By Haley Hughes
Trees are coming down on University Parkway as crews prep land for construction of the new Aiken County Complex.
Crews began work on Monday, uprooting trees and clearing construction road access on 20 acres of land.
The new office complex will be built across the 118 Bypass from the S.C. Department of Transportation office.
Crews are working under the direction of KBR Building Group and Danny Mullis, the project's construction manager-at-risk.
Mabus Brothers Construction Company was awarded the $948,000 grading, site utility and drainage package last month.
"Right now, the thing is clearing and grubbing," said Aiken County Administrator Clay Killian. "Work is happening on just the 20 acres that were subdivided off first."
The County purchased an additional 50 acres to adjoin the complex site, but nothing is planned for that land at this time.
The official ground breaking on the project is Sunday at 3 p.m. at 1928 University Parkway.
Local government officials - like County Council and Aiken City Council members - have been invited, as have all County employees, the area's legislative delegation, Congressman Joe Wilson, the Aiken County Board of Education and the Greater Aiken Chamber of Commerce board, among others.
The 134,700-square-foot County Complex is expected to be complete in February 2014 at an estimated total project cost of $37.5 million. The project is being funded with a mixture of Capital Projects Sales Tax money and general obligation bonds.
Design drawings by architects McMillan Pazdan Smith show the complex with a three-story front elevation facing University, but a two-story back elevation facing Lincoln Avenue. Lincoln Avenue borders the back of the property.
There could be two or three access points from University and one access point from Lincoln meant for employees and service trucks.
The entrances at the front of the building facing University Parkway will likely be ceremonial. The architects envision most of the public entering and exiting the building in the back.
The first floor would likely contain court-releated services such as the magistrate office, worthless check unit and juvenile justice.
The second and third floors would contain all other County departments, including registration and elections and the assessor, auditor, treasurer, tax collector's offices, planning and development, and public works and engineering.
The current County Complex on Richland Avenue, which is the old County hospital, will be demolished once staff moves into the new building. The land will be returned to a greenfield site.![]()
Trees are coming down on University Parkway as crews prep land for construction of the new Aiken County Complex.
Crews began work on Monday, uprooting trees and clearing construction road access on 20 acres of land.
The new office complex will be built across the 118 Bypass from the S.C. Department of Transportation office.
Crews are working under the direction of KBR Building Group and Danny Mullis, the project's construction manager-at-risk.
Mabus Brothers Construction Company was awarded the $948,000 grading, site utility and drainage package last month.
"Right now, the thing is clearing and grubbing," said Aiken County Administrator Clay Killian. "Work is happening on just the 20 acres that were subdivided off first."
The County purchased an additional 50 acres to adjoin the complex site, but nothing is planned for that land at this time.
The official ground breaking on the project is Sunday at 3 p.m. at 1928 University Parkway.
Local government officials - like County Council and Aiken City Council members - have been invited, as have all County employees, the area's legislative delegation, Congressman Joe Wilson, the Aiken County Board of Education and the Greater Aiken Chamber of Commerce board, among others.
The 134,700-square-foot County Complex is expected to be complete in February 2014 at an estimated total project cost of $37.5 million. The project is being funded with a mixture of Capital Projects Sales Tax money and general obligation bonds.
Design drawings by architects McMillan Pazdan Smith show the complex with a three-story front elevation facing University, but a two-story back elevation facing Lincoln Avenue. Lincoln Avenue borders the back of the property.
There could be two or three access points from University and one access point from Lincoln meant for employees and service trucks.
The entrances at the front of the building facing University Parkway will likely be ceremonial. The architects envision most of the public entering and exiting the building in the back.
The first floor would likely contain court-releated services such as the magistrate office, worthless check unit and juvenile justice.
The second and third floors would contain all other County departments, including registration and elections and the assessor, auditor, treasurer, tax collector's offices, planning and development, and public works and engineering.
The current County Complex on Richland Avenue, which is the old County hospital, will be demolished once staff moves into the new building. The land will be returned to a greenfield site.