N. Aurora gets design firm

In North Aurora, another week meant another step forward on its new police station as the village board retained an eminent firm to be its consultant.

On Monday the board approved a $20,000 contract with McClaren, Wilson and Lawrie Inc., the Arizona-based police station design firm the village hired earlier this year for a space-needs analysis.

Over the next few months, the firm will help the village select a qualified architect, including reviewing quotes and accompanying officials at interviews of firms that make the village's short list, Trustee Mark Gaffino said.

Gaffino, who is the chairman of a committee to oversee the project, said having McClaren at the interviews will be particularly valuable because they have worked on many similar projects and know the right questions to ask.

Gaffino said he hopes to have an architect selected sometime early next year.

"The village considers (this firm) the best of the best," Village Administrator Sue McLaughlin said. "McClaren is nationally recognized for its work.

"It's kind of like having the Cadillac of designing a great police station."

She said the firm is working or has worked on several other police stations in the area, including projects in Aurora, Montgomery, Sugar Grove and Oswego.

"We need this expertise to make sure we're complying with proper building requirements," Village President John Hansen said.

Within the past two months, the village has bought land at the northwest corner of Route 31 and Airport Road for the new station. It has also reaffirmed the McClaren space-needs analysis from earlier this year, which recommended the station should be about 30,000 square feet spread over two buildings.

The village has also set a timetable for the project that will see the station open in mid 2010. Hansen said that, so far, the village is ahead of schedule.

Village officials estimate the price tag between $10 and $12 million.