Proposals for Cape's new police station narrowed to two

The city of Cape Girardeau narrowed its list of design-build proposals for a new police station in Arena Park to two: Penzel-Holland and Kiefner-Chiodini.

"They were the most qualified out of the four," project manager Anna Kangas said. "The qualifications we were looking at were experience on police station projects and experience as a design-build team."

Kiefner Brothers Inc is the only company involved based in Cape Girardeau. Part of its portfolio is the Cape Girardeau County Jail and large buildings for both hospitals in town, including the Heart Hospital and Cancer Institute for Saint Francis Medical Center that is being constructed.

Kiefner's partner, Chiodini Architects of St. Louis, has experience on police stations in the St. Louis area for Maryland Heights and Bridgeton, which are similar in size to Cape Girardeau.

Kangas said the city has not changed its proposed budget for the project of $11 million. Kiefner and Chiodini's proposal provides a cost estimate -- $256 per square foot for administrative space, $277 per square foot for municipal court and $315 per square foot for the jail. Kangas said the Kiefner-Chiodini proposal does not give an exact square-footage estimate as a part of the cost proposal, but states the project can be completed for less than $11 million.

Penzel Construction Co. Inc. of Jackson, Holland Construction Inc. of Swansea, Illinois, and FGM Architects of O'Fallon, Illinois, form the core of the other design-build team. FGM created the preliminary plans for the project. They presented four options for the new police station that include demolishing the former Naval Reserve Center and renovating it with a smaller final facility. Two of those options were under the $11 million budget.

Penzel was part of the team that built the federal courthouse in Cape Girardeau. Holland worked on the Public Safety and Fire Department buildings in O'Fallon, Illinois. FGM designed police stations in Franklin, Skokie, Hoffman Estates, Elk Grove and Orland Park, all in Illinois.

Kangas said asbestos remediation is underway in the former Naval Reserve Center, and the $33,590 cost associated with it eventually should become the responsibility of the chosen design-build team.

The Cape Girardeau building and inspection department is planning to make a recommendation on the final design-build proposal and take public input before the city council meeting March 7.

bkleine@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3644

Pertinent address:

2520 Maria Louise lane, Cape Girardeau, Mo.