Special to 1808Delaware, from Delaware County
Construction on the Byxbe Campus officially has begun.
At a dual wall and groundbreaking ceremony last week, the Delaware County Commissioners signaled the start of construction at the Delaware Area Career Center’s former North Campus site. The existing building will be renovated and a new building will be constructed as part of the project.
Named for Moses Byxbe, the early 19th-century settler who helped plan the city of Delaware, the 64-acre Byxbe Campus was purchased by the Commissioners from DACC in 2017 for $1.7 million. It is located at 1610 State Route 521, Delaware.
The existing 140,000-square-foot building, which dates from 1974, will undergo renovation and will house a variety of offices and departments, including: the Delaware County Engineer’s Office, the Regional Sewer District, the county’s Building Safety and Facilities Management departments, the Delaware County Regional Planning Commission, the Delaware Soil & Water Conservation District and OSU Extension. By co-locating these offices in one facility, the county intends to provide a “one-stop shop” for the engineering and development services for homeowners, developers and business owners in Ohio’s fastest growing county. The renovation has an estimated completion date of early summer 2023.
The new building to be constructed, just northwest of the existing building, will be home to the Delaware County Sheriff’s administrative and patrol division offices. The 34,000-square-foot facility is scheduled to be completed in summer 2023.
Architectural work has been done by M+A Architects of Columbus. The Columbus office of Gilbane Building Company will serve as the construction lead. The Gilbane contract cost is $40.7 million.
The Byxbe Campus project is part of a 10-year facilities master plan that was adopted in 2017 by the Commissioners. Consolidating several county departments into one location will help lower operating/maintenance costs and increase efficiencies between departments.
“This week, we are breaking ground the county’s new, consolidated government campus, named after Moses Byxbe, a principal founder of Delaware City and its surrounding county,” said Commissioner Barb Lewis.” Surely, he would be pleased with the careful organization and coordinated services we have designed for the new campus that will bear his name.”
Added County Engineer Chris Bauserman: “As Delaware County grows, so does the responsibilities of county government. The move to this new facility will promote efficiency by meeting our current and long term facility demands. Co-locating with other related offices will be more convenient for our customers and support the quality service that we provide to residents and motorists throughout the county.”
Delaware County Sheriff Russell Martin said, “We’re grateful this Board of Commissioners recognized the necessity to provide a facility that will meet the Sheriff’s Office needs in what has consistently been one of the fastest growing counties for decades.”
Commissioner Gary Merrell said: “Today’s groundbreaking is the culmination of years of planning and preparation. It began with facilities upgrades to meet our fast-paced growth, then continued with opening our new Courthouse in 2017, and selling properties that we no longer need or will need. The final major piece is the Byxbe Campus, as represented by today’s events. We should all be excited, as we continue to plan for the future of our county.”
Commissioner Jeff Benton said: “The Byxbe Campus is a strategic initiative to consolidate our growth-related departments and offices in one convenient central location to provide more efficient service to our residents, businesses and community partners. And we’re adding a long overdue Sheriff’s Administrative Building on the campus, as well. By consolidating in one place, this allows the county to sell scattered locations that will benefit our taxpayers.”
