Aerial view of Town Operations Center taken in October 2006.

Town Operations Center

Overview | News & Updates | Key Values | TOC-Related Agenda Items

Overview

The Town Operations Center, the largest capital project in Town government’s history at $52 million, has been completed at Millhouse Road north of Eubanks Road. Location Map The entire lot is 89 acres with the center complex comprising four buildings occupying about 54 acres.

The facility houses the Public Works and Transportation departments, which were required to vacate their former UNC-owned site along Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.

The Town held a groundbreaking ceremony on Oct. 29, 2004, construction was finished in Spring 2007, and Town departments moved into the facility in May and June of 2007.

The Town’s Percent for Art Ordinance set aside an estimated $420,000 for public art. The Public Arts Commission selected Larry Kirkland as the artist for the Town Operations Center. Kirkland is noted for his mastery and skill in using engraved stone, cast bronze, glass, water and light. A graduate of Oregon State University and the University of Kansas, Kirkland is a past recipient of a Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts. He has created numerous public artworks over the past 30 years and is currently designing a garden for the Cranbrook Academy of Art in Michigan.

News & Updates

09/07/2007: TOC Dedication and Grand Opening
08/03/2007: Save the Date: Town Operations Center Dedication
06/29/2007: Chapel Hill Transit Move
05/10/2007: Historic Move to Town Operations Center Scheduled Friday
04/13/2007: Town Operations Center Move Begins
10/23/2006: Town Operations Center Update
05/12/2006: Millhouse Road Construction
10/27/2005: Town to hold groundbreaking for Town Operations Center
10/21/2005: Millhouse Road Widening Project Begins
10/7/2004: Building Program And Overall Budget Revised In Response To Cost Estimates Based On The Detailed Design
07/16/2004: Plans For The Buildings And The Site Layout Revised
02/29/2004: Drawings From The Special Use Permit Application Refined
12/31/2003: Application for Special Use Permit Prepared
11/30/2003: Concept Plan Worked Into Design Drawings
10/31/2003: Town Council Adopted Concept Plans And Preliminary Budgets For The Transportation And Public Works Portions
09/30/2003: Town Council Considered A 15-Year Concept Plan And Preliminary Budget
08/31/2003: Concept Plan And Preliminary Cost Projections Reviewed
06/30/2003: Draft Conceptual Plan Reviewed By Advisory Boards
05/31/2003: Design Workshop Held The Week Of May 19
04/30/2003: Design Refined With The Addition Of Another 13 Acres
03/31/2003: Town Council Reviewed Design Options From 2/17–2/21 Intensive Design Workshop
02/28/2003: Town Council Completed Town Operations Center Design Advisory Committee Appointments
01/31/2003: Town Council Approved A Process And Schedule For Development Of Conceptual Design And Cost Estimate

Key Values

The project will reflect the Council’s key values of sustainability, environmental sensitivity and fiscal prudence.

Sustainable Development

High Performance Guidelines – Triangle ‘J’ Council of Government
Elements include Daylighting, Rainwater Collection, Photovoltaic Systems, Solar Water Heating and Geothermal Mechanical System.

Environmental Sensitivity

Environmental Sensitivity is reflected in the site design, which minimizes clearing and impact on the site’s Resource Conservation Districts (RCD’s).
Stormwater Management is improved by utilizing pervious pavement, wet ponds and bio-retention areas.

Fiscal Prudence

Fiscal Prudence is promoted by the site-specific design, which minimizes grading and balances earthwork. The bids received for the Early Sitework Package verify this.
Building program has been carefully scrutinized to minimize costs while supporting operational needs and the project’s core values.