Reno, Nevada

In June of 2002, relying on our analysis, the City of Reno purchased the 40 year old, 146,000 SF, 16 story, office building at 1 East 1st Street in downtown Reno. This purchase completed a planning phase and started the implementation of a 20 year facility master plan to relocate City Hall to the downtown redevelopment district and retrofit the City Hall property to become a new police facility.

The purchase pro forma was created by BFA and a small group of City staff to maintain security during the purchase negotiation. The assumptions used required validation. A Planning Committee composed of department heads was appointed by the City Manager. Design for the Downtown City Hall began with a detailed Programming effort for the City Hall departments. We started with the Facility Standards written during the Civic Center solicitation and the analysis of space use in City Hall to create Furniture, Building and Space Standards. We started with the annual Business and Budget Plans from each department and then met with each department to better understand their operations, discuss changes and then select an appropriate growth rate. While the base rate selected was 132% over 20 years, often departments such as the City Manager or Police records predicted no growth and used a factor of 100%. BFA challenged each department to improve their delivery methods through this relocation. Space requirements for each departments were developed in spread-sheet format. Working with the Planning Committee, we then developed and refined floor assignments and layout of space in the building. Assignment of space was coordinated departmental growth requirements and the leasing structure in the building to preserve the cash flow from the existing tenants.

Design for the Downtown City Hall began with a detailed Programming effort for the City Hall departments. We started with the Facility Standards written during the Civic Center solicitation and the analysis of space use in City Hall to create Furniture, Building and Space Standards. We started with the annual Business and Budget Plans from each department and then met with each department to better understand their operations, discuss changes and then select an appropriate growth rate. While the base rate selected was 132% over 20 years, often departments such as the City Manager or Police records predicted no growth and used a factor of 100%. BFA challenged each department to improve their delivery methods through this relocation. Space requirements for each departments were developed in spread-sheet format.

Working with the Planning Committee, we then developed and refined floor assignments and layout of space in the building. Assignment of space was coordinated with departmental growth requirements and the leasing structure in the building to preserve the cash flow from the existing tenants.

BFA has now completed the design for the renovation of the new downtown Reno City Hall. The renovation will include state of the art security, audio-visual and information services systems. A new Council Chamber will be located on the first floor along with a grand art gallery lobby space.

Phase I of the renovations to create the new City Hall began in May of 2003 with interior demolition and the removal of hazardous materials from 61,000 SF on 7 floors. Renovation work will begin in October of 2003. The City Council, City Manager, Finance, Clerk, Human Resources and City Attorney's offices will be relocated during the Winter of 2004. The Public Works department will move downtown during the summer of 2005 to 15,000 SF on 2 floors when their lease expires at 350 South Center Street. In 2011, Community Development will vacate the City Hall Annex on Sinclair Street and move to 4 more floors at 1 East 1st Street, if the Police need the space.

Because of BFA’s planning, the City knows that their space requirements for the City Hall service departments have been accommodated for the next 20 years. By following BFA’s recommendations, the City procured a building for $35/SF, spent $15/SF removing hazardous materials from it and will spend roughly $50/SF to renovate their space in the building for a total cost, including land and parking, of $100/SF.