins in the building.

However, one of the cons that Moss-Marlow foresees is the differing stair levels and other accessibility issues. The building would need an exterior makeover since it looks like a Village Inn.

When considering the construction on the Massel Avenue lot, the town would have complete control of the design and could save costs on water and sewer infrastructure and training/fitness rooms if a combined police/fire facility is constructed.

Although the departments would be co-located, each could operate independently. Among the unknowns of the lot is what kind of materials, such as rocks, would be in the subsurface.

D.R. REYNOLDS

The Star-based D.R. Reynolds Company has a long-standing record of working with municipalities, along with design-build rural fire departments. Since 2008, they have built almost 40 departments.

The architect on this project would be Michael West of West and Stem Architects, who has teamed with Reynolds for about a dozen projects. On this team is also Chris Langham, a fire/ems/government specialist with more than 35 years of experience.

They are currently completing the Cooksville Fire Department and are about to begin the French Broad department for additional renovation. They are currently working on more than half a dozen fire departments.

Various design-build examples that the company presented were under budget, such as the Concord Station (police and fire) and the Cleveland Fire Department.

In 2023, they completed the East Lincoln Fire Department, which also housed the Highway Patrol Office and the EMS.

Evaluating the Massel lot, the team said that the town picked a great site and aligned with their company’s expertise.

WHARTON-SMITH

Wharton-Smith has worked on more than 175 public safety projects in North Carolina and over 250 more throughout the Southeast. This includes civil engineering, pre-construction studies, and building.

The company would partner with C-Design as the architect.

Among the larger projects the team has worked on is converting the Rutherfordton Town Hall into a cohabitable space with the police department.

This project underwent different versions, such as creating separate spaces or combining them, much like what Valdese is contemplating. The building also includes a community space with an open gym.

When looking at the different options, the company would analyze the best time/day to do construction, contingency plans for ordering parts/machinery, and look at a risk register (weather delays, soil conditions, etc.).

The company has a track record in value management, focusing on reducing construction costs. For example, at North Port Fire Station No. 81, the company achieved a 20% cost savings by removing some clerestory windows, eliminating a courtyard area, and making other design adjustments.

CLOSING COMMENTS

After the presentations for the day, Town Manager Todd Herms told the council that he had contacted other managers who have worked with these three firms.

No negatives that were shared, though D.R. Reynolds received the highest reviews for staying on budget with fire departments.

Herms anticipated that once council decides on the contractor, a contract could be finalized within 30 to 60 days.

Councilman Glenn Harvey expressed interest in all three firms pursuing a fourth option: renovating the Valdese Town Hall to include the Valdese Police Department. The department is temporarily located there now.

The town council would first have to formally vote on whether to include the fourth option in its decision-making process.