North Aurora hires architect for police station

Constructing a new North Aurora police facility took another step forward this week when the village board approved what could be more than $600,000 for an architect.

By unanimous vote Monday, the board hired Wold Architects and Engineers of Palatine. Wold representative Roger Schroepfer said the contract will pay his firm 6.1 percent of the building's cost for the facility at the northwest corner of Airport Road and Route 31.

The village estimates the cost of the facility will be between $10 million and $12 million, and village officials said the new station is on schedule to be complete in the summer of 2010.

Wold, which only builds public facilities, was recommended by the village's police facilities commission, and contract negotiations took about three weeks, Schroepfer said.

Village staff members toured neighboring police facilities and interviewed architects of those buildings before settling on Wold.

Trustee Mark Gaffino said Wold's work on the Woodstock police facility impressed him and helped the company gain the recommendation of the commission. Wold, Gaffino said, was the commission's first choice of four design firm finalists.

In addition to the Woodstock facility, Wold designed the sheriff's facility in LaSalle, Ill., and several other law enforcement facilities in Minnesota, Schroepfer said.

Schroepfer said he envisioned a North Aurora project involving considerable feedback staff and trustees that will produce a building that is functional and a source of community pride.

Schroepfer said an initial schematic plan could be ready in two to three months and a final plan in 10 months. Work will start immediately on the designs, he said.

"I'm encouraged at the speed we're going," Village President John Hansen said.