AJAX BUILDING CORPORATION BREAKS GROUND ON DADE CITY GOVERNMENT COMPLEX
(DADE CITY, FL) – MARCH 6, 2015 — Dade City officially broke ground March 6 on a new Government Complex that will significantly enhance public safety services. Ajax Building Corporation is the construction manager for the $4.7 million 21,00 square-foot facility that will bring consolidated operations to one location in the city’s historic downtown area.
Designed by Wannemacher Jensen Architects, Inc., the new City Hall and Police Department will be joined together by a focal entry canopy that rises above both buildings. It is located on the same site where City Hall once stood, but was torn down because of safety concerns.
Structural brick walls facing public streets will mimic the red brick facades of the surrounding historic buildings. The project is expected to take about a year to complete.
The Government Complex will offer modern facilities that will improve constituent service delivery by consolidating operations — including building permits, code enforcement, and utilities — into one location. City Hall will feature a 190-seat City Commission chamber with a panoramic view of Meridian Avenue.
In addition, the project will include a state-of-the-art police department and emergency operations center with a 911-dispatch room. Designed specifically to address law enforcement demands, the Police Department facility will include a secure sally port and cellblock, hard and soft interview rooms, K-9 exercise area, contemporary forensics and property/evidence area and conference/training rooms.
The groundbreaking program included introductions by City Manager Billy Poe and remarks from Mayor Camille Hernandez, Police Chief Ray Velboom and Ajax President Bill Byrne.