Three public projects remain on track

Sarasota County officials participated in a ceremonial groundbreaking Dec. 9, to officially begin construction on the new Emergency Operations Center.

The event came roughly three months after the official start of construction on the new Gulf Gate Library.

Those two projects, along with the Sarasota County School District rebuild of Sarasota High School, round out three of the largest public projects in the county. Stakeholders say all projects are on track and on budget.

Gulf Gate Library
Construction cost: $7.5 million
Slated completion date: fall 2014

When Sarasota County Library System Director Sarabeth Kalajian attended the groundbreaking for the new Gulf Gate Library in September, it became a real milestone for construction — not just a symbolic ceremony.

Summer rains strained construction timelines, but since the event, fair weather and quick work from the contractor has kept the project on schedule.

“The rain kind of tapered off,” Kalajian said.

Although the current Gulf Gate Library thrives in a 20,000-square-foot space in Westfield Sarasota Square Mall, construction crews have begun building the second story of the $7.5 million new library off Gulf Gate Drive.

“Now our eyes are really turning toward the interior of the library and that lovely design process,” Kalajian said.

This week stakeholders will begin picking the furniture for the interior, while considering craftsman, traditional and modern styles.

In further action, the Friends of Gulf Gate Library gifted a 25,000-square-foot property across the street from the new Gulf Gate Library to Sarasota County, which Sarasota County commissioners accepted during a Dec. 11 regular meeting, to be used for parking.

Emergency Operations Center
Construction cost: $15.4 million
Slated completion date: spring 2015

Nearly a decade after the 2004 hurricane season battered the Gulf Coast, Sarasota County dignitaries held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new county facility it inspired.

Sarasota County commissioners, staff and Sheriff Tom Knight posed with shovels in front of the site of the future emergency operations center Dec. 9. The parcel of land, located at 6050 Porter Way, will include a two-story, 40,000-square-foot building capable of withstanding a category 5 hurricane.

“The new facility will ensure our community’s lifelines are operational even during disasters,” Knight said.
The emergency operations center allows the government to continue functioning during disasters. The building will also house the Sarasota County Call Center.

Interim Sarasota County Manager Tom Harmer said the new facility should be operational by spring 2015.

Harmer said he’s looking forward to being able to use the control room for training sessions.

“We are all very eager to see this facility open and begin serving our residents,” said Emergency Management Chief Ed McCrane. 

Sarasota High School rebuild
Construction Cost: $38 million
Slated completion date: December 2016

Plans for the rebuild have been altered due to Sarasota High School’s decision to begin a bay scallop aquaculture program, which requires a floor drainage system.

Sarasota County School District Project Manager Paul Pitcher said the change hasn’t delayed the construction process, which is roughly 5% complete.

“We’re kind of in that discovery mode,” Pitcher said.

Workers are boring into the ground and finding the locations of wiring and piping.

Construction crews are almost finished with selective demolition of Building No. 4, which was designed by notable Sarasota architect Paul Rudolph. That aspect of the project was a sticking point for local preservationists.

The contractor is waiting on building permits to start the rebuild of the Rudolph building. Those should be approved this month.

The project is still in its first of three phases.

Currently, construction is contained so work doesn’t affect students’ routes to classes.

But, Pitcher said the next phase may require fenced pathways.

Contact Alex Mahadevan at [email protected]