On Monday, New Hanover County officials, employees, site developers and the media gathered at the new Government Center building for a dedication ceremony of the complex to recognize the completion of the building largely on time and under budget, as the county awaits the final certificate of occupancy.
Electrical infrastructure for the entire building is expected to be complete in the coming months and the facility will open for business to the public in early 2023. A ribbon cutting and grand opening will be held at that time.
“When the Board of Commissioners adopted a resolution in 2019 to start the process of looking into a new Government Center facility, the goal was to have something that was purpose-built to better meet the needs of residents, visitors and our dedicated staff,” New Hanover County Board of Commissioners Vice Chair Deb Hays noted during the dedication. “The current building, which was repurposed from a shopping center, has served our needs well for several decades. But it was no longer efficient or customer-friendly for our needs today. After walking through this facility today, it’s clear that we now have something that will make the process of doing business with the county government much simpler, while also helping our operations be more efficient, which is a win-win for everyone in our community.”
Along with an improved customer service experience and office space for multiple county departments and the County Commissioners, the new building will include a hardened structure that will be home to New Hanover County’s Emergency Operations Center and 911 Emergency Call Center.
Following the building’s opening in 2023, a new greenspace area will be constructed adjacent to the new building for the public and employees to gather, and then redevelopment will continue throughout the 15-acre site, including mixed-use commercial and residential opportunities.
“The building is nearly complete, with a few key electrical components remaining to be installed, but today was an opportunity to celebrate those who helped make this project possible, namely our Board of Commissioners, and get a glimpse into how this facility will better serve the needs of our residents here in New Hanover County,” said County Manager Chris Coudriet. “Our team always strives to put the customer first in everything we do. This building reflects that mindset, and we look forward to its grand opening and the transformation that will take place on the rest of this site in the coming years, helping this place be a hub for our community to gather.”
The new Government Center has been a partnership with Cape Fear FD Stonewater as the developer, Thomas Construction Group, and LS3P. For more information about the Government Center project, visit NHCgov.com/government-center, and view a replay of the dedication ceremony, along with highlights of the construction process and a preview of the new building, in the video.
Original source can be found here.
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