By Nicola Caul Shelley, Synergy Design & Construction

Its the New Year and despite the backdrop of the ongoing pandemic, home remodeling services are in high demand. The low-key holidays at home and ongoing virtual nature of work and school have many of us thinking ahead to later this year when (hopefully) well be able to entertain once more and/or have family come to stay.

Whether youve decided its time to remodel your kitchen, create a more open concept on your main level, finally finish that unfinished basement or just simply turn your master bathroom into a retreat, heres our guide to helping you find the right remodeler for your project.

1. Match your project needs to the right type of remodeler

Knowing who you need is the first step in any remodel. With some many different companies out there, its not always easy to navigate who does what. Heres a good place to start (and its one of the biggest questions we get): Whats the difference between a general contractor and a design-build home remodeling company?

A general contractor (sometimes simply referred to as a GC) typically focuses on small- to medium-sized interior projects. They are responsible for overseeing the construction phase of your remodel and for finding/hiring the appropriate tradespeople to complete the project if they do not have the expertise themselves or in-house. You, on the other hand, will likely have to come up with the design and, in most circumstances, pick out the materials for the project and project manage it.

GCs are perfectly suited to smaller pull-and-replace type remodels where you are not significantly changing the footprint and are replacing like-for-like in the existing footprint. The quality and price of using a GC varies greatly depending on the level of support they offer, the size of the project and the quality of the project management in keeping the remodel on-time and on-budget.

In terms of a design/build company, a full-service firm (like Synergy Design & Construction) manages all aspects of your home remodel and guides you through your project from design all the way through construction. They do all the heavy lifting as well as project manage it along the way. Design/build firms tend to focus on medium- to large-scale residential projects: design-thoughtful whole home renovations as well as kitchens, basements and bathrooms. They may also offer services for home additions (though we do not).

Most design/build firms design everything they build and build everything they design, so most local firms will not bid on design-only services, and/or the design services they provide cannot be used to hand off to a general contractor. In-house design and professional project management delivers a better customer experience from an accountability and quality perspective, but on the flip side, good design and well-executed construction takes time and may cost more. At Synergy, our typical clients intend to stay in their home to enjoy their space, so we dont offer kitchen refreshes, flips or simple updates like powder rooms (unless its part of a larger project).

Do your research and poke around various websites to see examples of the type of work and level of support a company provides. Read testimonials and Google reviews they are a great way to get a sense of what a company is all about from real clients.

Still need more help? Read Best Remodelers in Reston and Where To Find Them.

2. Dont play your cards too tight to your chest

Its one of the biggest hurdles to overcome: being honest about budget. Its important to have this conversation early in the process so the companies you talk to better understand your investment goals. Your remodeler of choice can be realistic with you in terms of how far your budget will go and how best to maximize it.

Keep in mind a pull-and-replace kitchen remodel is going to cost less than reconfiguring your kitchen to move your sink (for example) or any changes that require additional plumbing, mechanical and electrical work. The level of finish will also drive up cost. From cabinetry to countertops to tile to flooring, these costs add up. Appliance packages alone can be a huge chunk of your budget, so your home remodeler should be able to work with you to determine where to splurge and where to save without sacrificing quality and finish.

3. Be clear on scope

Dont proceed with a project until you have a clearly defined scope of work with your contractor in writing. Assume nothing. We hear so many stories of homeowners ending up way over budget because the scope was not clearly defined (or even written down in some cases!) upfront.

This has a knock on effect to not only your budget but also your timeline. If things have not been planned and accounted for before the project begins, you will likely be faced with change orders and extra time needed to complete your project.

At Synergy, we pride ourselves on developing a clear budget and timeline for every project we work on before anyone comes near your home with a sledgehammer. We dont believe in nickel-and-diming along the way. Wed rather be honest with you upfront about how much things cost so you can rest easy that, once agreed, well stick to the budget.

4. Have the right expectations

Ah, yes, wouldnt it be nice if we could all get a complete home remodel for $20,000 and in six weeks? The reality of TV home remodeling shows is that they arent reality. Many of these shows have materials such as cabinetry and appliances provided to them free of charge as part of sponsorship deals, and they dont include the cost of time/labor for the crews involved. Take a look at websites like Houzz, or read any of their great consumer research to get a real sense of how much things cost.

It is also not an unreasonable expectation that your contractor should start the project when they say they will and wont disappear before its completely finished. Sadly, this doesnt always happen, and this is when we hear the worst renovation nightmare stories. Reputable design/build firms can be counted on to keep their timelines.

5. Think of your remodeler as a partner, not a vendor

Your chosen home remodeling partner is going to be in your life and in your home for a while. Feeling like you have a good relationship with them is important and having open communication from the start will set you up for success throughout the process. Home remodelers are people, too, and most take great pride in their work and want to do a good job. If it doesnt feel right at your first consultation, its never going to feel right. You should have a good rapport with your contractor from the outset and feel you can trust them and be open with them and vice versa. Thats the key to your projects success.

This months featured project is a whole townhouse remodel in Reston. Having lived there for 11 years, this Reston couple was ready to make big changes to their home to update it throughout to better reflect their modern aesthetic. However, they knew they didnt have the time to project manage it themselves or the expertise to create designs that could then be implemented by a General Contractor. Enter Synergy Design & Construction!

In addition to other changes on all three levels, we completely remodeled the master bathroom, guest bathroom and powder room. Beyond remodeling the bathrooms, we also installed new flooring, lighting fixtures and fans throughout the home, replaced the kitchen countertops, and updated the plumbing fixtures. New paint throughout and an updated black satin color on the stair balusters and railings completed the transformation, making the whole home feel fresh and modern.

If you are ready to start your remodeling journey with a full-service design-build company, get in touch! Our consultations are free, and we also offer virtual meeting options if preferred.

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Reno of the Month: 5 Tips for Finding a Home Remodeler in Reston - Reston Now

By Staff | on January 14, 2021

In 2020 the coronavirus pandemic caused an abrupt shift of employees working in an office to working from home. According to the Pew Research Center, only one-in-five Americans said they worked from home all or most of the time. Now, 71% of those workers are doing their job from home all or most of the time. And more than half say, given a choice, they would want to keep working from home even after the pandemic.

Now with this shift to working from home, more homeowners are looking into creating a space to work and in some cases, that means remodeling and putting in a new home office. This prospect of adding this dedicated space can be overwhelming and many get stuck on where to put a space to work. Having a reliable, master certified remodeler can help you put the project into perspective. They can help you locate a space that would be ideal for your home office whether it be converting an existing room to dedicate to that office or adding a space in a room that can be changed for multiple uses.

Mike Daniel with Ability Remodeling finds that often homeowners will have a formal dining room that isnt being used that can be converted or an extra bedroom that can be used as a guest bedroom and home office. Sometimes the project can be converting excess space, like extra space from the garage or an extra-large great room, and creating a brand new space in your home dedicated to the new home office.

There are many opportunities that most homeowners dont even realize they have to create that needed space. If you need a home office and need help from beginning to end, Mike Daniel with Ability Remodeling is here to help you from start to finish making your project ideal for your needs.

Have any questions? Contact Mike at Ability Remodeling at 928-458-6044 or email info@abilityprescott.com.

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Working from Home is the New Norm: Time for a Home Office - Signals AZ

There is one company that senior adults can approach if they are looking for aging in a place bathroom renovation.

This press release was orginally distributed by ReleaseWire

Houston, TX -- (ReleaseWire) -- 01/14/2021 -- For many homeowners, the bathroom becomes an area of concern when they start aging. The bathroom that they could use comfortably and without anyone's help suddenly turns hostile. The slippery floor and the tiles' sharp edges soon become a potential threat zone to one's safety. Slipping and falling becomes a regular affair, and sometimes it might be fatal. With time, it is better to opt for aging in place bathroom renovation in Houston, Texas. There is one company named A&K Remodeling & Turnkey that can help with a bathroom renovation that is suitable for aging people.

Getting old is a process, and it will happen naturally with time. With that, one has to accept many life changes, and a bathroom renovation is just one of those changes. Aging in place bathroom renovation is different from a standard bathroom renovation. It is about changing the tiles, floors, and faucets, but the bathroom has to be conceptualized entirely differently. This requires knowledge and expertise that comes from the professionals of A&K Remodeling & Turnkey.

Once they are assigned to the bathroom renovation job, they can help the senior adults to maintain their independent lifestyle. Certain adjustments to the existing bathroom will be required and are not hard to make. The professionals can renovate the bathroom, following all the ADA guidelines. They ensure enough space in the bathroom, and open space is necessary for easy wheelchair accessibility. Grab bars can be easily installed on walls in the bathtub or shower and near the toilet. Foldable shower seats can be installed near the water controls, and they can install accessible toilets with ample space around them.

The company also offers kitchen renovation in Houston, Texas, outdoor living, room additions, and more.

Call 281-647-6871 for more details.

About A&K Remodeling & TurnkeyA&K Remodeling & Turnkey is a well-known company offering a wide range of services that includes bathroom renovation in Houston, Texas, kitchen renovation, outdoor living, room additions, and more.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/ak-remodeling-turnkey-offers-aging-in-place-bathroom-renovation-in-houston-texas-1323503.htm

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A&K Remodeling & Turnkey Offers Aging in Place Bathroom Renovation in Houston, Texas - Press Release - Digital Journal

Homeowners looking for a custom kitchen renovation can get in touch with one company that can remake the kitchen just as they want.

This press release was orginally distributed by ReleaseWire

Houston, TX -- (ReleaseWire) -- 01/14/2021 -- The kitchen is one of the most used spaces in the house. It is thus one of those areas which see wear and tear over time compared to other areas. Hence a kitchen renovation becomes a necessity with time. Kitchen renovation has to be done thoughtfully as the changes are incurred for the betterment. No change in the kitchen should become an obstacle. Instead, it should make the space more functional than it already was. That is why it is essential to get in touch with a company that can help with a kitchen renovation in Houston, Texas.

A&K Remodeling & Turnkey Company can be the right choice for a custom kitchen remodeling job. They are an established and reliable company which has been in this field for 30 years. They have many successful projects to their credit. They are fully aware that a kitchen renovation is a time-taking project and can disrupt their clients' daily lives. That is why they don't start at one's whim. Instead, before they bring a wall down, they have a detailed discussion with the client and then go forward with the job. They aim to build a beautiful and customized kitchen for their clients to work and prepare meals. If the entire kitchen is not required to be dismantled, they would suggest the same. They would recommend changing or refinishing the cabinets to make them appear as new or put in more cabinets for improved storage space. Even upgrading the appliances will be helpful.

The company also offers bathroom renovation in Houston, Texas among other services.

Call 281-647-6871 for more details.

About A&K Remodeling & Turnkey A&K Remodeling & Turnkey is a well-known company offering a wide range of services that includes bathroom renovation in Houston, Texas, kitchen renovation, outdoor living, room additions, and more.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/ak-remodeling-turnkey-is-the-place-for-kitchen-renovation-in-houston-texas-1323505.htm

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A&K Remodeling & Turnkey Is the Place for Kitchen Renovation in Houston, Texas - Press Release - Digital Journal

Brian Lee|Telegram & Gazette

HUBBARDSTON Police Officer Scott Chatigny admitted to the state Ethics Commission he pushedmunicipal work to his side business, Oakley Construction, by placing boguscompeting bids.

Chatigny paid a $10,000 penalty to the state for violating the conflict-of-interest laws prohibition against a municipal employee having a financial interest in a contract with the same municipality, the commission said in a statement Wednesday.

The state saidthe phony bids were part of Chatigny's ploy to improve the standing of Oakley's bid, which would be lower than the phony bids. Municipalities require multiple bids.

Before owning Oakley Constructon, Chatigny owned a roofing company that was dissolved in 2007. The state said he leveraged the roofing company to make competing bids on town work.

In May 2016, Oakley Construction submitted a proposal of $1,820 to install two solid core wood doors at the police station. The town awarded the company the contract for that amount.

In November 2016, Chatigny submitted a proposal for $1,275 to install a steel door at the police station.When Hubbardston sought two additional quotes, Chatigny, using a fictitious name, submitted a phony $1,425 proposal purportedly on behalf of his defunct roofing company, while a third proposal for $1,650 was received from a company operated by Chatignys friend.

The town awarded the contract to Oakley Construction for $1,275.

In or about December 2016, the town sought bids to repair the roof on a town office building.

In response, Oakley Construction submitted a proposal for $8,690 proposal, and Chatigny, again using a fictitious name, submitted a phony $11,221 proposal purportedly on behalf of his defunct roofing company. The town accepted Oakley Constructions proposal.

After the town accepted Oakley Constructions proposal for the roof repair, Chatigny sought a meeting with the town accountant in a conference room at the police station. During the meeting, Chatigny, who was on duty and in uniform, sought a pre-payment of $4,345.

The accountant, citing state law, refused. The accountant then canceled the contract.

By submitting false high bids to drive the contracts to Oakley Construction, Chatigny violated the conflict of interest laws prohibition against municipal employees presenting false or fraudulent claims to their municipal employer for payment.

The Ethics Commission noted that Chatigny was in uniform when he sought the meeting about the pre-payment, while conflict-of-interest laws prohibit public employees from using their positions for private gain.

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Ethics Commission: Hubbardston officer used deception to drive work to remodeling business - Worcester Telegram

Students enter Lincoln Heights Elementary School at the beginning of the school year. On Monday, the Scottsbluff Public Schools Board of Education voted unanimously to start a modernization and renovation project for the districts five elementary schools. District officials said that the renovations, spanning five years, will not require a tax increase or additional bond.

Roosevelt Elementary School was built in 1939, some 82 years ago. Over that time, district officials said the elementary school has been renovated just once. Its second renovation in nearly a hundred years may be coming this year.

On Monday, the Scottsbluff Public Schools Board of Education voted unanimously to start a modernization and renovation project for the districts five elementary schools. District officials said that the renovations, spanning five years, will not require a tax increase or additional bond.

Instead, the district will draw from its stores of cash. According to the plan presented at the January school board meeting, the project would draw from the districts building fund. Presenters said the district would not require a tax increase or additional bond to pay for the renovations.

This is an important presentation this evening because, in some ways, its a combination of work and more of a beginning of work, said Scottsbluff Public Schools Superintendent Rick Myles.

Myles opened the presentation but it featured an onslaught of building principles, assistant principals and other central office administrators pitching the project to a board that in the end voted unanimously to move forward. The presenters at Mondays meeting were a small representation of a much larger team working on the renovations, Myles said.

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Scottsbluff moving to remodel all elementary schools, Roosevelt first on the list - Scottsbluff Star Herald

The storm that has covered the entire city of Madrid It has led to difficult days in the capital. Given this, the Real Madrid has decided to lend the City Council the machinery it is using for the remodeling of the Bernabu with the aim of making it useful for removing snow from the main arteries of the city.

The news has been revealed by the mayor of Madrid, Jose Luis Martinez Almedia, which has thanked the white team by making its gesture public with the city council. And I am going to give a specific example that is precisely the works that are being carried out in the Santiago Bernabeu. Real Madrid and the contracting companies immediately put at the disposal of the City Council the machines that work in the execution of these reform works and that allowed us to begin yesterday to clear that entire area of Paseo de la Castellana , thanked the mayor of the city.

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Madrid gives up the machinery it uses in the remodeling of the Bernabu to remove snow - Sportsfinding

The rehabilitation of the stadium includes, among other things, the construction of new stands, boxes, six bathrooms for the spectators, and dressing rooms with showers, lockers, and toilets for the players.

PALENQUE Tabasco (Mexicans Against Corruption) The Ministry of Territorial and Urban Development (Sedatu) assigned this Monday, January 11, a contract for 89 million pesos to renovate the stadium of the baseball team Guacamayas de Palenque, whose founder and the director is Pio Lopez Obrador, brother of the President of Mexico.

The contract was granted to the company Alz Construcciones SA de CV, originally from Tuxtla Gutirrez.

The award was granted in a second-round because, in the first round of the bidding, Sedatu disqualified the 26 bidders who competed for alleged noncompliance with the requirements established in the call bases.

In the first round, there was a consortium of four construction companies that submitted a proposal 33 million pesos cheaper than the one that was finally declared the winner. In the second round, a construction company proposed executing the work 12.5 million pesos cheaper.

The evaluation committee of Sedatu rejected both proposals due to technical aspects, such as not having submitted the curricula vitae of the personnel proposed for the work and for not having accredited experience in similar works.

The stadiums rehabilitation includes the construction of new stands, boxes, 12 premises distributed on the sides of the entrance hall, six bathrooms for the spectators, dugouts for the teams, and dressing rooms with showers, lockers, and toilets for the players.

The contract also contemplates improvement works in the sports unit where the stadium is located. Lights will be placed on floors and posts, LED lines suspended on ceiling lights, reflectors for the court, and updating for the baseball stadiums exterior lighting.

The current built area of the sports facilities is 5,793 square meters, and the expansion will be over 15,372 square meters, according to the plans consulted by Mexicans Against Corruption and Impunity (MCCI).

The stadium is owned by the municipality of Palenque, as stated in its real estate inventory for 2020.

AMLO trains with the teamOn November 13, 2018, two weeks before taking office as President, Lpez Obrador trained at the Palenque stadium and wore the Macaws uniform, as can be seen in photographs shared on the teams social networks. During that visit, he committed himself to support baseball in Palenque, the Chiapas municipality where he has his ranch.

Guacamayas de Palenque has been four times champion of the Tabasco Professional Baseball League. It is currently a branch of the Olmecas de Tabasco Club, which participates in the Mexican League.

Pios TeamThe President of the baseball team is Po Lpez Obrador, brother of the President. When Po registered the Chiapas Macaws trademark in his name on July 28, 2017, he gave the teams address as Calle Jimnez 88, in the San Juanito neighborhood of Palenque, which corresponds to the baseball stadium that will be modernized with federal resources.

In a letter he sent on that date to the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (IMPI), he mentioned that he had been President of the team since its foundation in March 2015.

Po Lpez Obrador, in my own right and under protest of telling the truth, I come to declare in my capacity as President of the Chiapas Macaw Baseball Team (also known as Palenque Macaws), that there is no type of society or civil association that can represent the team that participates in the Professional Baseball League of Tabasco, For this reason, and given the powers with which I have held the position of President of the team since its foundation, as shown in various advertisements in the different media, and in order not to leave both the name and the logo of the team in question in a state of defenselessness, I have come to request the registration of the trademark,the letter mentions.

The concession of the ownership of the trademark was granted on November 9, 2017. The registration of the name of the baseball team had been requested in August 2015 by Csar Augusto Jurez Ugalde, who was the private secretary of Governor Manuel Velasco. However, the IMPI denied it.

Assignment in the second roundThe winning company was created on July 3, 2002, in Tuxtla Gutirrez, Chiapas. Its majority shareholder is surveyor Angel Heraclio Lara Ziga, originally from Simojovel, who is associated with builder Alberto Ziga Penagos.

The contract was assigned to him in a second-round because, in the first round, the bidding was declared void.

There were 26 bidders in the first round of the competition, although 22 submitted their proposals in person, of which 15 were consortiums formed by two or more companies.

The lowest proposal in that round was submitted by the consortium formed by Obras Civiles de Antequera, Next Time SA de CV, Grupo Constructor Velacor, and Grupo Juracn SA de CV, who proposed to execute the work for 56 million 182 thousand pesos, 33 million less than the construction company that was finally assigned the contract.

In contrast, the most expensive proposal in that first round was Tcnicos de Oaxaca SA de CV, which intended to charge 185 million 412 thousand pesos for the work.

On December 1, 2020, the contestants were summoned to the board room of Sedatu in Mexico City to announce the decision, which was declared void because the evaluation committee considered that all the bidding companies had failed to comply with any of the technical, legal, or economic requirements established in the call for bids.

This forced the bidding process to be carried out again. On December 18, 2020, a new opening of proposals took place, with the representatives of 22 bidders, three of them integrated as consortiums.

In this second round of the bidding, the cheapest proposals were made by the companies Promocin y Distribucin Cinco SA de CV, for 76 million 964 thousand pesos; Alz Construcciones for 89.3 million pesos; Los Cedros Construcciones and Lax Constructora for 89.4 million pesos.

While the highest bids corresponded to Construcciones Centurin in joint participation with Construcciones de Mxico for 119 million 771 thousand pesos, a similar amount to that proposed by Tecnologa Urbana Aplicada SA de CV.

The decision on this second round of the bidding was scheduled for December 23 but was postponed until January 6, 2021. That day, however, it was decided to postpone it again to Monday, January 11.

The Yucatan TimesNewsroom

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AMLO's government grants $89 million pesos to remodel the stadium for the baseball team headed by his brother. - The Yucatan Times

Since last year, several of the major amusement and theme parks in the greater Tokyo area have successively been undergoing major renovations. J-Cast News (Jan 11) considers the factors affecting leisure business.

The preponderant motivation has been the aging and weathering of the facilities. But their corporate management has also implementing new business strategies.

The prolonged coronavirus pandemic has certainly had a serious impact, particularly in that more people feel inclined to avoid long trips, sticking closer to their homes when seeking recreation.

First is Yomiuriland. Located in Inagi City in the Tama Hills area west Tokyo, the park has constructed a new baseball stadium for the Yomiuri Giants B team (second string squad) and the accompanying commercial concessions have been placed under joint management.

Before undergoing a takeover bid, Yomiuriland Corporation had been listed on the first section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Since the takeover, it assumed the status of a subsidiary, with the parent Yomiuri Shimbun owing 34% of shares in the newly reorganized company.

Along with revenues from admission tickets to baseball games, the corporation will engage in sales of food and beverage sales and baseball merchandise.

Toshikazu Yamaguchi, president of Yomiuri Shimbun, tells J-Cast news that considering the inevitable downsizing of the newspaper market, the company's new strategy will be "to position Yomiuriland as a core business for sports, culture and entertainment."

The Seibu Railway Company, meanwhile, has been proceeding with renewal activities of its 70-year-old Seibu-en amusement park in Tokorozawa City, Saitama, which it temporarily closed last November. The company plans to complete construction and repairs by this spring.

Among the new features will be an emphasis on Showa-era nostalgia, boasting a town in the style of the 1960s, along with new attractions tailored to the same theme. Visitors will be greeted by an old-style streetcar (tram) at the entrance and rows of shops will offer examples of Showa-era commerce, complete with live performances.

Some 10 billion yen will have been invested in renovations. Director Takashi Yamazaki, well known for his award-winning "ALWAYS Sanchome no Yuhi" film series, and theme part expert Tsuyoshi Morioka, who oversaw the renovation of Universal Studios Japan, were consulted on the project.

Last August, the Seibu Group shut down Toshima-en, its other theme park located in Tokyo's Nerima Ward. A portion of the property will be used for new facilities based on the Harry Potter film series in collaboration with the Warner Bros film studio, with opening planned in the first half of 2023.

Visitors to the park will be able to experience some of the famous scenes appearing in Harry Potter films. The new park will be the second of its kind to be operated by Warner Bros, following the one in the UK that opened in March 2012.

Most of the remainder of Toshima-en will be sold to metropolitan Tokyo, which plans to develop it as a park for evacuation in the event of a natural disaster. The sale of this valuable land situated within one of Tokyo's 23 wards is expected to considerably enhance Seibu's bottom line. While occupying a smaller area than does Toshima-en, the new Harry Potter facility is expected to become a lucrative new attraction for its operators.

Japan's Numero Uno in the theme park realm, Tokyo Disney Resort, has adopted a business model into which huge amounts of capital have been invested. While its gate is currently reeling from the coronavirus pandemic, merely by virtue of its being located on the periphery of a huge metropolitan area TDR is banking on current renovations and additions, such as the LEGO Hotel scheduled to open later this year, in expectation these will ultimately contribute to future success.

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Tokyo area theme parks remodel themselves while waiting out pandemic - Japan Today

In June 2019, the Brainerd City Council agreed to move ahead with renovations to its historic city hall. According to the 2017 study, issues of city hall included a failing heating, ventilation and air conditioning, or HVAC system, and space issues in both the main part and the annex portion of the building. There also were configuration issues in the police and fire stations and the separation of city departments among multiple buildings throughout Brainerd.

By July of this year, the interior of Brainerd City Hall was nearly complete after offices were remodeled and a new HVAC system was installed. The city also worked on the exterior of the century old building, which includes fixing the front entrance steps. The staircase had several issues including unevenness, a slippery texture and overall aesthetics. The city retained the staircases historic granite look.

City hall went to LED lights, got new windows, a new security system and replaced the roof. There was a setback May 18 when a fire ignited during the lunch hour while contractors were working on the roof. Black smoke and flames billowed from the roof at city hall, as firefighters battled not only the fire but the 36 mph wind gusts.

The fire caused minor water damage on the second and third floor of city hall and light smoke damage throughout the building.

The remodeling project of the police station off East River Road includes:

Constructing a secure, enclosed vestibule entrance and a new intercom.

A secure waiting room near newly designed interview rooms, which will allow for those coming in to give statements to be out of the public eye.

Relocation of the server room to a space with its own HVAC system.

Reconfigured investigator rooms so investigators can have spaces separate from their colleagues while working on cases.

The citys multi-facility remodel project is getting rid of the parks and recreation building in Lum Park and relocating staff. Administrative parks staff will move into the newly remodeled city hall, while maintenance workers will be housed in the street department maintenance garage on Thiesse Road.

Construction has been in full swing ever since the 2018 passing of a $205 million referendum for the school district. Contractors finished working on the remodels at Nisswa and Harrison elementary schools and finished building the new Baxter Elementary School.

Updates to the Brainerd High School continue, including the performing arts center taking shape. Work also continues on reconfiguring the building to house all students under one roof and an eight-lane competition swimming pool.

North campus construction is slated to be completed in the fall of 2021.

Work began this year at Garfield, Lowell and Riverside elementary schools and the groundbreaking for the Early Childhood Family Education center occurred in late September. A new name also was chosen for the center the Warrior Early Learning Center in Baxter.

Brainerd School Board members approved designs for the south campus at Brainerd High School Sept. 28. Construction is set to start in the spring of 2021 and wrap up by fall 2022.

South campus will be transformed into space for special education and transitional programming, while ongoing construction on the north campus will allow for all traditional high school students to be housed there.

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Dispatch Top 10 - No. 10: Construction continues in city and Brainerd schools - Brainerd Dispatch