Administration Building Abatement and Rebuild
Upon completion of an extensive energy audit with Johnson Controls, Inc. in early 2023, Isabella County prepared to move forward with several of the energy improvements identified in the comprehensive study, including the addition of solar panels to several of its facilities. We were looking at these improvements as a way to save energy costs long term. In anticipation of an HVAC replacement project at the County Administration Building, Isabella County diligently procured the services of an asbestos testing company to ensure asbestos was not present before such facility-disturbing activities occurred in the aged facility. An asbestos survey is a requirement when undertaking renovations and air quality testing was necessary for the safety of our employees and the public.
During this asbestos building material survey the consultant, Quality Environmental Services of Beaverton, discovered damaged asbestos-containing fireproofing above the ceiling tiles on the concrete decking and in three rooms of the building. On October 12, 2023, the county was notified by the asbestos consultant of a possible contamination issue. As a precautionary measure, the Board of Commissioners temporarily closed the building and requested air quality testing.
The decking is all concrete and was sprayed with a fire retardant which contains a high concentration of asbestos. This was a common practice when the building was built in 1972. That sprayed on material, in time, starts to dry out and fall off. It de-laminates. It then falls and lays on top of the drop ceiling tiles. It was also all over the metal studs of all the partition walls. Typically, they would spray the decking before the interior wall studs were built but not in this case.
As is specified in the reports, there were only a couple areas that had an unsafe level of asbestos in the air. These were the mechanical rooms where there was no drop ceiling to catch the material as it fell. Cleaning these areas and leaving the other asbestos where it lay and calling it good would mean that we couldn’t change a ceiling tile or a light bulb or run cabling without disturbing it and creating an abatement issue. To remove the material you have to soak it with water and physically scrape it off.
Quality Environmental Services was the low bidder for the abatement, had the most thorough and professional proposal and came highly recommended by a large local institution that deals with abatement jobs all the time. They did an excellent job. The abatement work has proven to be extensive and has required the removal of the ceiling tiles, ceiling grid, lighting and lighting fixtures, HVAC ductwork, cabling, flooring, all interior studs, and both sides of each interior wall. The result of this work is that we now have a very open and cavernous space, with ample opportunity to rebuild with thoughtful improvements in mind. County Leadership has been diligent in considering wise facility changes in the rebuilding process, although these considerations are tempered by the available budget.
This level of reconstruction means that everything has to be brought up to code including adding fire suppression which is very expensive. We didn’t need this mess right now but we have to have a safe environment for our employees and the public.
The building was constructed in 1972 and houses fifteen essential offices of our county government. The building has been completely evacuated of personnel and equipment and professional asbestos abatement activities are nearly complete. The building has approximately 45,000 square feet of space throughout its three floors.
The estimated $11 million County Administration Building Rebuild Project includes only the necessary components and finishes. Indeed, current plans involve “whiteboxing” an entire floor and utilizing it as storage, rather than increasing project costs to finish the additional square footage. The county is working to keep costs low. The plans do include the replacement of the HVAC system, as originally intended, along with the reuse of some existing equipment with remaining integrity. The HVAC replacement will be much improved from the 1972 pneumatic
system, and it will assuredly offer a much-improved healthier environment for all of the county staff and the visiting public.
To date, we have spent $1,173,434.40 with Quality Environmental Service, Inc. for
asbestos abatement services, and $118,009 with Northern Analytical Services for air quality testing services.
