Hall County board authorizes moving ahead with RFP for construction manager at risk for courthouse expansion

Architects from Davis Design updated the board on progress — scanned historic plans, soil borings, security and IT coordination — and reiterated the need to integrate courtroom technology and security into design work. The board discussed procurement options and the possible benefit of a Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) to control cost exposure and provide constructability input during design.

Commissioners debated advantages and downsides: proponents said earlier contractor involvement can yield cost-saving constructability input; skeptics warned the CMAR model can lock in a guaranteed maximum price that could limit flexibility. The board voted to authorize putting together an RFP to solicit CMAR proposals, to appoint a review committee to pre-screen proposals and to ask the architects to assist in preparing the RFP documents. That motion carried on a 5–2 vote.

Why it matters: The board is pursuing a major courthouse expansion estimated in planning documents with an upper placeholder in the meeting roughly described as $40 million; choosing a delivery method and engaging a CMAR will shape costs, risk allocation and the schedule.

Next steps: The review committee and the architects will finalize an RFP and return candidate proposals and a short list for board interviews; the county also discussed potential guaranteed maximum price language and alternatives if bids exceed budget.