Government Campus Master Plan Concepts Presented to City Council
By: Michael Demyan
Palm Beach County architectural firm Song & Associates recently presented two possible plans to the Boca Raton City Council for a government campus master plan.
Jill Lanigan, the director of business development, began the presentation by explaining why the master plan is important as Boca Raton movies forward in the future.
“A master plan is a living document,” she said. “It’s something that’s not going to be carved in concrete, but serve as a guide and a roadmap for future growth.”
She said that details of the plan were crafted through listening to both residents and city leaders. In June of last year, Song & Associates hosted a public open house at the Boca Raton Downtown Library. Four months later, the firm presented the outcome to the city council members, who passed a work order for them to create concepts.
A main goal with the new placement of buildings would be to bring them closer together, which was outlined in both of the concepts shown at the city council workshop.
“The current locations of government services are very disconnected,” she said. “They’re sort of scattered around the campus.”
Lanigan also pointed out that the current layout lacks an identity and the police station is in a high congestion area, as well as right next to a railroad. Moving it would allow officers to respond to calls quicker and more efficiently.
A larger community center is also outlined in the concepts, along with two 600-space parking garages and more green space, which could be used in the future for expansions.
Yuon Lee, the director of design, stressed that pedestrian traffic is an important part of the plans, suggesting that an elevated pedestrian experience could be added.
“One of the key concepts for this government campus master plan is how we can provide safe and pleasant pedestrian conditions from our campus to the east,” he said.
While the second option did have a little more green space, all of the city council members preferred the layout of option A, however Mayor Scott Singer pointed out that option A would most likely be more expensive and take longer to construct.
“I think there are just price points for all of us to consider, because this is not a cheap project and the longer we have to tear down buildings, that just adds to the complexity and timing,” he said.
Song & Associates will take the feedback from the workshop and review phasing, timing and costs.
