Falmouth Officials Discussing Plans to Develop Designs for New Senior Center

FALMOUTH – Design work for the new Falmouth Senior Center is expected to begin early in 2018.

The new 17,000-square-foot, $9.5 million facility to be built next to the Gus Canty Community Center was approved by voters at Town Meeting in the spring.

Town Manger Julian Suso recently updated selectmen on future plans and said employees are almost done with an analysis and prep work for expanding the parking lot.

“We anticipate engaging a qualified engineering and design consultant to complete the final draft site plans based on a conceptual template which has been nearly completed with the assistance of the town engineer and the deputy of public works director,” Suso said.

The plans are required to include a layout circulation plan, a drainage and grading plan and a landscaping plan as part of the submission process to the planning board.

A review of plans for the parking lot is scheduled to be reviewed by the planning board in October so a final determination can be made by the end of the year.

Officials are also moving ahead with the process of developing building plans.

“The town will move forward with the procurement process for the owner’s project manager and, subsequent to that, the procurement process for a building design architect,” Suso said.

A decision will also need to be made by Selectmen on whether the town will seek to develop the project with the traditional design-bid-build process or to hire a construction manager at-risk.

The design-bid-build process would see officials hire a firm to design the senior center before accepting bids from contractors for construction. The other option would see a general contractor handle both the creation of design plans and construction for an agreed upon price.

The Gus Canty spot was chosen because of its visibility, public transportation and public access and the town’s control of the location.

Selectmen decided to remove the high school site from consideration last year after students and staff were concerned that it would take space away from the athletics department.