CDL Training Facility Progressing well at WSCC

Wallace State Community College's new truck driving range for its CDL (Commercial Driver's License) program is taking shape.

Most of the sub-grading is completed, and we anticipate pavement base to begin within days and concrete paving in 2-3 weeks. The project includes a 205' x 325' concrete-paved, lighted training lot and access road, as well as a small building with storage, rest room, and office/conference. The approximate cost of the project is $660,000.

You can learn more about WSCC's CDL program here

NWSCC's New Building Looking Like It Should! (Always a good thing)

The New Cosmetology Building at Northwest-Shoals Community College is taking shape. This photo from Boyett Construction Co. Superintendent Tom Hanks, taken this morning, shows progress... and even better, it actually looks like our renderings.

Ingram State Technical College selects Aho Architects for Renovation and new Multi-purpose Educational Facility

Ingram State Technical College selects Aho Architects for Renovation and a new Multi-purpose Educational Facility

Aho Architects is pleased to begin a relationship with Ingram State Technical College as we provide architectural and engineering services for a new multi-purpose facility at their Draper Campus. Aho Architects will also be designing renovations at ISTC's main campus as part of the same project. We are adept at maneuvering through the procedures and requirements of PSCA-funded projects, and we understand the protocols for successfully working at correctional facilities.

Conceptual model of the Multipurpose Educational Facility for the Draper Campus

Aho Architects sponsors first annual Alabama Facilities Directors & Constructors Conference

Photo by ABC of Alabama, Co-organizer of the Conference

Aho Architects was pleased to be a Platinum Sponsor of the first Alabama Facilities Directors & Constructors Conference which was held September 24 -25, 2014 at the Montgomery Marriott Prattville. Tim Aho and Edmond Miller were in attendance to listen and learn alongside the state’s Facilities Directors and to join the conversation about how to tackle the challenges facing Alabama’s college, university, and K-12 facilities.

Read more about the conference here on ABC Alabama's website

Agenda and Registration Information is here

Feedback on the conference was very positive, and we look forward to a bigger and even better event in 2015.

New Cosmetology Building Started for Northwest-Shoals Community College

Construction has started on a new Cosmetology Building for Northwest-Shoals Community College. Always nice to see projects "coming out of the ground"!

29,749 Homeless Alabama Schoolchildren

Did you know that 29,749 schoolchildren enrolled in Alabama’s public pK-12 schools during the 2012-2013 school year are homeless according to a report released last month by the US Department of Education?

The challenge of living without safe, permanent housing often produces overwhelming emotional, educational, and health obstacles for these children as well as their caregivers and younger siblings.

Since its inception, Aho Architects has passionately served thousands of students and educators through the thoughtful design of numerous educational facilities. We do this because we understand the tremendous impact an education has on an individual’s life. As our firm grows, we desire to expand the positive impact we can effect in this region. For this reason, we are developing a stronger presence in the affordable multi-family housing market. Affordable housing and education often work hand-in-hand to promote well-being and achievement.

One of our firm’s core values is to serve others. Designing safe, comfortable, and aesthetically-pleasing affordable multi-family housing is just another avenue by which we will use our talents and energies to serve.

Alabama Building Commission Fees begin Today

The Alabama Building Commission Collection of Use Fees begins TODAY, October 1, 2014

Administrative Rule 170X-8 Collection of User Fees goes into effect today, October 1, 2014. As mentioned in an earlier Aho blog post, state agencies, K-12 schools, community colleges, universities, and others whose construction projects are reviewed by the Alabama Building Commission, will be required to pay a Plan Review Fee, Permit Fee, and, in some instances, a Contract Administration Fee. The fee schedule is generally figured as a percentage of the construction contract amount.

Additionally, this new rule outlines the procedure for scheduling inspections and some additional requirements for required inspections.

While this added project cost may seem like a burden, we anticipate one of the benefits of this change will be increased responsiveness. As an example, the plan review fee will be refunded to the Owner for reviews not completed within 30 days. Aho Architects supports the adequate and more-sustainable funding of the Building Commission so that it is better equipped to perform its duties.

Please click here for a summary of the new rules. The full text of Administrative Rule 170X-8 is available on the Building Commission’s website at www.bc.alabama.gov.

Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns you may have.

Hoover High School Interior Design Class Visits Aho Architects

The Interior Design class of Hoover High School recently visited Aho Architects' office to learn more about the professional side of interior design.

April Cain, Vice President and Interior Designer shared examples of the firm's real-world projects; demonstrated professional software for design, visualization, and cost-estimating; and gave the students an overview of pursuing a college degree in interiors and joining the workforce.

After the presentation, students spent time touring the office and speaking with other members of our staff to learn more about interior design, architecture, and what it is like to work in a firm.

We enjoyed hosting them, and welcome opportunities such as this to contribute to our community, our local schools, and the future of the design profession.

Alabama Building Commission May Begin Charging Review/Permit Fees - issuing for public comment

Proposed rules may affect many of our Alabama Public Education and State Agency Clients

Yesterday afternoon, the Alabama Building Commission (BC) approved a resolution allowing them to charge user fees including a plan review fee, permit fee, and some additional fees such as a contract document administration fee. It is our understanding that while the BC has had the authority to charge fees (Code of AL §41-9-141 (a) (8)) for years, budget shortfalls have now led it to propose doing so. We believe adequate funding is important to keep the Building Commission running. If the funding mechanism shifts to charge each project, you need to be aware of that. This isn’t unprecedented though; our healthcare clients, for example, pay plan review fees to the AL Dept. of Public Health.

Please click here for a copy of the proposed rules. The fees are calculated based on a tiered value of the construction cost and will increase in proportion to the project’s costs. The contract document administration fee is 1/2% of construction cost. For example, a $2,000,000 locally-funded K-12 project would be subject to a $2,330 plan review fee and a $4,660 permit fee ($6,990 total). If the project in the example above is PSCA-funded or a community college project, where the BC is required to administer the contract documents, then the contract document administration fee would be $10,000 (total of all three applicable fees = $16,990). As you can see, these fees add-up and need to be factored into project cost budgets. As an aside, these fees are doubled if the work starts without BC approval, so be careful to follow proper procedures (it is our job to help you do that).

The proposal (please see attachment) will now be issued for public comment. Once comments are received, the Commission will have to meet again to grant final approval of the fees and process. We do however anticipate this change is going to happen. Provided the user fees are ultimately approved, they will most likely take effect for projects beginning the process on or after October 1, 2014.

Aho Architects tries to stay as current as we can on developments like this which affect our clients. We will continue to monitor this and do what we can to help you comply with- and budget for- these added costs. I hope you’ll consider us your trusted advisors.

Please do not hesitate to let us know if you have any questions or need anything else.

Aho Architects, LLC | info@ahoarch.com | (205) 983-6000

Alabama Fire College's Project Out to Bid

Aho Architects has completed the design of a new Building and renovations to the existing space of the Alabama Fire College and Personnel Standards Commission. This project will be bidding in the next few weeks (General Contractors have already been pre-qualified to bid on it). For information on the bid process for this project, please contact our office.