Easttown Supervisors Hire Architechs For New Municipal Building

EASTTOWN TWP, PA — Easttown supervisors set in motion a plan to construct a new township building, tearing down the 121-year-old historic Carriage House, which contains the current township administrative offices and police department on Beaumon Road, Devon.

The supervisors earlier this month unanimously approved hiring Heckendorn Shiles Architects, Wayne, for $168,890 to prepare the schematic design for a new building in the same location of the existing building.

The board also approved spending up to $5,000 for certifications to meet standards of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and WELL, which focuses on public health.

Township Manager Eugene C. Briggs Jr. said the plan calls for constructing the project in phases that will allow portions of the building to remain open during construction.

The schematic design is expected to take four months to complete, according to a report prepared by Matthew A. Heckendorn, principal architect.

The overall cost of the project, which is expected to be complete in 2026, has not been determined. Briggs provided an early estimate of $13 million.

The genesis for the project dates back to 2015 when a study was conducted to determine additional space required for police, public meetings and administrative offices.

“This was motivated by the needs of the police department to expand,” Briggs said. “We are still very early in the process. The new design will have enough space for 20 to 30 years.”

The police department requires space to store evidence and to provide separate holding cells for juveniles and adults.

The new building will nearly double the size of the existing building.

The township will use the Hilltop House, an 1894 mansion that was renovated in 2005, for catered events including weddings and graduations, for public meetings.

The preliminary plan calls for constructing an 18,650 square foot building with the police department on the first floor and the administrative offices and public meeting room on the second floor. A total of 3,200 square feet will be available for expansion.

The preliminary design also includes these items

• Covered parking for police
• Sally port for large vehicles
• Secure exit for board members
• Grouping staff by department
• Enhanced security

Public bidding would begin in the fall of 2023. The project would be completed in two phases, with the first phase completed in 2025 and the second phase completed in 2026, according to a preliminary report.

Ann Sicalides, chairwoman of the Easttown Historic Commission, expressed concern about the historic significance of the Carriage House. The commission serves as advisors for historical preservation.

The architect said the historic character of the Carriage House will be maintained. Heckendorn and Ariel Ricciuti, a project interior designer, provided the board with an overview of the project during meetings on June 6 and 20.