In June 2021, the Town voted to support the Public Facilities Project at 105 South Main Street. This webpage has been created to allow the public to review the history of the project, check for new updates, and stay informed as the project goes through design and construction.  The page is laid out in timeline format, newest to oldest. We will post periodic updates at the top of the page and we encourage you to check in frequently. 

The Project

Public Safety Building: Combined Police Station and Fire Station. Total size: approximately 40,000 square feet

Community Center/Town Hall: Combined Community Center and Town Hall. Total size: approximately 20,000 square feet. 

Town Common: The final size of the Town Common will be determined once the placement of the buildings is finalized. 

The Team

Town Building Committee: Bill Renault, chair, Paul Armitage, Nick Bonugli, Roger Bourgeois, George Dow, Kyle Smith, Frank Twiss. Ex officio members: Chief William Sampson, Chief Douglas LeColst, Jillian Smith, Jackie Bresnahan

Owner’s Project Manager (OPM): PCA360: Brian LaRoche, Tom Kerwin, Greg Walsh, Mike Ulichney 

Architect: Context Architecture: Jeff Shaw, Chris Logan, Peter Nelson

Construction Manager: TBD

Latest News about the Project

January 30, 2023   The design team continues to work on the building layouts as well as the placement of the buildings on the site. Sub-specialties are now beginning their work. Most recently, the Town Building Committee met with the mechanical designer to evaluate HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) options and select the types of systems and energy sources that will be employed. The Committee decided to pursue all-electric buildings. This decision reflects the future of energy; it also takes into account the low electricity rates offered by the Middleton Electric Light Department (MELD). All of this work is done in concert with the Town Building Committee and the Owner’s Project Manager (OPM), the Town’s agent on the project. 

We previously reported on the beneficial interest rate we received when we borrowed for the project. We borrowed in November 2021 at an average interest rate of 2.05%. With the increase in interest rates since then that decision looks better every day. Roselli, Clark & Associates, the Town’s CPA and auditor, estimates the Town saved about $30 million in interest costs over the life of the loan. That savings is passed directly to taxpayers. 

We have all heard about increases in construction costs and inflation throughout the economy. Our building project is not immune. This has led the design team and the Town Building Committee to take a close look at all aspects of the project. That process continues. 

The Building Committee is using the construction manager at risk (CMR) delivery method for this project. Under CMR the construction manager is brought on early and works directly with the architect on the design of the buildings. This collaborative process results in fewer change orders once we get to construction. For more information on CMR go to https://www.mass.gov/service-details/learn-about-cm-at-risk. The Building Committee has recently embarked on the CMR selection process.