by Dennis Dalman
editor@thenewsleaders.com
As its preliminary designs come closer to economic reality, the Sartell Community Center will have to undergo some changes and rearrangement of spaces to fit within its $11-million budget.
The changes and alterations are part of a plan to cut off about $800,000 above the $11-million budget, which will be paid by bond sales covered by half-cent sales-tax revenue.
At the last city-council meeting, the center project’s architect Murray Mack and project consultant Lyle Mathiasen filled in the council on changes and plans. Mack said before the council meeting, earlier in the day, he had met with members of the Sartell Senior Connection to share with them possible space changes to and near the senior center within the building.
The money-saving changes to the building include a combination of doing without some initially planned architectural features, combining some spaces, rearranging others and using some space for multiple functions. For example, in the initial plans there were three brickwork towers topped with pyramidal-shaped copper roofs, stylistic echoes of the one on the front of Sartell City Hall. Mack said two of the towers can be eliminated. The third tower, originally on the front of the building, can be placed as part of the elevator shaft on another part of the building. By doing so, a front tower would not block the light that would flood into the long row of windows on the second story on the front.
Many architectural changes, Mack noted, are actually good changes, not bad ones, because they will actually enhance the functionality, efficiency and aesthetics of the center.
A large stone wall, which was an architectural aesthetic nicety on the front of the building won’t be included, and that part of the exterior will be streamlined.
The senior center will be moved more toward the multi-purpose rooms, which will also allow it to be expandable, perhaps someday, southward if the building were to be expanded.
The learning-and-resource area is also expandable, with shared space between the resource area and the seniors’ area, which will also have moveable walls for a variety of functions within the center. The senior area will also have a small kitchen, a meeting room (possibly to be used by other groups also) and a storage area.
The building itself will be built more to the north of where it was originally planned so expansion to the south can be accomplished if needed someday.
Using a slide show of artist’s conceptions, Mack reviewed every aspect of the center: the three gyms, the walking-running track, the locker rooms, a lobby-administrative area, the learning-resource area, public meeting space, the senior center, the second-floor mezzanine space and a kids’ zone inside the building, which, because of the rearrangements can now be 1,200 square feet instead of the originally planed 800 square feet.
Mack also explained road and parking-lot configurations on the center’s site. A curve was added to the planned road to eliminate what would be an awkward angular turn. A roundabout might be added to that road. A parking lot will be sufficient to accommodate 300 parking spaces.
Mack reminded the council of what will not be included in the $11-million project, even though in time they might become amenities: an outdoor pool, a pool building, a climbing wall, a warming house, a secondary road and other outdoor amenities.
In a few weeks, after Strack Construction reviews the new plan, the council will once again revisit any changes, based upon a suggested “laundry list” that will be presented. There are still challenges to be met, even after the streamlining Mack mentioned at the meeting. Some, he said, may not be “fun” to consider.
Mathiasen said the center will be city-maintained and operated, but some areas of the building will be able to be accessed when the entire building isn’t open, such as the senior center. He said the center will be perfect for tournaments, what with the ample parking and the multi-use areas of the center. He also noted rental fees will be initiated for user groups. The gyms, too, can be used for almost any conceivable purpose by non-athletic groups, such as expositions.
“I’m really happy with the changes,” said Mayor Sarah Jane Nicoll. “I really like it.”
Strack Construction will do another estimate in about six weeks, then once everything is finalized and agreed to, bids can be called in May or June of this year, Mack noted.
This is the current, early design of a community center next to Lake Francis. Design plans were created by HMA Architects.
