City officials plan to update the nearly 30-year-old facility, and construct a new 9,052-square-foot building and additional parking. Coppell City Council approved a zoning request for the $12.5 million bond-funded project in March, and officials plan to bring forward a construction contract for council approval on Aug. 27, Director of Public Works Michael Garza said.
“It's time for a refresh of that facility and to examine our needs for its future uses,” Garza said.
The details
Both renovations and new building construction are packaged together and will be undertaken simultaneously. Once construction begins, the city anticipates completion within 12 months, Garza said. Construction will begin after the contract is approved Aug. 27.
The center, located on South Coppell Road, houses the city's community experiences and public works departments as well as fleet, streets and water utilities. As the departments have increased staff over the years, they have outgrown the existing space, Garza said. Additionally, the locker room does not fit both teams and does not contain a female locker room.
The renovations will increase the space in the existing building to accommodate a larger locker room and shower space for both men and women as well as refurbish some interior offices into a workspace for field teams, Garza said. Field crews currently operate out of smaller buildings similar to portables.
More details
The new building will accommodate conference rooms; public bathrooms; a training room; and offices for supervisors, managers and assistant directors. A hallway will connect the new and existing buildings.
“The new space will be more for the office staff, and the existing renovations will be for the field staff,” Garza said.
A fenced-in outdoor courtyard between the new building and existing service center, 22 trees, and a natural channel to filter out pollutants will also be included in the project, Senior Planner Mary Paron-Boswell told Community Impact.
The context
Council approved a rezoning request in March to allow for the new building and additional parking. In July, council approved the sale of bonds for the project, Garza said.
The $53 million bond package allocated funds for the following projects:
- Fire Station No. 5: $11.5 million
- Royal Lane: $24 million
- Coppell Service Center Improvements and New Service Center: $12.5 million
- Various Water and Sewer System Projects: $5 million
