Northampton Schools choose architect
Published Sunday, November 15, 2009
JACKSON — The Northampton County Board of Education has made their selection of an architect to build a new centrally located school.
At their recent meeting, the board approved the selection of SFL+a Architects.
The Charlotte-based firm is known for their experience in designing educational buildings and has designed high schools in Clinton, Union and Midway.
At a special called meeting last month, board members heard from two firms, SFL+a Architects and Moseley Architects.
At that meeting, SFL+a President and CEO Robbie Farris spoke about capital leasing as well as USDA funding and tax credits that could save the school system up to 20 percent on construction costs.
Farris noted the capital leasing legislation (G.S. 115C-530 and G.S. 115C-531) was approved a few years ago and the Board’s Attorney Rod Malone was involved with the team that helped to write the law. Capital leasing allows the school system to enter into operational leasing agreements.
He presented an option that priced a 140,000 square foot building at $22.4 million. With design time included, the project would be completed within three years. Tax credits of nearly $4.5 million could also be beneficial to the board. Farris said annual payments could be as low as $1.2 million.
Ferris also suggested that while design and construction activities are progressing, the board start saving for soft costs (furniture and technology) that would reduce the price of the project. Those costs were estimated at approximately $2 million.
Ferris added grants could also be obtained by the school system for furniture and technology.
The school system would contract with First Floor, SFL+a’s development company, which would handle the finances for the project. SFL+a would then design the project.
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