Dallas, TX – Dallas County is holding a groundbreaking ceremony on April 20th, 10 am, at 130 W. Church Street, Grand Prairie, Texas, for a new sub-courthouse. The Dallas County Grand Prairie Sub-courthouse is a $6.1-million, design-build project. The two-story, 32,000-square-foot masonry building will include the truancy and justice of the peace courts, juvenile probation department, constable and tax offices, and support spaces. The facility is being built on a former retail building site in downtown Grand Prairie. A part of Dallas County’s major capital development fund, the building project was approved after reviewing the cost of maintaining older facilities versus building a newer, more efficient facility. Accommodating the county’s growing programs and services were also analyzed before approval.
Broaddus & Associates is providing project management services, which includes preparing and monitoring the master schedule plus project budget, as well as project oversight. The first stages included assistance with the request for qualification, request for proposal, reviewing responses, assistance in evaluation, and final selection of a design-build firm, plus advice on contract terms, conditions, and negotiations. Through this comprehensive process, Broaddus & Associates assisted the county in selecting GSR Andrade Architects/Harrison Walker & Harper as the design-build team. The design-build project delivery method has multiple advantages. This method provides a single point of responsibility, as the designer and contractor work as a team. Design-build also offers advance knowledge of project cost and the potential for a shortened schedule. In addition to managing all design-build team meetings, the project manager also provided constructability reviews during design phase, which is now complete. Broaddus & Associates is currently involved in the bidding process.
Broaddus & Associates will provide onsite construction administration. The building project’s oversight comprises of these items: The substructure, which is below grade and has ground contact, the shell, interior, mechanized services, and sitework. Site improvements cover parking, lighting, and landscaping. The design and construction team is ensuring a high-quality building project that enhances the environment, while minimizing energy consumption. The current schedule reflects a nine-month construction phase, and departmental moves are planned for March 2013.
Assistant County Administrator Shannon Brown has remarked, "Dallas County is pleased to have Broaddus & Associates serving as the project manager for the Grand Prairie Sub-courthouse. The firm has a strong commitment to the project and works with the County daily to keep the project moving forward."
By providing project management services for design and construction of a sub-courthouse, Broaddus & Associates is assisting Dallas County in consolidating its public service offices in a new facility that will better serve the community in and around Grand Prairie.
