Council Green Lights Town Hall Architect
NEWINGTON - Two weeks after Town Hall Renovations Project Building Committee Chair Chris Miner presented Tom Arcari of Quisenberry Arcari Architects to the Town Council for consideration, the body made the Farmington-based firm’s selection official by unanimous vote.

       The motion passed 8-0, with Deputy Mayor David Nagel absent and Mayor Roy Zartarian-who has been recovering from a surgical procedure-participating in the meeting remotely.

       Councilor Maureen Klett, who had expressed reservations about voting on a decision that was made during executive session discussions held by the Building Committee, got on board as well. The Council had received additional information regarding the architect interview process since the matter was discussed a couple of weeks ago, said Republican Majority Leader Beth DelBuono, who ran the meeting.

       â€"I want to thank everyone-on the Council and on the Committee-for working so well together,” said Councilor Jim Marocchini, who also serves on the Committee. â€"It’s a huge milestone. I think it’s only gonna get harder, but if we keep working together, I think we’ll put forth a good project.”

       DelBuono echoed this sentiment, pointing to the fact that the Committee’s decision to vet Quisenberry Arcari had also been unanimous.

       â€"I think it speaks volumes to where this project is,” she said. â€"I’m glad we’re moving forward.”

       The firm will be tasked with reducing the physical size of the aged municipal building, while increasing the amount of â€"usable” space-an objective that Arcari seemed optimistic about.

       The 96,000 square foot building is believed to have around 46,000 square feet of unusable space.

       The Committee also envisions a larger community center-complete with a multi-purpose event/meeting space-and hopes to make it all happen within the $24 million Hamden-based DTC recommended for a less ambitious renovate-in-place scheme.

       Quisenberry Arcari is a regular with construction projects in the area, designing the blueprints for Newington’s own Martin Kellogg biomedical science academy and the aerospace lab at John Wallace.

       They are currently working on the Newington High School career technical renovations project.
STORY BY MARK DIPAOLA   |  Dec 30 2016  |  COMMENTS?