Matters ▸ Attachment
Updated SomervilleMasterPlan_Report — File 207342
1895 Building
City Hall
Edgerly School
Cummings School
Departmental Relocation Strategy
and Implementation Plan
Prepared for:
City of Somerville, MA
Prepared By:
Kleinfelder Northeast, Inc
January 2019
Final Report
Submitted January 10, 2019
Revised January 22, 2019
City of Somerville
Departmental Relocation Strategy and Implementation Plan
January 7, 2019
DEPARTMENTAL RELOCATION STRATEGY AND IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
FINAL REPORT
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
x
Executive Summary .............................................................................. 1
x
Introduction
x
Project Overview ............................................................................ 5
x
Master Plan Working Group ............................................................ 5
x
Documents Reviewed ..................................................................... 6
x
Department Interviews
x
Interview Process ........................................................................... 7
x
Department Staff Interviewed .......................................................... 7
x
Interview Questions ........................................................................ 8
x
Summary of Findings from Interviews .............................................. 9
x
Existing Conditions
x
City Hall....................................................................................... 38
x
1895 Building ............................................................................... 43
x
Edgerly School ............................................................................ 46
x
Cummings School ........................................................................ 49
x
City Hall Annex ............................................................................ 52
x
Recreation Building ...................................................................... 54
x
Departmental Relocation Strategy Options
x
General ....................................................................................... 56
x
Option A ...................................................................................... 57
x
Option B ...................................................................................... 65
x
Option D ...................................................................................... 72
x
Preliminary Financial Comparison .................................................... .. 78
x
Recommended Strategy and Implementation Plan
x
Recommended Strategy ............................................................... 81
x
Implementation Plan ................................................................... 81
APPENDICES (Separate Volume)
A – Department Head Interviews
B – Program Analysis Data
C – Master Plan Working Group Meeting Minutes
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I.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City of Somerville is investigating ways to relocate City and School departments in an effort
to improve the constituent experience, increase the efficiency of services, and reduce operating
costs.
The City conducted similar planning exercises on several occasions in the past but, for a variety
of reasons, did not move forward with the recommendations from these plans. A key difference
with this plan is the opportunity presented by the 1895 Building, which will be vacant at the
conclusion of the Somerville High School project and allows for consolidation of City and School
services around City Hall and the high school. Recognizing this pivotal opportunity, the Capital
Projects and Planning Department engaged a planning consultant to prepare this Departmental
Relocation Strategy and Implementation Plan and assembled a Master Plan Working Group to
assist with the considerable analyses and evaluations that a plan of this significance requires.
The Master Plan Working Group had 12 members, representing the Board of Aldermen, School
Committee, Somerville Public Schools Administration, and the City’s Capital Projects and
Planning, Inspectional Services, Planning & Zoning, and SomerStat departments.
This report summarizes the Departmental Relocation Strategy and Implementation Plan
developed by Kleinfelder in close coordination with the Master Plan Working Group. This report
presents the following:
x
Process used to develop the plan.
x
Findings of detailed interviews with 35 department heads to understand the mission,
vision, and long-term plan for their department. This includes:
o Services currently provided and services that the department would like to provide,
o Administrative and operational issues affecting the delivery of services,
o Operational considerations such as the diverse needs for equipment and
document storage, accessibility, and varying levels of privacy, conference, or
collaboration areas required to conduct department business,
o Intra- and inter-departmental relationships and ideal department adjacencies,
o Locations of current offices and number of staff in the department,
o Space, information technology, and emergency power needs,
o Trends that may affect future administration, operation, and delivery of services.
x
Evaluation of current department location.
x
Existing conditions of the buildings included in this study.
x
Evaluation of current department layouts, goals, recommended layouts, and phasing. This
thorough evaluation consisted of approximately 56 floorplan analyses and conceptual
drawings reviewed over the course of 14 meetings with the Master Plan Working Group
over a period of 15 months, as well as input from the Mayor and other key stakeholders.
x
Three departmental relocation strategy options, along with associated key benefits and
drawbacks as well as a preliminary financial comparison.1
x
A recommended option and supporting information for its successful implementation.
1 The Working Group discussed an additional option, but it was ultimately folded into another option and is
therefore not used in this final report.
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Each of the three strategy options achieves a number of significant improvements compared to
the status quo, including but not limited to:
x
Consolidation and beneficial co-location of more City services on the Central Hill Campus
(which includes City Hall, the High School, and the Central Library) and more School
services in the Edgerly, creating more synergies between departments and a better
constituent experience.
x
Relocation of the Parks & Recreation Department from its current non-accessible building
without usable recreation facilities into the Edgerly, allowing the Department to not only
more efficiently use the recreation space at that building but also to develop greater
synergies with the School Department.
x
Relocation of all departments currently in the Recreation Building and the City Hall Annex,
eliminating the need to expend capital funds to renovate and modernize these buildings
and providing the City with the ability to explore other opportunities for these properties
through future discussions with the community.
x
Relocation of the Somerville Center for Adult Learning Experiences (SCALE), Community
Schools, and the Council on Aging from the Tufts Administration Building (TAB) at 167
Holland Street to new spaces in City-owned buildings, saving the City over $260,000 per
year in lease payments to Tufts.
Based on the results of the in-depth evaluation process and input provided by the Master Plan
Working Group, Option D, summarized in Table 1 below and shown in detail in Figures 20 to 22,
is the recommended strategy for the City. In addition to the benefits noted above, this option
expands the educational experience on Central Hill by relocating SCALE, the City’s adult
education program, to the 1895 Building. It also relocates all departments currently in the
Cummings building, creating an additional property for which other opportunities can be explored
in discussion with the community. A high-level estimate of the costs associated with this option is
$71 million; for reference, a high-level estimate of maintaining the status quo is $46 million. Should
the City, in discussions with the community, choose to sell the three properties that will be vacated
through the relocations called for in Option D, the net cost of implementing this option is estimated
to be $60 million.
It should be noted that there is important work for the City to carry out to see this plan become a
reality. For example, the layouts provided in this document are conceptual; the City must
undertake a full design process for each of the buildings to implement the relocations called for
in this document. Furthermore, while this plan is comprehensive, it is not exhaustive. It does not
examine parking capacity in depth, for example, nor does it evaluate the future of the Department
of Public Works building in detail, both of which will require additional attention and resources.
The future of the City-owned property at 45 College Avenue, the location identified in this report
for the Council on Aging, will also require additional planning, which the City intends to initiate
with a community process in 2019.
The work summarized here is nonetheless a significant achievement for the City: it establishes a
realistic plan with support from a diverse set of stakeholders for improving the constituent
experience, increasing the efficiency of services, and reducing operating costs through
departmental relocations. If the implementation plan outlined in Table 7 is followed, the plan –
including major construction efforts at the 1895 Building, City Hall, and the Edgerly – can be fully
implemented by the end of 2025.
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Table 1 – Departmental Relocation Strategy – Option D
Proposed Building
Department
Proposed
Square Feet
City Hall
Communications and Community Engagement
1,795
Elections
1,035
Personnel-Payroll
300
Finance Department - Purchasing
680
Finance Department - Grants Development
305
Finance Department - Auditing
1,220
Finance Department - Treasury
1,045
Finance Department - Assessing
1,285
City Clerk
960
SomerStat
456
Mayor/Executive Administration
1,400
Board of Alderman
2,254
Law Office
1,045
Shared Conference Rooms (4)
855
1895 Building
Information Technology
1,539
Health and Human Services
2,900
Veterans’ Services
1,250
Voting Machine Storage
400
Personnel
1,575
Somerville Center for Adult Learning Experiences
(SCALE)
13,445
SCALE English Language Learning
1,251
Office of Strategic Planning and Community
Development (OSPCD)
6,017
OSPCD - Housing Division
1,918
OSPCD - Office of Housing Stability (OHS)
815
Office of Sustainability and Environment (OSE)
520
Shared Conference Rooms (6)
2,215
Unallocated space
840
Edgerly School
School Administration
9,885
English Language Learners (ELL)
2,235
Afterschool Programs/Community Schools
1,415
Special Education
9,960
Parks and Recreation
2,309
Somerville Family Learning Collaborative (SFLC)
3,449
Parent Information Center (PIC)
6,762
Clothing Drive
904
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Proposed Building
Department
Proposed
Square Feet
Extended Learning Program (ELP) Classroom
1,415
Arts Council
1,415
Swing Space - Classrooms (6)
5,518
Shared Conference Rooms (3)
2,240
Unallocated space
8,495
Leased Space
Inspectional Services Department (ISD)
6,297
New Public Safety
Building
Constituent Services
1,635
45 College Avenue
Council on Aging
TBD
42 Cross Street
City Clerk - Archives
3,100
DPW/Franey Rd
DPW
4,500
Capital Projects
1,500
Engineering
2,000
Water & Sewer
1,700
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II.
INTRODUCTION
Project Overview
The City of Somerville is investigating ways to relocate City and School departments in an effort
to improve the constituent experience, increase the efficiency of services, and reduce operating
costs. Kleinfelder was retained to perform consolidation planning and program analysis to assist
the City in identifying possible consolidation strategies. Work associated with this project was
divided into two phases.
Phase 1 of this study was to review past consolidation studies and facility master plans, and to
interview City department heads. The focus of the interviews was to identify and understand:
x Mission and long-range visions for each department
x Services currently being provided, and services that the department would like to provide
x Current administrative and operational issues impacting the delivery of services
x Intra- and inter-departmental relationships
x Locations of current offices and department staff
x Trends that will affect future administration, operation, delivery of services, space and
storage requirements, and Information Technology (IT) needs
x Staffing requirements needed to support current and future department objectives.
Phase 2 of the study was to develop a Departmental Relocation Strategy and Implementation
Plan to explore relocating departments from City Hall, the Department of Public Works (DPW)
Building, the City Hall Annex, the Recreation Building, the Cummings Building, and the Tufts
Administration Building (TAB) to existing City-owned buildings.
This report summarizes the Departmental Relocation Strategy and Implementation Plan, its
findings and recommendations, and a recommended strategy for implementation.
Master Plan Working Group
The City established a Master Plan Working Group to assist Kleinfelder in evaluating
departmental programs and operating and space needs and to help develop recommendations
for relocation and implementation strategies. The Working Group met eleven times from August
2017 through April 2018. The constructive observations and critiques of the Working Group were
invaluable to the success of the project.
The Working Group members were:
x
Robert Cassano – Project Manager, Capital Projects and Planning
x
Jeff Curley – Chief of Staff, Somerville Public Schools
x
Robert King – Director, Capital Projects and Planning
x
Alex Lessin – Principal Analyst, SomerStat
x
Michael Mastrobuoni – Budget Manager, SomerStat
x
Emily Monea – Director, SomerStat
x
Mark Niedergang – Ward 5 Alderman
x
Laura Pitone – Ward 5 School Committee Member
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x
George Proakis – Director, Planning & Zoning, Office of Strategic Planning and
Community Development (OSPCD)
x
Chris Rais – Preventive Maintenance Manager, Capital Projects and Planning
x
Mary Skipper – Superintendent, Somerville Public Schools
x
Goran Smiljic – Director, Inspectional Services Department
Documents Reviewed
To get an overview of previous departmental planning efforts and the priority of issues regarding
the usage, relationships, and goals for City facilities and departments, Kleinfelder reviewed the
following consolidation studies and facilities master plans prepared for the City of Somerville:
1. Municipal Property Comprehensive Consolidation Plan, prepared by HMFH Architects,
2007
2. Somerville Facilities Master Plan Final Report prepared by The Cecil Group, Inc., 2011
3. Draft Existing Conditions Report, Somerville City Hall, prepared by CDR/Maguire, 2014
4. Department of Public Works Space Needs Report, prepared by Weston & Sampson, 2016
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III.
DEPARTMENT INTERVIEWS
Interview Process
Kleinfelder developed questions for each department interview as a means of analyzing
department missions and long-range visions, current services and intended future services,
administrative and operational issues affecting the delivery of services, intra- and inter-
departmental relationships, locations of current offices and department staff, and trends that will
affect future administrative, operations, delivery of services, space requirements, number of
personnel, and Information Technology (IT) needs.
In addition to interviews, we observed the current operation of each department and reviewed the
existing department organization chart. Finally, we considered the image and customer-
friendliness of each department from a constituent’s perspective.
Ultimately, Kleinfelder used the information gathered from the interviews and prior documents to
develop conceptual program plans to improve operational efficiencies and inter- and intra-
departmental relationships.
Department Staff Interviewed
Department heads and select staff from the following City and School departments were
interviewed:
City Departments2:
x
Arts Council
x
Capital Projects and Planning, which includes:
o Engineering
x
City Clerk, which includes:
o Archives
x
Department of Public Works (DPW)
x
Elections
x
Finance Department, which includes:
o Assessing
o Auditing
o Grants Development
o Purchasing
o Treasury
x
Health & Human Services (HHS), which includes:
o Council on Aging
o Veterans’ Services
x
Information Technology (IT)
x
Inspectional Services Department (ISD)
x
Law
2 Divisions that operate in separate physical spaces are specifically noted here.
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x
Libraries
x
Mayor’s Office / Executive Administration
x
Communications & Community Engagement, which includes:
o Constituent Services
x
Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development (OSPCD), which includes:
o Housing Division
o Office of Housing Stability (OHS)
x
Office of Sustainability & Environment (OSE)
x
Parks and Recreation
x
Personnel, which includes:
o Payroll
x
Retirement Board
x
SomerStat
x
Traffic & Parking
x
Water & Sewer
Somerville Public Schools Departments and Programs:
x
Community Schools
x
Early Childhood Services
x
Parent Information Center (PIC)
x
School Administration
x
Somerville Center for Adult Learning Experiences (SCALE)
x
Somerville Family Learning Collaborative (SFLC)
The Police and Fire Departments were not interviewed because their facilities are generally
independent of other City and School departments and, with minor exceptions, do not house
unrelated departments.
Interview Questions
The following questions formed the basis of all department interviews. See Appendix A for a
summary of the interviews.
1. What is your department’s mission and long-range vision?
2. How is your department organized? Does the City Organizational Chart reflect how your
department actually works and is set up?
3. What does your department do on a daily basis? What services do you provide? Are there
services that you would like to provide? What limits the expansion of your services -
funding, staffing, or physical space?
4. Who do you serve in the city, government or city constituents?
5. Are there administrative or operational issues that affect the delivery of services that you
provide?
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6. Which departments in the city do you work with on a daily basis? On an occasional basis?
Which department(s) would you like to have close to your department?
7. Is your department located in one location or multiple locations? Do the locations reflect
operational needs efficiently or are the locations and sizes of facilities random?
8. How many people are in your department? Is this number anticipated to change in the
future?
9. Do you have enclosed offices? What are their sizes?
10. Do you have a “cubicle” type of work space? How many desks? What is the average size
of a cubicle? What are the “components” of a standard work space (desk, files, table,
chairs, etc.)?
11. Are privacy and noise control a major concern?
12. Are visual connections between staff members important to the function of your
department?
13. Do you have your own department conference room, or do you share conference rooms
with other departments? How many people are generally in a conference?
14. Do you meet with constituents routinely? Do you provide a waiting room? If so, how many
constituents might this waiting area need to seat?
15. Do you have a receptionist?
16. What types of documents do you deal with to provide your services?
17. How are these documents filed? Paper? Electronically?
18. If filed by paper, what are the size and number of filing cabinets/plan files? Is this method
of filing evolving to electronic format? Are “archival” documents required on site?
19. What special equipment or physical environment does your department require?
Audio/Visual? Trucks? Vans? How are these stored and maintained?
20. What possible changes to the operation or mission of your department do you see in the
future? Would these changes impact the staffing or physical requirements of the
department?
21. In an emergency, would the relationships to other city departments change dramatically?
22. Is your department an “essential” service in times of crisis?
Summary of Findings from Interviews
In general, most departments appear to be in spaces that are 10 to 20 percent too small for their
programmatic and functional needs, although a number of departments are in significantly tighter
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spaces. Most staff work spaces are below current office standards, even when viewed from
current downsizing trends away from private offices and cubicles. The legal or operational need
to keep records on-site adds to the complexity of space planning and often detracts from the
efficient use of space within many departments. In some cases, periodic archiving of these
materials would significantly improve the functional appearance of a department and would
contribute to a more efficient work environment. Throughout our interviews and observations, we
were repeatedly impressed by the staff’s intent to “make it work.” However, in some
circumstances, these compromises reduce the staff’s ability to function effectively or to efficiently
deliver program goals. Most departments do not have centralized, organized storage, resulting in
space inefficiencies and disruption to the functionality of a work environment. As departments are
relocated and buildings are renovated, this issue should be seriously considered during planning.
In all of our departmental interviews at City Hall, the lack of available conference rooms was
universally seen as an issue that impacted the efficient delivery of services. For some
departments, a shared conference room located in other parts of the facility would suffice. For
others, a conference room that offers privacy would allow a constituent or staff member to go from
a public environment to a private environment that is both acoustically and visually separated
from public areas for the discussion of privileged or confidential information. Assessing, Health
and Human Services, Personnel, Treasury, Law, Constituent Services, OSPCD, Retirement
Board and Veterans’ Services are departments that would benefit from the addition of a small,
dedicated conference room within their department.
Many departments within City Hall use a table in the department director’s office for conferences
ranging from three to six people. If the director is not actively involved in the meeting, he/she has
the choice to either leave the room during the meeting or continue their work activities. In many
instances, this shared use of space produces an inefficient situation. The addition of several small
conference rooms, shared by the departments located within City Hall, would be a significant
improvement. Unfortunately, with the existing space demands in City Hall, there are no locations
available to add conference areas without creating space by relocating departments or
constructing additions to the building.
The following is a summary of observations regarding the physical program areas required for
present and near-term future department needs, ideal adjacencies with other departments, or the
potential for physical relocation of the department. At the end of each departmental summary is
a table that provides the existing conditions and needs for each department based on data
gathered from the interviews. Kleinfelder also developed a rating for the functionality of each
department based on existing conditions and input from the interviews. The rating is provided for
context based on our professional judgement as planners and architects and ranges from 1 (very
poor) to 5 (excellent). Key deficiencies identified during the evaluations are listed below the rating.
The discussion is organized by the building in which the department, division, or program is
located.
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CITY HALL (93 HIGHLAND AVENUE):
Mayor’s Office/Executive Administration:
The Mayor’s office suite
appears adequate for most
day-to-day operations. The
Mayor’s staff would benefit
from a small conference
room, separate from the
Mayor’s
office,
for
meetings not requiring the
Mayor’s
presence.
An
identified near-term need is
to add an office for the
Legislative Liaison, which
would add approximately
150 square feet to the
needs of this department. Cubicle space for interns would also be valuable. The office could use
a flexible wall system to create new spaces within the constraints of the current offices. During
emergency situations, the ability of the Mayor’s Office to function as a control center is diminished
because City Hall does not have immediate emergency/standby power and communications are
typically interrupted until a mobile generator is brought to the site. Executive Administration should
remain in City Hall.
Department
Current
Building
Existing
Square
Feet
Anticipated
Additional
Storage Need
(Square Feet)
Anticipated
Conference
Room Need
(Square Feet)
Current
Staff
(Anticipated
Growth)
Recommended
Square Feet
Executive
Administration
City Hall
1,247
150
[Dedicated]
150
6
(None)
1,747
Ideal Adjacencies
1.
Law Offices
2.
Communications
3.
SomerStat
4.
Personnel
5.
OSPCD
x
Existing Office Functionality Rating (Scale 1-5): 3.5
x
Deficiencies:
o No Legislative Liaison office
o Lack of staff conference room
o Lack of readily available emergency power
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SomerStat:
SomerStat works closely with all departments and directly with the Mayor’s Office to analyze and
enhance departmental performance. The current space is cramped and an additional 100 to 150
square feet of area is required. Shared usage of conference space is acceptable. This
department should stay adjacent to the Mayor’s Office in City Hall.
Department
Current
Building
Existing
Square
Feet
Anticipated
Additional
Storage Need
(Square Feet)
Anticipated
Conference
Room Need
(Square Feet)
Current
Staff
(Anticipated
Growth)
Recommended
Square Feet
SomerStat
City Hall
356
0
100
[Shared]
6
(None)
506
Ideal Adjacencies
1.
Executive Administration
x
Existing Office Functionality Rating (Scale1-5): 2.5
x
Deficiencies:
o Inadequate staff work space
o Limited availability of shared conference rooms
Communications and Community Engagement:
Currently located on two floors (basement and second floor), the Communications and
Community Engagement Department (Communications) balances their multi-faceted mission in
physically difficult spaces. The Public Information Team needs to be near the Mayor’s office but
does so by operating from a shared desk for three staff members. This space should be a
minimum of 300 square feet. The Director of Communications does not have an enclosed office.
For planning purposes, an enclosed office of 150 square feet is recommended for the Director.
Staff interns are often required to share desks. This strategy is acceptable but compromises
efficiency.
SomerViva, the Language Liaisons group, located in the basement, requires acoustic privacy
and private meeting space for their walk-in clients. Many of their conversations with constituents
are extremely personal and require a reassuring environment for individuals that have English
language difficulties. These conversations now occur in public spaces. The Language Liaisons
Group could be located outside of City Hall and does not need to be located with the rest of the
Communications Department, which should remain in City Hall.
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Department
Current
Building
Existing
Square
Feet
Anticipated
Additional
Storage
Need
(Square Feet)
Anticipated
Conference
Room Need
(Square
Feet)
Current Staff
(Anticipated
Growth)
Recommended
Square Feet
Communi-
cations
City Hall
958
0
200
[Shared]
13
(+3)
1,408
Ideal Adjacencies
1.
Executive Administration
2.
Parent Information Center
3.
Constituent Services
x
Existing Office Functionality Rating (Scale 1-5): 2
x
Deficiencies:
o Lack of Director’s office
o Inadequate staff space
o Staff on multiple floors
Communications and Community Engagement – Constituent Services:
For many citizens, the 311 service center is the voice of City Hall. When someone visits City Hall,
the first face they see is the Welcome Desk staff person by the front door. Both functions are very
important to the sense of connection between the government and the people. However, the
space that this department (primarily the call center) occupies creates challenges for the efficient
delivery of services. Constituent Services shares some of its space with SomerViva, so private
conversations often occur over the heads of staff members from unrelated departments. There
is also no room to expand the space for the desired addition of two more call operators. Acoustical
control is needed between operators at the phone center, and there is no emergency back-up in
place for the 311 systems in the event of a power outage.
We suggest that the call-center functions of this department be relocated to a larger, separate
space, preferably outside of City Hall, with emergency back-up infrastructure. The inclusion of a
call-center training area is important. Program area should be increased 300 to 400 square feet
for this department for future planning.
The Welcome Desk program function, which provides directions and answers questions, serves
over 100 people a day. This function should remain in City Hall. When the nature of a citizen’s
need is sensitive, discussion in a public hallway is not ideal. A more private means of handling
sensitive situations should be established to better address citizen needs.
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Department
Current
Building
Existing
Square
Feet
Anticipated
Additional
Storage Need
(Square Feet)
Anticipated
Conference
Room Need
(Square Feet)
Current
Staff
(Anticipated
Growth)
Recommended
Square Feet
Constituent
Services
City Hall
529
0
250
[Dedicated]
12
(+2)
929
Ideal Adjacencies
1. Communications
2.
Executive Administration
•
Existing Office Functionality Rating (Scale 1-5): 2
•
Deficiencies:
o Limited program space limits desired staff expansion
o Limited acoustical privacy between call operators
o No training rooms
o No readily available emergency power
Law:
As in most of the offices in City Hall, the Law Office has inadequate work space. There are three
primary space needs in this department: the addition of a small conference room; an increase in
the size of staff attorney offices for acoustic privacy; and a general increase to administrative
space to allow for visitor seating and additional filing and work spaces. This additional program
space is in the order of 300 square feet. This department should remain in City Hall.
Department
Current
Building
Existing
Square
Feet
Anticipated
Additional
Storage Need
(Square Feet)
Anticipated
Conference
Room Need
(Square Feet)
Current
Staff
(Anticipated
Growth)
Recommended
Square Feet
Law Office
City Hall
769
0
150
[Dedicated]
7*
(None)
1,069
Ideal Adjacencies
1. Executive Administration
2.
Personnel
*Excludes staff partially funded by the Law Office who sit in other departments.
•
Existing Office Functionality Rating (Scale 1-5): 2
•
Deficiencies:
o Lack of a dedicated conference room
o Lack of acoustical privacy between staff attorneys’ work stations
o Limited waiting area for constituents
o Lack of adequate on-site vertical filing
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City of Somerville
Departmental Relocation Strategy and Implementation Plan
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January 7, 2019
Information Technology (IT):
The IT space is inadequate. An urgent need for the IT Department is emergency power for the
City’s servers. As presently configured, all City communications originate through the IT
Department. When power to City Hall is interrupted, all incoming and outgoing communication is
disrupted. This should be resolved immediately. The program area should be increased by
approximately 300 square feet to improve the ability to maintain the City’s computer and
communication systems.
The IT Department could be relocated to a facility outside of City Hall without impacting the
functionality of this department’s relationship with other departments. Relocation challenges
include the need to be close to existing fiber connections to minimize cutting and splicing to the
new location. Also, a satellite IT group member could be stationed at City Hall to assist with any
hardware and software needs within the building.
Department
Current
Building
Existing
Square
Feet
Anticipated
Additional
Storage Need
(Square Feet)
Anticipated
Conference
Room Need
(Square Feet)
Current
Staff
(Anticipated
Growth)
Recommended
Square Feet
Information
Technology
City Hall
1,016
300
200
[Shared]
9
(+1)
1,316
Ideal Adjacencies
1. Accessible location to all departments
•
Existing Office Functionality Rating (Scale 1-5): 2.5
•
Deficiencies:
o Lack of direct connection to emergency power
o No secure work area for computer storage and repair
o Work stations are small due in part to the physical constraints of the existing structure
o Computer server rooms have limited acoustical shielding from mechanical equipment
fan noise, which causes periodic disruptions
Personnel:
The current program space is not large enough to fulfill the need for one additional staff member.
The department lacks private spaces to conduct personal interviews and review processes.
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and benefit discussions often require a segregated area
for confidential discussions with City employees. The department’s program area should be
increased by about 300 square feet to accommodate these requirements.
It may be beneficial to relocate the Personnel Department to a facility outside of City Hall, which
would increase privacy for staff. However, it should remain relatively close to City Hall. If the
department is relocated, the Payroll staff should remain located at City Hall since they work
closely with the Finance Department.
January 10, 2019
City of Somerville
Departmental Relocation Strategy and Implementation Plan
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January 7, 2019
Department
Current
Building
Existing
Square
Feet
Anticipated
Additional
Storage Need
(Square Feet)
Anticipated
Conference
Room Need
(Square Feet)
Current
Staff
(Anticipated
Growth)
Recommended
Square Feet
Personnel
City Hall
1,304
300*
0
150
[Dedicated]
13**
(+1)
1,640
Ideal Adjacencies
1. Accessible Location to all Departments
2. Law Office
3.
Executive Administration
* Personnel Payroll Square Footage.
**Includes three staff members who are on the Personnel Payroll staff.
•
Existing Office Functionality Rating (Scale 1-5): 2
•
Deficiencies:
o Lack of private conference room for staff interviews and reviews
o Insufficient program area to add additional staff
o Highly visible location may inhibit staff from coming in to discuss private issues
Finance Department - Assessing:
The Assessing Division does not have a private area for constituents to discuss real estate
issues, some of which are personal and sensitive. Currently, these issues are discussed at the
counter or in the Director’s office. Noise between adjacent desks is an issue when discussing
private matters with constituents. Lifetime storage of many of the legal documents is required by
law. The maintenance of these documents and their ready retrieval is essential to the function of
the department. As the condominium form of property ownership increases in Somerville, the
number of files is projected to increase significantly. For planning purposes, an increase in
program area of approximately 350 square feet should be assumed. The Assessing Division
should remain at City Hall.
Department
Current
Building
Existing
Square
Feet
Anticipated
Additional
Storage Need
(Square Feet)
Anticipated
Conference
Room Need
(Square Feet)
Current
Staff
(Anticipated
Growth)
Recommended
Square Feet
Assessing
City Hall
971
150
200
[Shared]
10
(None)
1,321
Ideal Adjacencies
1. Treasury
2.
Auditing
•
Existing Office Functionality Rating (Scale 1-5): 3
•
Deficiencies:
o Lack of a conference room for private discussion with constituents
o Lack of acoustical privacy between work stations
o Inadequate vertical filing space for required on-site document storage
January 10, 2019
City of Somerville
Departmental Relocation Strategy and Implementation Plan
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January 7, 2019
Finance Department - Auditing:
Departmental spaces are tight and require circulation through public hallways to get from one
departmental area to the next. Work stations are small. Department members expressed the
need to reduce acoustical disruption as a major requirement. There is a need for additional file
space or more frequent archiving (file boxes are currently stacked in circulation areas and at work
stations). The department requires a conference room suitable for twelve people. The conference
room could be a shared room with other departments. The Auditing Division should remain at
City Hall.
Department
Current
Building
Existing
Square
Feet
Anticipated
Additional
Storage Need
(Square Feet)
Anticipated
Conference
Room Need
(Square Feet)
Current
Staff
(Anticipated
Growth)
Recommended
Square Feet
Auditing
City Hall
1,109
0
200
[Shared]
11
(None)
1,859
Ideal Adjacencies
1. Treasury
2. Assessing
3.
Purchasing
•
Existing Office Functionality Rating (Scale 1-5): 2
•
Deficiencies:
o Extremely cramped, narrow circulation aisles
o Undersized work stations
o Limited archival filing space
o General feeling of clutter
Finance Department - Purchasing:
The departmental program area is adequate. Lack of filing space forces banker’s boxes to be
stored in some work spaces. Custom work stations from an earlier renovation generally work well
and make good use of the existing wall configurations. Department members expressed the need
for a shared conference room suitable for 10 to 12 people. The Purchasing Division should
remain at City Hall.
Department
Current
Building
Existing
Square
Feet
Anticipated
Additional
Storage Need
(Square Feet)
Anticipated
Conference
Room Need
(Square Feet)
Current
Staff
(Anticipated
Growth)
Recommended
Square Feet
Purchasing
City Hall
633
0
200
[Shared]
6
(None)
633
Ideal Adjacencies
1. Auditing
2.
Accessible to all Departments
January 10, 2019
City of Somerville
Departmental Relocation Strategy and Implementation Plan
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January 7, 2019
•
Existing Office Functionality Rating (Scale 1-5): 3.5
•
Deficiencies:
o Existing custom workstations generally work well, but do not provide adequate filing
space for all staff
o Lack of a conference room
Finance Department - Treasury:
Departmental spaces are generally adequate. Low screening partitions would help to improve
the appearance of this department by increasing the visual privacy of the work areas. Modular
office furniture may allow for a more efficient usage of the available program space. There should
be additional security at the front counter, such as card readers for doorway entry, and possibly
security cameras. The Treasury Division should remain at City Hall.
Department
Current
Building
Existing
Square
Feet
Anticipated
Additional
Storage Need
(Square Feet)
Anticipated
Conference
Room Need
(Square Feet)
Current Staff
(Anticipated
Growth)
Recommende
d Square Feet
Treasury
City Hall
1,019
0
200
[Shared]
12
(None)
1,019
Ideal Adjacencies
1. Assessing
2.
Auditing
•
Existing Office Functionality Rating (Scale 1-5): 4
•
Deficiencies:
o Security
o Access to a small conference room
Elections:
The Elections Department’s existing space is adequate. A shared desk area for use by interns
and during election periods would be valuable. Voting machines should be moved to a secure
and convenient space outside of City Hall, though the Elections Department should remain in
City Hall.
Department
Current
Building
Existing
Square
Feet
Anticipated
Additional
Storage Need
(Square Feet)
Anticipated
Conference
Room Need
(Square Feet)
Current
Staff
(Anticipated
Growth)
Recommended
Square Feet
Elections
City Hall
887
150
200
[Shared]
4
(None)
1,287
Ideal Adjacencies
1. None
January 10, 2019
City of Somerville
Departmental Relocation Strategy and Implementation Plan
-19-
January 7, 2019
•
Existing Office Functionality Rating (Scale 1-5): 3.5
•
Deficiencies:
o Lack of a central secure storage facility for voting machines outside of City Hall
o Lack of program area for intern work stations
Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development (OSPCD):
The Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development includes six divisions:
Administration, Planning and Zoning (P&Z), Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I), Economic
Development (Econ Dev), Housing, and the Office of Housing Stability (OHS). Housing and OHS
are located in the City Hall Annex. With the stimulus to the Somerville community anticipated by
the MBTA Green Line transit extension, a highly functional planning department is essential to
future growth and development of the community. Although OSPCD occupies the entire third
story of City Hall, its space is limited by the area of the third floor that can be used for office
space, essentially about one-third of the available area. The 2014 Existing Conditions Report -
Somerville City Hall describes the potential use of the attic area of the third floor. The report
describes issues involved with making this area useable and the potential costs. This option
should be studied further as an efficient means of adding program area for OSPCD or other
departments within City Hall. If the department had more office and conference space, many of
the following issues within OSPCD could be addressed:
•
Lack of “Project Development” rooms for the development of planning procedures and
planning and presentation documents.
•
No work spaces to roll out large-scale documents for review and comment on
development and redevelopment strategies.
•
Lack of a “studio” team-like environment.
•
Lack of flat storage for large documents. Short- and long-term stored documents remain
rolled up, restricting their use.
•
Disorganized and insecure long-term storage in the attic space.
•
Lack of space for needed additional staff.
•
Location of the Housing Division and OHS in another facility, reducing the potential for
collaboration.
The department has a goal to bring the Housing Division and OHS under the same roof as the
rest of OSPCD. It is reasonable to consider the relocation of the entire OSPCD including its offsite
components to a facility outside of City Hall. This option should be weighed against the current
location’s inherent inability to achieve a synergy between various city departments and the
immediate access to the Mayor’s Office. If relocation is chosen, OSPCD should be located as
close as possible to City Hall to maintain important collaboration between departments.
January 10, 2019
City of Somerville
Departmental Relocation Strategy and Implementation Plan
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January 7, 2019
Department
Current
Building
Existing
Square
Feet
Anticipated
Additional
Storage Need
(Square Feet)
Anticipated
Conference
Room Need
(Square Feet)
Current
Staff
(Anticipated
Growth)
Recommended
Square Feet
OSPCD –
Admin, P&Z,
Econ Dev,
and T&I
City Hall
2,345
300
600
[Dedicated]
36*
(+3)
4,545
Ideal Adjacencies
1. Executive Administration
2. Capital Projects
3. Office of Sustainability and Environment
4.
Engineering
5.
Inspection Services Department
* Includes two staff members who are on the Inspectional Services Department payroll but who sit with P&Z staff.
•
Existing Office Functionality Rating (Scale 1-5): 2.5
•
Deficiencies:
o Lack of program area for proposed staff growth
o Limited collaboration space for review and development of planning and development
proposals
o Inadequate senior staff office spaces
o Ad-hoc interior layout limits areas for collaborative staff interaction
City Clerk:
Because of their licensing and record functions, the City Clerk is the face of City Hall for many
constituents. On average, the department serves 30 constituents per day. As currently located
on the first floor of City Hall, this department’s location is very convenient and logical for serving
the City’s residents. The service-counter arrangement is a generally efficient means of dealing
with the public. On occasion there is a need for a small shared conference room for discussions
with constituents. Presently, these discussions happen in the Director’s office. On-site record
storage is an evolving issue. While some licenses can be handled on-line and stored
electronically, there is still the need for secure record storage on site. Due to the volume of
services to citizens, the City Clerk’s office should remain at City Hall.
Department
Current
Building
Existing
Square
Feet
Anticipated
Additional
Storage Need
(Square Feet)
Anticipated
Conference
Room Need
(Square Feet)
Current
Staff
(Anticipated
Growth)
Recommended
Square Feet
City Clerk
City Hall
913
0
200
[Shared]
7
(None)
913
Ideal Adjacencies
1. Board of Alderman
2.
Executive Administration
January 10, 2019
City of Somerville
Departmental Relocation Strategy and Implementation Plan
-21-
January 7, 2019
•
Existing Office Functionality Rating (Scale 1-5): 3
•
Deficiencies:
o Lack of room for program expansion
o Lack of a small conference room (200 square feet) for private conversations with
citizens
o Limited secure filing
o Lack of acoustical privacy between work stations
CITY HALL ANNEX (50 EVERGREEN AVENUE)3:
Office of Sustainability & Environment (OSE):
OSE is a small department with
an expanding mission. Despite
the anticipated need for
an
additional staff member in the
future, the department does not
require additional work space. A
more flexible configuration with
space
for
interns
is
recommended, as is a private
office
for
the
Director.
The
department should ideally be
moved closer to OSPCD given
the
substantial
substantive
overlap
and
collaboration
between the departments.
Department
Current
Building
Existing
Square
Feet
Anticipated
Additional
Storage Need
(Square Feet)
Anticipated
Conference
Room Need
(Square Feet)
Current
Staff
(Anticipated
Growth)
Recommended
Square Feet
Office of
Sustainability &
Environment
City Hall
Annex
300
0
100
[Shared]
3
(+1)
300
Ideal Adjacencies
1. Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development
3 The existing conditions reported in this section were based on the office configurations prior to 2018. A burst
pipe and subsequent reconstruction in the first half of 2018 led to some office reconfigurations, which resulted in
some departments, like OSE and the Arts Council, gaining additional space, primarily because the Retirement
Board moved into leased space off site. Furthermore, to improve ADA access, departments that are more likely to
serve constituents with accessibility issues were placed on the first floor of the building, and the City planned, and
recently began installation of, a new exterior ramp at the building.
January 10, 2019
City of Somerville
Departmental Relocation Strategy and Implementation Plan
-22-
January 7, 2019
•
Existing Office Functionality Rating (Scale 1-5): 3
•
Deficiencies:
o Ad-hoc office furniture
o No private office for Director
Health & Human Services (HHS):
Though most HHS staff work at the Annex, department staff are also located at the Cross Street
Center and the TAB. Department staff should be consolidated as much as possible in a single
location identified to produce the intended synergy between the various divisions of this
department. The department provides services to a large and diverse group of individuals in the
community, so its location must be convenient and universally accessible.
Department
Current
Building
Existing
Square
Feet
Anticipated
Additional
Storage Need
(Square Feet)
Anticipated
Conference
Room Need
(Square Feet)
Current
Staff
(Anticipated
Growth)
Recommended
Square Feet
Health &
Human
Services
City Hall
Annex
2,250
0
300
[Shared]
38.5*
(None)
2,250
Ideal Adjacencies
1. School Administration
2. Office of Housing Stability
3.
Housing Division
* Includes 17 school nurses who are located at the schools and do not require office space with the rest of HHS.
•
Existing Office Functionality Rating (Scale 1-5): 2
•
Deficiencies:
o Space at the Annex does not accommodate current program requirements
o Current office is not handicap accessible, which is one of the biggest issues for
expanding department programs
o Lack of conference room space
HHS – Veterans’ Services:
The program area of the Veterans’ Services Division is inefficiently configured and lacks the
required program area for the intended service program. There is no area for interns or volunteers
to work, there is no waiting area for visitors, and increased space for filing is not available. The
Director’s office should be downsized to a more appropriate size to allow room for a conference
area. A small waiting area equipped with computers will help constituents perform online
registration in-house while receiving guidance from departmental staff.
January 10, 2019
City of Somerville
Departmental Relocation Strategy and Implementation Plan
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January 7, 2019
Department
Current
Building
Existing
Square
Feet
Anticipated
Additional
Storage Need
(Square Feet)
Anticipated
Conference
Room Need
(Square Feet)
Current
Staff
(Anticipated
Growth)
Recommended
Square Feet
Veterans’
Services
City Hall
Annex
1,250
150
150
[Dedicated]
2
(None)
1,752
Ideal Adjacencies
None
•
Existing Office Functionality Rating (Scale 1-5): 2.5
•
Deficiencies:
o The Annex is not ADA-compliant preventing some disabled veterans from visiting this
department
o Existing office configuration makes the Director’s office too large and the staffing and
filing areas too small
o Veterans must stand in the hall as they wait for assistance or for meetings
o There are no work stations for interns or volunteers
OSPCD – Housing:
With the ever-increasing demand for housing within Somerville and the issues associated with a
changing demographic and the scarcity of available land, the Housing Division is vital to the future
service and support of Somerville’s neighborhoods. There is a desire to add more staff to this
department to correlate with the demand for housing in Somerville. The Housing Division should
be located in the same facility as OSPCD to more efficiently and effectively address the planning
challenges of the next decade. With a more efficient configuration, the department can operate
within its current square feet, even with the addition of new staff.
Department
Current
Building
Existing
Square
Feet
Anticipated
Additional
Storage Need
(Square Feet)
Anticipated
Conference
Room Need
(Square Feet)
Current
Staff
(Anticipated
Growth)
Recommended
Square Feet
Housing
Division
City Hall
Annex
2,200
0
200
[Shared]
13
(+1)
2,200
Ideal Adjacencies
1. Health & Human Services
2. Office of Housing Stability
•
Existing Office Functionality Rating (Scale 1-5): 2.5
•
Deficiencies:
o Remote location from OSPCD limits effective communication and project teaming
o Program space is adequate, but work stations are ad-hoc
o Existing program space is geometrically inefficient
January 10, 2019
City of Somerville
Departmental Relocation Strategy and Implementation Plan
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January 7, 2019
OSPCD – Office of Housing Stability (OHS):
The Office of Housing Stability (OHS) was created in 2018 to assist residents at risk of
displacement and develop policy and programmatic initiatives to fight displacement and prevent
homelessness. OHS was formed while this plan was being developed, so a full assessment of
the office was not conducted. Kleinfelder was able to develop a recommended programmatic
space for the office based on its staffing level.
Department
Current
Building
Existing
Square
Feet
Anticipated
Additional
Storage Need
(Square Feet)
Anticipated
Conference
Room Need
(Square Feet)
Current
Staff
(Anticipated
Growth)
Recommended
Square Feet
Housing
Division
City Hall
Annex
400
Not assessed
Not assessed
5
(none)
800
Ideal Adjacencies
1.
Health & Human Services
2.
Office of Housing Stability
•
Existing Office Functionality Rating (Scale 1-5): not assessed
•
Deficiencies: not assessed
Retirement Board:
At the beginning of this study, the Retirement Board occupied three adjoining spaces in the Annex
Building. The Retirement Board is now leasing space off site, and there is no intention to return
the department to a City-owned facility. Therefore no further consideration is included in the
recommended option for the Retirement Board.
Department
Current
Building
Existing
Square
Feet
Anticipated
Additional
Storage Need
(Square Feet)
Anticipated
Conference
Room Need
(Square Feet)
Current
Staff
(Anticipated
Growth)
Recommended
Square Feet
Retirement
Board
City Hall
Annex
900
0
0
3
(None)
0
Ideal Adjacencies
1. None
•
Existing Office Functionality Rating (Scale 1-5): 3
•
Deficiencies:
o None
Arts Council:
The Arts Council plans and directs most of the City events: parades, art events, concerts,
neighborhood parties, and holiday celebrations. The four full-time and one to two part-time
January 10, 2019
City of Somerville
Departmental Relocation Strategy and Implementation Plan
-25-
January 7, 2019
employees of the department occupy one room in the Annex Building. The department space is
critically small, impacting the department’s performance. The Director should have a private
office, full-time staff need cubical-type space, and part-time staff need a flexible work area. Shared
use of a small ADA-compliant conference room able to accommodate 4 to 10 persons is required.
A secure storage space with shelving designed for art supplies, paper and event equipment
storage is also needed for public event materials. The storage area does not need to be directly
adjacent to the Arts Council offices.
Department
Current
Building
Existing
Square
Feet
Anticipated
Additional
Storage Need
(Square Feet)
Anticipated
Conference
Room Need
(Square Feet)
Current
Staff
(Anticipated
Growth)
Recommended
Square Feet
Arts Council
City Hall
Annex
400
150
150
[Shared]
5.5
(None)
1,000
Ideal Adjacencies
1. None
•
Existing Office Functionality Rating (Scale 1-5): 1
•
Deficiencies:
o Lack of Director’s office
o Small communal staff work areas
o Lack of work space for interns
o Non-ADA-compliant building limits meeting attendance
Finance Department – Grants Development:
Grants Development is organized under the Finance Department but located in a separate facility.
The division works closely with many City departments to development grant applications. A
central location that is more accessible to other major City departments would be more convenient
for the staff of this division. Conference room space is needed but can be shared with other
departments.
Department
Current
Building
Existing
Square
Feet
Anticipated
Additional
Storage Need
(Square Feet)
Anticipated
Conference
Room Need
(Square Feet)
Current
Staff
(Anticipated
Growth)
Recommended
Square Feet
Grants
Development
City Hall
Annex
300
0
100
[Shared]
2
(None)
300
Ideal Adjacencies
1. None
•
Existing Office Functionality Rating (Scale 1-5): 3
•
Deficiencies:
o Lack of adjacency to most City departments requires staff to travel to meetings
frequently
January 10, 2019
City of Somerville
Departmental Relocation Strategy and Implementation Plan
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January 7, 2019
TUFTS ADMINISTRATION BUILDING (TAB)
(167 HOLLAND STREET):
HHS – Council on Aging:
The program spaces for this department are
located
at
three
sites,
making
event
coordination a challenge. The main facility at
the TAB is convenient to a substantial number
of their clients, however. It is the City’s goal to
relocate this department to a City-owned
facility to reduce lease costs, and 45 College
Avenue has been identified as a potential site. If this program remains in the TAB, making minor
adjustments within their present facilities would be an efficient means to meet their current
program requirements.
The primary need is to have a kitchen facility within the TAB that is large enough to meet their
program requirements. Lack of adequately sized refrigeration, warming ovens, and supply
storage limits the department’s ability to serve their clients. The addition of a dedicated computer
lab space has also been requested for their future program needs.
Department
Current
Building
Existing
Square
Feet
Anticipated
Additional
Storage Need
(Square Feet)
Anticipated
Conference
Room Need
(Square Feet)
Current
Staff
(Anticipated
Growth)
Recommended
Square Feet
Council on
Aging
TAB
3,460
0
200
[Shared]
8
(None)
4,000
Ideal Adjacencies
1. None
•
Existing Office Functionality Rating (Scale 1-5): 3.5
•
Deficiencies:
o Work stations tight and lack acoustical separation
o Lack of adequate kitchen facilities
Community Schools:
Community Schools is the district’s largest afterschool program; it serves Somerville Public
School students in grades pre-K through 6 at every elementary school in the district. The City of
Somerville and the school district have made expanding after-school and summer-learning
opportunities for youth a priority, so Community Schools and other out-of-school time programs
are expanding. This office currently functions as the home base for eight site coordinators and
after-school administrative staff. While close physical adjacency is not essential to successful
communication between Community Schools and other school programs (PIC, SFLC, and
Special Education), these programs would ideally be in the same facility. A dedicated small
conference room would facilitate private conversations with parents about payments and other
January 10, 2019
City of Somerville
Departmental Relocation Strategy and Implementation Plan
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January 7, 2019
personal issues. The physical space is too small and would benefit from a more efficient and
acoustically separate layout.
Department
Current
Building
Existing
Square
Feet
Anticipated
Additional
Storage Need
(Square Feet)
Anticipated
Conference
Room Need
(Square Feet)
Current
Staff
(Anticipated
Growth)
Recommended
Square Feet
Community
Schools
TAB
1,190
300
150
[Dedicated]
9
(2)
1,428
Ideal Adjacencies
1. Parent Information Center
2.
Somerville Family Learning Collaborative
•
Existing Office Functionality Rating (Scale 1-5): 2
•
Deficiencies:
o Public functions are mixed with staff work areas
o Storage is not efficiently organized
Somerville Center for Adult Learning Experiences (SCALE):
The mission of this program is to provide adults with opportunities to achieve their educational
goals in a supportive, diverse, and welcoming learning environment. The program has a student
body of approximately 400 students served by 12 full-time employees and 24 part-time
employees. The program space overall does not meet program needs. Classroom spaces do not
accommodate the current enrollment, and classrooms are tightly packed, requiring students to
circulate single-file behind chairs and desks, which is not compliant with ADA requirements or
fire-safety egress standards. Existing classrooms also do not meet the programs’ technology
needs. There are limited shared spaces for students to gather and collaborate, forcing many
students to use their cars as work space between classes. There is no dedicated space for
program-wide announcements or group activities. Office space for part-time staff is inadequate.
A more detailed study is required to determine the needed program area of SCALE, but for
planning purposes, a 77% increase in program area is assumed.
Department
Current
Building
Existing
Square
Feet
Anticipated
Additional
Storage Need
(Square Feet)
Anticipated
Conference
Room Need
(Square Feet)
Current
Staff
(Anticipated
Growth)
Recommended
Square Feet
Somerville
Center for
Adult
Learning
Experiences
TAB
7,506
300
600
[Dedicated]
12 FT; 24 PT
(None)
13,300
Ideal Adjacencies
1. School Administration
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City of Somerville
Departmental Relocation Strategy and Implementation Plan
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January 7, 2019
•
Existing Office Functionality Rating (Scale 1-5): 2
•
Deficiencies:
o Program has outgrown its current physical environment
o Staff areas lack private conference space for parental discussions
o Classrooms are too small for student population and lack technical infrastructure
o Copy and supply areas are not secure
o No common areas for student use between classes
o Limited teacher office areas for part-time faculty
EDGERLY SCHOOL (33 CROSS STREET):
School Administration:
School Administration functions as the management
and leadership arm of the Somerville Public
Schools.
School
Administration
internal
departments
(Finance,
Human
Capital,
English Language
Learning, Curriculum, and other functions) are
situated within the original structure’s individual classrooms. Acoustical privacy within the
classroom areas is limited and, in some cases, compromises the working environment. Circulation
between administration departments is provided by the central circulation hallways of the existing
school structure. This provides a level of privacy between the different groups, but also prevents
the feeling of a collective agency. Departmental space planning is minimal, with a mix of office
furniture that varies in age and functionality. In some cases, the departmental offices feel
underutilized, while in other cases they are extremely cramped. Small conference rooms exist
within the overall program layout but are not specific to individual functions or program needs.
The second-floor conference room functions well as a multi-purpose space hosting special events
for both constituents and for inter-departmental audiences, but this is the only large shared
conference space in the building.
Special Education has its own wing in the Edgerly School. The space planning of this department
appears to be left-over from a previous use. Some administrative staff have enclosed offices,
while some do not. Conference rooms for discussions with parents were not acoustically
separated from waiting areas, which compromises private conversations between staff and
parents. However, the overall space allotment seems correct if reconfigured in a more rational,
systematized space plan.
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Department
Current
Building
Existing
Square
Feet
Anticipated
Additional
Storage Need
(Square Feet)
Anticipated
Conference
Room Need
(Square Feet)
Current
Staff
(Anticipated
Growth)
Recommended
Square Feet
School
Administration
Edgerly
16,528
2,300
300
[Dedicated]
1,590
[Shared]
55
(15)
16,742
Ideal Adjacencies
1. English Language Learning
2. Somerville Center for Adult Learning
Experiences
3.
Community Schools
4.
Somerville Family Learning Collaborative
5.
Parent Information Center
•
Existing Office Functionality Rating (Scale 1-5): 3
•
Deficiencies:
o Existing classroom geometry does not produce efficient office spaces
o Mixed furniture types add to inefficiency
o Some senior managers do not have office space adjacent to their staff
City Clerk – Archives:
The Archives, an adjunct function of the City Clerk’s office, is tasked with the archival storage of
City records and documents. Materials are delivered to the Archives from City departments as
needed. This function is located in the Edgerly School building. Members of the department
expressed the desire to staff the Archives with up to five interns to help with the daily tasks of
archiving. This facility does not provide archival-quality storage conditions, has issues of code
compliance and security, and has limited expansion opportunities. Locating the Archives at the
Edgerly School limits the highest and best use of the facility for other city or school functions while
providing substandard conditions for the City’s collection of historical and legal documents.
No summary information tabulated here because Archives should be relocated to an archival-
quality storage facility.
•
Existing Office Functionality Rating (Scale 1-5): 1
•
Deficiencies:
o No office space for the Director
o Current facility is not secure and does not have archival-quality mechanical/HVAC
systems
o Limited preparation areas for file organization and computer scanning activities
o No dedicated areas for intern work stations
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Departmental Relocation Strategy and Implementation Plan
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CAPUANO SCHOOL (150 GLEN STREET):
Early Childhood Services:
The administrative function of this department is
in the Capuano School, but during the school
year, the work of this department happens
throughout all SPS schools. The Director and two
instructional staff members share one small office
and use the adjacent Capuano School space for
storing program materials. The Director would
benefit from an enclosed office. Storage space
was not designed for the materials and is not in a secure location. There are other spaces within
the school that would better meet the office and storage needs of this department.
No summary information tabulated here because Early Childhood Services will remain at the
Capuano School.
•
Existing Office Functionality Rating (Scale 1-5): 2.5
•
Deficiencies:
o Director does not have separate office
o Materials for programs stored in library space in plastic bins purchased by the staff
located on top of library shelving system. These materials need a defined, secure
storage room.
CUMMINGS
SCHOOL
(42
PRESCOTT
STREET):
Somerville Family Learning Center (SFLC)
and Parent Information Center (PIC):
The SFLC and PIC departments function in
tandem. SFLC provides the services and PIC
communicates to parents about the availability
of
these
services
and
resources.
The
Cummings School provides several advantages
to the SFLC program: the outdoor space,
parking for staff, the fact that the original rooms
were built to be classrooms (however some now function as office spaces), the direct adjacency
to PIC, and the auditorium for public gatherings. If this program is relocated to another facility,
those advantages should be duplicated. SFLC currently does not have an office for its Director or
other staff members. A dedicated small conference room, shared by the two departments, would
satisfy the need for a private space for family and staff conferences. A space for families (up to
six persons) waiting to meet with staff should be provided. Classrooms are too small for the
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January 7, 2019
current uses and are not equipped for computer, printer or other service needs. Dedicated, secure
storage is needed for program materials, archival records and classroom supplies.
Department
Current
Building
Existing
Square
Feet
Anticipated
Additional
Storage
Need
(Square Feet)
Anticipated
Conference
Room Need
(Square
Feet)
Current
Staff
(Anticipated
Growth)
Recommended
Square Feet
Somerville
Family Learning
Collaborative |
Parent
Information
Center
Cummings
School
5,790
450
800
[Dedicated]
20
(None)
6,000
Ideal Adjacencies
1. School Administrations
2. Health & Human Services
3.
SomerViva
4.
Community Schools
•
Existing Office Functionality Rating (Scale 1-5): 2
•
Deficiencies:
o Director does not have a private office
o There is not a dedicated conference room for private discussions with parents and
teachers
o Classrooms are tight for existing programs and lack technical infrastructure
o Lack of an area for parents waiting to visit staff
o Storage for archival record and materials has limited security
TRAFFIC AND PARKING BUILDING (133
HOLLAND STREET):
Traffic and Parking:
The Traffic and Parking Department is in a
stand-alone structure, which currently meets
the Department’s needs. All program areas
are adequately sized and well laid-out. The
public space is small but adequate. The City
recently installed a self-operating universally
accessible vertical lift at the building, allowing
ADA access to the first-floor service area.
No summary information tabulated here because Traffic and Parking will remain as is for the time
being.
January 10, 2019
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Departmental Relocation Strategy and Implementation Plan
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January 7, 2019
•
Existing Office Functionality Rating (Scale 1-5): 4
•
Deficiencies:
o ADA access currently does not meet code. At the time of this report, this concern
is being addressed.
RECREATION BUILDING (19 WALNUT
STREET):
Parks and Recreation:
Parks and Recreation is in a residential
neighborhood in a stand-alone structure,
originally built as a courthouse. This facility
functions as an office space for staff and as
an application desk for recreational activities
and permits. This facility limits the ability of
the department to provide services to the
public. The facility is not ADA compliant and,
as such, cannot be used for public meetings
or City functions. All department program functions are located in scattered sites across the City.
No program uses are housed within this facility. The City’s goals of providing recreational facilities
and programs to encourage lifelong health and fitness are not advanced with this department
being so remote from program sites. National trends suggest that a centralized recreational facility
with a diverse range of program spaces ranging from traditional gyms and pools to multi-functional
spaces compatible with sports and arts programs be developed.
Department
Current
Building
Existing
Square
Feet
Anticipated
Additional
Storage Need
(Square Feet)
Anticipated
Conference
Room Need
(Square Feet)
Current
Staff
(Anticipated
Growth)
Recommended
Square Feet
Parks &
Recreation
Recreation
Building
721
0
200
[Shared]
12*
(None)
1,000
Ideal Adjacencies
1. None
* Includes three field staff members who are not yet hired and who will not require desks.
•
Existing Office Functionality Rating (Scale 1-5): 1
•
Deficiencies:
o Facility is not ADA accessible
o Recreational programming cannot be offered at the facility
o Office planning is inefficient; the Department is using rooms within the original
courthouse facility for basic office functions
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Departmental Relocation Strategy and Implementation Plan
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January 7, 2019
CENTRAL LIBRARY (79 HIGHLAND AVENUE):
Libraries:
In 1995, the City proposed an addition and major renovation to the Central Library. Major program
deficiencies included: undersized teen and children’s rooms and auditorium; lack of conference
rooms; lack of staff offices as required by union agreements; and inadequate staff work spaces.
This facility is still restricted by these same issues, and staff members are working around
program deficiencies. Additionally, changes in library technology necessitate a complete re-
evaluation of the proposed program for any future addition or renovation. The current location of
the Central Library near other government offices and the high school should be maintained.
No summary information tabulated here because Libraries will remain as is.
•
Existing Office Functionality Rating (Scale 1-5): 3
•
Deficiencies:
o Department does not have a dedicated or shared conference room
o Some staff do not have union-required offices
o Ever-changing library technology requires an effort to review and determine future
needs and facility modifications beyond the scope of this report
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS BUILDING (1 FRANEY ROAD):
Inspectional Services Department (ISD):
Few City departments are so undersized and poorly housed as the Inspectional Services
Department. Daily muster sessions for building inspectors are conducted in the circulation areas
between staff cubicles. Parking at the DPW site is severely constrained. Parking for building
inspectors while in muster is done valet-style with three-deep stacking of vehicles. This
arrangement often interferes with circulation around the DPW facility. The Health and Weights &
Measures areas are equally lacking in program space. The one available departmental
conference room is small and limits meeting size. Larger meetings are held in the DPW
conference room when not being used by the DPW. Staff cubicles are cramped and do not have
space for reviewing large-scale drawings. Flat-file storage for documents in process does not
exist. Archival storage does not exist and is not provided in the City Archive facility.
Department members expressed a very strong sentiment that the ISD leadership is trying to make
the interactions with this department as efficient and comprehensive as possible while retaining
a very high level of safety and professionalism. However, the department’s physical environment
restricts these efforts. Relocation of this department to an adequately sized facility with staff and
constituent parking is strongly recommended. Adjacency to Capital Projects, Engineering, and
OSPSD would be beneficial to this department.
January 10, 2019
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Departmental Relocation Strategy and Implementation Plan
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January 7, 2019
Department
Current
Building
Existing
Square
Feet
Anticipated
Additional
Storage Need
(Square Feet)
Anticipated
Conference
Room Need
(Square Feet)
Current
Staff
(Anticipated
Growth)
Recommended
Square Feet
Inspection
Services
Department
DPW
Building
3,500
1,100
300
[Dedicated]
28*
(+4)
5,937
Ideal Adjacencies
1. Capital Projects
2. Engineering
3.
Office of Strategic Planning and Community
Development
* Excludes two staff members who are on the Inspectional Services Department payroll but who sit with P&Z staff.
•
Existing Office Functionality Rating (Scale 1-5): 1
•
Deficiencies:
o Program space undersized for staff, preventing needed staff expansion
o No muster area for morning check-ins of building inspectors
o No work areas for building inspectors to do electronic reports of other job activities
o No work areas for the review and temporary storage of construction drawing packages
o Some departmental functions are on separate floors
o Archival storage of documents is restricted by limited program area.
Capital Projects and Planning:
Construction, renovation and maintenance of City-owned property is becoming more challenging.
The oversight of the planning and construction of these facilities must bring together all
stakeholders involved in the process to produce structures that meet current and future needs.
As it is currently located, the Capital Projects and Planning Department is remote from many of
the departments that require their frequent collaboration. Ideally, Capital Projects should be
located with Engineering, OSPCD and ISD to support collaboration. As with most City
departments, access to conference rooms is important. This department would benefit from a
conference room that could function as a project collaboration area with pin-able walls, overhead
projection, and monitors for conferencing. The ability to have staff and information available in
one location adds immensely to the efficiency and synergy of the building process.
The office lacks the ability to plot electronic documents, which is a very basic need. Additionally,
the ability to archive paper and electronic information describing all City-owned facilities is
essential to effectively planning future departmental changes as well as having a basis for the
maintenance of individual facilities. These needs are part of the space program requirements. A
departmental space that was modeled in a more “studio fashion” would help to support functional
collaboration.
January 10, 2019
City of Somerville
Departmental Relocation Strategy and Implementation Plan
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January 7, 2019
Department
Current
Building
Existing
Square
Feet
Anticipated
Additional
Storage Need
(Square Feet)
Anticipated
Conference
Room Need
(Square Feet)
Current
Staff
(Anticipated
Growth)
Recommended
Square Feet
Capital
Projects
DPW
Building
920
150
600
[Dedicated]
6
(+2)
1,970
Ideal Adjacencies
1. Engineering
2. Inspectional Services Department
3.
Office of Strategic Planning and Community
Development
4.
Water and Sewer
•
Existing Office Functionality Rating (Scale 1-5): 2
•
Deficiencies:
o Director’s office is separated from staff work areas
o Staff work area is intermixed with DPW staffing areas
o No ability to print electronic documents in-house for staff use
o No dedicated conference room space
o Documents describing City-owned facilities are not readily accessible
Engineering:
For Engineering, access to conference rooms is important. This department would benefit from
more space for plan layouts and additional staff. Adequate storage for record documents is
important to the functionality of the departments’ daily tasks.
Department
Current
Building
Existing
Square
Feet
Anticipated
Additional
Storage Need
(Square Feet)
Anticipated
Conference
Room Need
(Square Feet)
Current
Staff
(Anticipated
Growth)
Recommended
Square Feet
Engineering
DPW
Building
1,600
250
600
[Dedicated]
9
(+1)
2,000
Ideal Adjacencies
1. Capital Projects
2. Inspectional Services Department
3. Office of Strategic Planning and Community
Development
4. Water and Sewer
•Existing Office Functionality Rating (Scale 1-5): 3
•Deficiencies:
o Lack of conference room space
o Lack of storage space
Department of Public Works (DPW):
While the building at 1 Franey Road is lacking, the square feet of the facility appears to be
adequate for the DPW program if the ISD, Capital Projects and Engineering departments were
relocated out of the building. The square feet gained by this relocation would allow for the addition
January 10, 2019
City of Somerville
Departmental Relocation Strategy and Implementation Plan
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January 7, 2019
of conference rooms and staff support areas, lockers, and improved toilet facilities. The large
conference room serves the department well for its frequent large attendance meetings. Currently
this room is shared with the other departments in the building generally for smaller gatherings.
Two intermediately sized conference rooms would improve the ability to provide shared
conference rooms for departments outside of the DPW. Replacement of the existing work stations
with smaller more standardized office furniture would allow for additional staff within the same
square feet. Office planning modifications should focus on improvements that increase the ability
of the organization to communicate effectively on a routine and emergency basis. The building is
not ADA compliant, which restricts constituents and staff from easily accessing the department
offices and facilities. A ramp connection to the front door is probably the most functional and cost-
effective means of addressing this issue, and it will require extensive site and building entry
modifications. An elevator will need to be provided to make each floor accessible. Adjustments to
the yard area could reduce congestion by the seasonal storage of some equipment and materials
off-site.
Department
Current
Building
Existing
Square
Feet
Anticipated
Additional
Storage Need
(Square Feet)
Anticipated
Conference
Room Need
(Square Feet)
Current
Staff
(Anticipated
Growth)
Recommended
Square Feet
Department of
Public Works
DPW
Building
8,000
0
300
[Shared]
117*
(None)
N/A
Ideal Adjacencies
1. Water and Sewer
2.
Parks & Recreation
* While DPW has a total of 117 employees, only 22 require a desk; the rest are full-time field staff.
•
Existing Office Functionality Rating (Scale 1-5): 3
•
Deficiencies:
o Lack of ADA-compliant access
o Lack of readily available emergency generation for back-up power
o Inefficiently sized staff work stations are generally larger than current master planning
standards
o Lack of a range of conference room sizes
Water & Sewer Department:
This department has two distinct user groups: office and field staff. The field staff’s needs are
more related to work rooms for the repair of system devices such as valves and meters and
locker/break rooms used at the start and finish of each shift. The office staff typically remains in
the department all day and have more conventional office needs. The department lacks a
dedicated conference room. A separate work room for field staff has limited office space available
for staff expansion and needs renovations to locker and toilet facilities. The office is not ADA
compliant. Field vehicles and materials are stored in the DPW yard.
January 10, 2019
City of Somerville
Departmental Relocation Strategy and Implementation Plan
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January 7, 2019
Department
Current
Building
Existing
Square
Feet
Anticipated
Additional
Storage Need
(Square Feet)
Anticipated
Conference
Room Need
(Square Feet)
Current
Staff
(Anticipated
Growth)
Recommended
Square Feet
Water and
Sewer
DPW
Building
1,500
0
300
[Shared]
23*
(TBD)
1,700
Ideal Adjacencies
1. Department of Public Works
2.
Engineering
* While W&S has a total of 23 employees, only 12 require a desk; the rest are full-time field staff.
•
Existing Office Functionality Rating (Scale 1-5): 2
•
Deficiencies:
o Not ADA compliant
o Not enough program space for the office staff
o Locker rooms and toilet facilities need major updating
o Lack of dedicated space for storage of vehicles and materials
January 10, 2019
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Departmental Relocation Strategy and Implementation Plan
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January 7, 2019
IV.
EXISTING CONDITIONS
City Hall
Somerville City Hall served as both the City’s first public school and first public library after its
construction in 1852. Ultimately, the building was dedicated as the City Hall in 1940. It was added
to the National Registry of Historic Places in 1989.
The construction is a load-bearing brick masonry Colonial Revival structure, with a gable roof and
a projecting square section at the center of its east-facing front façade. It is a 37,960 square-foot,
four-level building with a central core and two wings.
There is an accessible entrance and an elevator serving all four levels. The steps and stair edging
along the north side of the building need significant repairs. An egress analysis will need to be
prepared for any department relocations and building space reconfiguration. Currently some
passageways to exits are not clear. There are also areas of significant corrosion of the main
supports to the fire escape stairs. The electrical room needs to be enlarged to meet current code.
The building systems are generally in fair to good condition with numerous capital and
maintenance issues identified in the 2018 Condition Assessment and Preventive Maintenance
program undertaken by the City.
Providing emergency power requires a mobile generator to be transported to City Hall and
connected to the building’s electrical panel, which takes about an hour. During this time period,
City Hall communications are effectively silenced. An on-site standby generator for City Hall
should be considered as an immediate need. Because an emergency generator will be located
outside of the building footprint and is considered a utility system, it is not shown in the department
relocation plans, but should be included with any future utility upgrades.
City Hall has several large vault spaces that historically housed valuable records and fiscal
documents. These fireproof vaults currently interrupt the flow of departments and are used as ad-
hoc storage space. These vaults are massive structures which would be very difficult to remove
and are assumed to remain in the Master Planning options presented in Section V.
City Hall shares the Central Hill Campus with the Somerville High School, 1895 Building, and
Central Somerville Library (see Figure 1). Refer to Figure 2 for an existing conditions plan of City
Hall and Figure 3 for proposed egress paths.
The following table summarizes existing conditions information for City Hall.
January 10, 2019
City of Somerville
Departmental Relocation Strategy and Implementation Plan
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January 7, 2019
Year
Built
Existing
Gross
Square
Feet
(Floors)
Building Type
Accessible
Code Issues
Estimated Capital
Needs from 2018
Facilities Plan
1852
37,960
(4)
Load Bearing Brick
Masonry
Colonial Revival
Style
Yes; Accessible
Ramp on Exterior
Elevator on
interior
x Electric Room
Size
x Corrosion of
fire exit stair
supports
$7,518,174
Currently Housed Departments
1. Executive Administration
2. Finance – Assessing
3. Finance – Auditing
4. Finance – Purchasing
5. Finance – Treasury
6. City Clerk
7. Elections
8.
Information Technology
9.
Law
10. Communications & Community Engagement
11. Constituent Services
12. Office of Strategic Planning and Community
Development (OSPCD)
13. Personnel
14. SomerStat
January 10, 2019
City of Somerville
Departmental Relocation Strategy and Implementation Plan
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January 7, 2019
Figure 1 – Somerville City Hall and 1895 Building Location Plan
January 10, 2019
Somerville City Hall
Existing Conditions - Plans
Level 2 Existing Plan
Level 3 Existing Plan
Basement Level Existing Plan
Level 1 Existing Plan
Gross Area: 8477 SF
Useable Area: 4363 SF
Common Area
Gross Area: 7932 SF
Useable Area: 4967 SF
Gross Area: 7932 SF
Useable Area: 5157 SF
Gross Area: 5399 SF
Useable Area: 2476 SF
-43-
Figure 2
-39-
-43-
-41-
Somerville City Hall
Proposed Egress Paths - Plans
Level 2 Existing Plan
Level 3 Existing Plan
Basement Level Existing Plan
Level 1 Existing Plan
Proposed Egress Path
Note: Egress Path is conceptual and should be finalized with code analysis in future phases.
-44-
Figure 3
-40-
-44-
-42-
City of Somerville
Departmental Relocation Strategy and Implementation Plan
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January 7, 2019
1895 Building
The core of the 1895 Building was constructed in 1895. It has served as a school since its
construction and is considered the oldest continuously operated high school building in New
England. It was known as the English High School and it shared a campus with the public library
and Latin School. Several additions were made to the building in the past to provide for an
increase in educational opportunities at the high school.
The City is currently constructing a new high school that will consolidate all educational
programming in a new building on the campus. As part of that project, specific sections of the
existing high school will be demolished providing the City with an opportunity to consider other
City or School uses in the 1895 Building.
The construction of the 1895 Building is load-bearing brick masonry with steel columns located
on the bottom level to support the floor above grade. The 1895 Building is a 58,765 square-foot,
four-level building.
The building needs major upgrades to the mechanical systems. Upgrades will include a new boiler
room and new rooms to house electrical, HVAC and fire protection.
The 1895 Building shares the Central Hill Campus with Somerville High School, City Hall, and the
Central Somerville Library (see Figure 4). Refer to Figure 5 for an existing conditions plan of the
1895 Building.
The following table summarizes existing conditions information for the 1895 Building.
Year
Built
Existing
Gross
Square
Feet
(Floors)
Building Type
Accessible
Code Issues
Estimated Capital
Needs from 2018
Facilities Plan
1895
58,765
(4)
Load Bearing Brick
Masonry
Yes; Accessible
Ramp on Exterior
Elevator on
interior
x Boiler room
expansion
x Fire protection
issues
$18,795,435
Currently Housed Departments
1. Somerville High School
January 10, 2019
City of Somerville
Departmental Relocation Strategy and Implementation Plan
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January 7, 2019
Figure 4 –1895 Building and City Hall Location Plan
January 10, 2019
1895 High School
Existing Conditions - Plans
Level 3 Existing Plan
Level 1 Existing Plan
Level 2 Existing Plan
Level 4 Existing Plan
Common Area
Gross Area: 14854 SF
Useable Area: 8737 SF
Gross Area: 14637 SF
Useable Area: 10058 SF
Gross Area: 14637 SF
Useable Area: 8381 SF
Gross Area: 14637 SF
Useable Area: 10156 SF
Building
-47-
Figure 5
-43-
-47-
-45-
City of Somerville
Departmental Relocation Strategy and Implementation Plan
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January 7, 2019
Edgerly School
The Edgerly School was constructed in 1920. It has served as a school building since its
construction. The construction is load-bearing brick masonry. The building is an 81,000 square-
foot, three-level building (see Figure 6).
The building systems are generally in poor to fair condition with numerous capital and
maintenance issues identified in the 2018 Condition Assessment and Preventive Maintenance
program undertaken by the City. The building needs replacement windows, repairs to steps and
a section of ramp, and repointing of deteriorating exterior brick masonry. Possible code issues
include replacement of interior railings, replacing electrical distribution to several distribution
panels, providing access to the roof, providing stairwell fire separation. The building is generally
ADA accessible and has an elevator to all publicly occupied floors. The original building has
gypsum partition walls in a classroom setup. To provide an office layout, many of these walls
would likely need to be demolished. Refer to Figure 7 for an existing conditions plan of the Edgerly
School.
The following table summarizes existing conditions information for the Edgerly School.
Year
Built
Existing
Gross
Square
Feet
(Floors)
Building Type
Accessible
Code Issues
Estimated Capital
Needs from 2018
Facilities Plan
1920
81,000
(3)
Bearing Brick
Masonry
Ramp on Exterior
Elevator on
Interior
x Interior
Railings
x Replacing
electrical
distribution
x Roof Access
x Stairwell Fire
Protection
$13,981,867
Currently Housed Departments
1. School Administration
2.
Special Education
3.
City Clerk – Archives
There are a few rooms in the Edgerly that serve as student swing space. The third floor of the building is currently occupied by
the Next Wave Junior High School and Full Circle High School, which teach to students who have difficulty learning in traditional
educational settings. These programs will be moved into the new high school.
January 10, 2019
City of Somerville
Departmental Relocation Strategy and Implementation Plan
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January 7, 2019
Figure 6 –Edgerly School Location Plan
January 10, 2019
Edgerly School
Existing Conditions - Plans
Level 3 Existing Plan
Level 1 Existing Plan
Level 2 Existing Plan
Common Area
Gross Area: 33391 SF
Useable Area: 17348 SF
Gross Area: 33307 SF
Useable Area: 19174 SF
Gross Area: 33391 SF
Useable Area: 19256 SF
-50-
Figure 7
-46-
-50-
RENTAL
BOXING CLUB - N.I.C.
8495 SF TOTAL
INSTRUCTION SPACE
INSTRUCTION SPACE
STORAGE
WOMENS
TOILETS
CITY USAGE
CITY ARCHIVES
520 SF
QUIET LUNCH ROOM
565 SF
LUNCH ROOM
2789 SF
BOILER ROOM
COAL POCKET
CLOSET
CITY USAGE
FURNITURE STORAGE ROOM
1023 SF
CITY USAGE
WEIGHT ROOM
922 SF
BOYS TOILET ROOM
GIRLS TOILET ROOM
GIRLS TOILET ROOM
ELECTRIC
ROOM
METER
ROOM
SCHOOL ADMIN
HR FILE ROOM
425 SF
CITY USAGE
BALLOT STORAGE
1125 SF
CITY USAGE
FUTURE DAY CARE
1080 SF
SCHOOL ADMIN
CURRICULUM OFFICE
1249 SF
COURT
SCHOOL ADMIN OFFICE
300 SF
ENGLISH LANGUAGE
LEARNERS OFFICE
1485 SF
KITCHEN
TOILETS
RENTAL
MUSIC ROOM - N.I.C.
724 SF
QUIET LUNCH ROOM
540 SF
RAMP
ELEV
ROOM
CITY USAGE
CITY ARCHIVES
3400 SF
STAGE
SPECIAL EDUCATION OFFICE
8092 SF TOTAL
SCHOOL ADMIN
PAYROLL OFFICE
745 SF
STORAGE
TOILETS
CITY USAGE
RECREATION DEPT
STORAGE
1159 SF
AUDITORIUM / GYMNASIUM
5155 SF
OFFICE
250 SF
CONFERENCE ROOM
1440 SF
SCHOOL ADMIN
SUPERINTENDENTS'
SUITE
1265 SF TOTAL
STORAGE
STOR
SCHOOL ADMIN
FINANCE OFFICE
904 SF
SCHOOL ADMIN
HUMAN RESOURCES
1232 SF
COURT BELOW
SCHOOL
ADMIN
COMM. &
GRANT
OFFICE
215 SF
SCHOOL ADMIN
STUDENT
SERVICES
205 SF
STAFF LOUNGE
780 SF
STORAGE
465 SF
CLASSROOM
8365 SF TOTAL
CLASSROOM
STAGE
AUDITORIUM/GYMNASIUM
OPEN TO BELOW
CLASSROOM
973 SF
CLASSROOM
900 SF
CLASSROOM
2832 SF
OFFICE
STORAGE
CLASSROOM
1340 SF
CLASSROOM
906 SF
CLASSROOM
689 SF
CLASSROOM
886 SF
CLASSROOM
1131 SF
CLASSROOM
1234 SF
TOILETS
BALCONY
COURT BELOW
RENTAL
BOXING CLUB - N.I.C.
8495 SF TOTAL
INSTRUCTION SPACE
INSTRUCTION SPACE
STORAGE
WOMENS
TOILETS
SCHOOL RESOURCE
OFFICER
520 SF
QUIET LUNCH ROOM
565 SF
LUNCH ROOM
2789 SF
BOILER ROOM
COAL POCKET
CLOSET
CITY USAGE
FURNITURE STORAGE ROOM
1023 SF
SCHOOL
WEIGHT ROOM
922 SF
BOYS TOILET ROOM
GIRLS TOILET ROOM
GIRLS TOILET ROOM
ELECTRIC
ROOM
METER
ROOM
SCHOOL ADMIN
HR FILE ROOM
425 SF
CITY USAGE
BALLOT STORAGE
1125 SF
SOMERVILLE CHILDCARE
CENTER DAY CARE
1080 SF
SCHOOL ADMIN
CURRICULUM OFFICE
1249 SF
COURT
FINANCE DIRECTOR
OFFICE
300 SF
ENGLISH LANGUAGE
LEARNERS OFFICE
1485 SF
KITCHEN
TOILETS
RENTAL
MUSIC ROOM - N.I.C.
724 SF
QUIET LUNCH ROOM
540 SF
RAMP
ELEV
ROOM
-48-
City of Somerville
Departmental Relocation Strategy and Implementation Plan
-49-
January 7, 2019
Cummings School
Originally constructed in 1930, the Cummings School has served as a school building throughout
its history. It is a 31,386 square-foot building with three levels.
Neither the interior nor exterior of the building are ADA accessible. The building systems are
generally in poor to fair condition with numerous capital and maintenance issues identified in the
2018 Condition Assessment and Preventive Maintenance program undertaken by the City.
The Cummings School is located within a residential community (see Figure 8). Refer to Figure 9
for an existing conditions plan of the Cummings School.
The following table summarizes existing conditions information for the Cummings School.
Year
Built
Existing
Gross
Square
Feet
(Floors)
Building Type
Accessible
Code Issues
Estimated Capital
Needs from 2018
Facilities Plan
1930
31,386
(3)
Load-Bearing Brick
Masonry
No
x Railing Heights
$11,388,994
Currently Housed Departments
1. Somerville Family Learning Collaborative |
Parent Information Center
2.
English Language Learning
January 10, 2019
City of Somerville
Departmental Relocation Strategy and Implementation Plan
-50-
January 7, 2019
Figure 8 – Cummings School Location Plan
January 10, 2019
Cummings School
Existing Conditions - Plans
Level 3 Existing Plan
Level 1 Existing Plan
Level 2 Existing Plan
Common Area
Gross Area: 19554 SF
Useable Area: 12052 SF
Gross Area: 8657 SF
Useable Area: 5779 SF
Gross Area: 4785 SF
Useable Area: 2557 SF
-53-
Figure 9
-49-
-53-
-51-
City of Somerville
Departmental Relocation Strategy and Implementation Plan
-52-
January 7, 2019
City Hall Annex
The City Hall Annex is a 12,196-square-foot, two-story building, constructed in 1962 (see Figure
10). It has a basement, which contains the boiler room and other mechanical, electrical and
plumbing equipment. The building has an elevator connecting the first and second floors and has
a designated accessible entrance at the rear of the building.
The layout of the building does not efficiently accommodate proposed department footprints. The
building systems are generally in poor to fair condition with numerous capital and maintenance
issues identified in the 2018 Condition Assessment and Preventive Maintenance program
undertaken by the City. The building would require extensive modernization of its electrical,
plumbing, HVAC and life-safety systems to accommodate long-term use and be made code-
compliant. Given the building’s age, its inefficient layout, the need for modernization and its
location in a residential neighborhood with minimal parking, the consensus of the Master Plan
Working Group was that all departments should be relocated from this building so that the City
could explore other opportunities for this property through future discussions with the community.
The following table summarizes existing conditions information for the City Hall Annex.
Year
Built
Existing
Gross
Square
Feet
(Floors)
Building Type
Accessible
Code Issues
Estimated Capital
Needs from 2018
Facilities Plan
1962
12,196
(2)
Load-Bearing Brick
Masonry
Yes; Accessible
Ramp on Exterior
Elevator on
Interior
x Electrical,
Plumbing, and
HVAC
deficiencies
x Life-safety
systems
$1,372,558
Currently Housed Departments
1. Arts Council
2. Office of Sustainability & Environment
3. Grants Development
4. Health and Human Services
5.
Retirement Board (relocated in 2018)
6.
Housing Division
7.
Office of Housing Stability
8.
Veterans’ Services
January 10, 2019
City of Somerville
Departmental Relocation Strategy and Implementation Plan
-53-
January 7, 2019
Figure 10 – City Hall Annex Location Plan
January 10, 2019
City of Somerville
Departmental Relocation Strategy and Implementation Plan
-54-
January 7, 2019
Recreation Building
The Recreation Building is a 13,646-square-foot, three-story building, constructed in 1900 as a
courthouse (see Figure 11). The bottom floor of the building has occupied space (last used as a
day care facility and recreation equipment storage) as well as the boiler room and other
mechanical, electrical and plumbing equipment. Currently the Recreation Department has their
offices in the building as well as some minor recreation equipment storage.
The building is not ADA compliant. It has no accessible entrances and does not have an elevator
connecting the three levels. The building systems are generally in poor to fair condition with
numerous capital and maintenance issues identified in the 2018 Condition Assessment and
Preventive Maintenance program undertaken by the City. The existing mechanical, electrical and
plumbing systems are outdated and very inefficient. They would need to be completely
modernized if the building were to be used to accommodate other departments and to be made
code-compliant.
Given the building’s age, its inefficient layout, the need for modernization of building systems, the
need to make it ADA compliant, and its location in a residential neighborhood with minimal parking
and poor access to public transportation, the consensus of the Master Plan Working Group was
that the Recreation Department should be relocated from this building. This would provide the
City with the ability to explore other opportunities for future use of this property through
discussions with the community. The Working Group recommends that the relocation of this
department be expedited.
The following table summarizes existing conditions information for the Recreation Building.
Year
Built
Existing
Gross
Square
Feet
(Floors)
Building Type
Accessible
Code Issues
Estimated Capital
Needs from 2018
Facilities Plan
1900
13,646
(3)
Load-Bearing Brick
Masonry
No
x Electrical,
Plumbing, and
HVAC
deficiencies
x Life-safety
systems
$4,108,655
Currently Housed Departments
1. Parks and Recreation
January 10, 2019
City of Somerville
Departmental Relocation Strategy and Implementation Plan
-55-
January 7, 2019
Figure 11 – Recreation Building Location Plan
January 10, 2019
City of Somerville
Departmental Relocation Strategy and Implementation Plan
-56-
January 7, 2019
V.
DEPARTMENTAL RELOCATION STRATEGY OPTIONS
General
Kleinfelder developed four Departmental Relocation Strategies to relocate selected departments
from City Hall, DPW, the Recreation Building, the Cummings School, and the City Hall Annex to
other existing City-owned facilities with the primary goals of improving the constituent experience,
increasing the efficiency of services, and reducing operating costs. These options were developed
based on information gathered during the departmental interviews, program analysis work, and
visual observations of existing facilities.
The Master Plan Working Group reviewed several draft options of the Departmental Relocation
Strategies. For each of these Working Group meetings, Kleinfelder prepared information that
included program data in the form of summary reports and tabular charts, PowerPoint
presentations and graphics (refer to Appendix B). The pros and cons of each option were
presented and discussed during the meetings with the Working Group (refer to Appendix C) until
a consensus was gained for three viable options.
The three options are referred to as Options A, B, and D. Note that Option C, which was discussed
during many meetings, was ultimately folded into Option B and is not used in this final report.
Option D was not renamed Option C to avoid confusion with the many references to Option D in
the meeting minutes and other documents.
Each option achieves a number of significant improvements compared to the status quo:
x
Consolidation and beneficial co-location of more City services on Central Hill and more
School services in the Edgerly, creating more synergies between departments and a
better constituent experience.
x
Relocation of the Parks & Recreation Department from its current non-accessible building
without usable recreation facilities into the Edgerly, allowing the Department to not only
more efficiently use the recreation space at that building but also to develop even greater
synergies with the School Department.
x
Relocation of all departments currently in the Recreation Building and the City Hall Annex,
eliminating the need to expend capital funds to renovate and modernize these buildings
and providing the City with the ability to explore other opportunities for these properties
through future discussions with the community.
x
Relocation of the Somerville Center for Adult Learning Experiences (SCALE), Community
Schools, and the Council on Aging from the Tufts Administration Building (TAB) at 167
Holland Street to new spaces in City-owned buildings, saving the City over $260,000 per
year in lease payments to Tufts.
x
Co-location of all OSPCD divisions in one building.
x
Creation of additional space at the DPW Building by moving certain programs out of the
facility.
x
Modest expansion of most relocated department areas to meet department needs.
January 10, 2019
City of Somerville
Departmental Relocation Strategy and Implementation Plan
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January 7, 2019
x
Creation of shared conference rooms on most floors to address the need for additional
meeting space.
x
More efficient use of available space.
x
Additional toilet rooms in buildings with insufficient capacity as well as improved egress
paths.
The key differences between each option are as follows:
x
Option A includes the full use of the Cummings School as swing space and relocates
Engineering, Capital Projects, and Inspectional Services to the 1895 Building for better
synergy with OSPCD and City Hall.
x
Option B includes the use of the Cummings School for Engineering, Capital Projects,
Inspectional Services, and OSPCD and consolidates more School services in the 1895
Building than Options A or D.
x
Option D proposes leased space for some departments as well as moving some
departments to other facilities (e.g., 42 Cross St.) in order to avoid the use of the
Cummings School.
Note that the proposed departmental relocation strategies presented here are conceptual in
nature for planning potential future department relocations. The strategies were developed based
on available information, interviews with department heads, and visual observations. Kleinfelder
did not perform detailed building surveys and measurements or building code analyses to identify
and incorporate code-required upgrades to address life-safety and building egress deficiencies
that may exist.
The summary tables that follow for each option identify the proposed building, department, and
proposed square feet of space for each department. Through the department head interviews
summarized in Section III, Kleinfelder identified recommended square feet for each department.
The proposed square feet in the option tables is based on conceptual staffing layouts for the
relocated department within the proposed building developed from existing organization charts,
storage needs, and typical desk sizing.4 Due to the natural constraints of the usable space in each
building, the proposed square feet of space may have resulted in more or less than the
recommended amount.
Departmental Relocation Strategy - Option A
Table 2 and Figures 12 through 15 show the proposed relocation of departments into City Hall,
the 1895 Building, Edgerly, and 45 College Avenue. For this Option, no departments are relocated
to Cummings, which remains available for classroom and office swing space.
4 The Program Analysis Data in Appendix B breaks down the staff layouts per department along with typical space
needs for the specific level of staff. The layouts assume an additional 30% or more of required circulation space,
which is typical.
January 10, 2019
City of Somerville
Departmental Relocation Strategy and Implementation Plan
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January 7, 2019
Table 2 – Departmental Relocation Strategy – Option A
Proposed Building
Department
Proposed
Square Feet
City Hall
Communications and Community Engagement
1,480
Elections
1,035
Personnel - Payroll
300
Finance Department - Purchasing
680
Finance Department - Auditing
1,220
Finance Department - Treasury
1,045
Finance Department - Assessing
1,285
City Clerk
960
SomerStat
456
Mayor/Executive Administration
1,400
Board of Alderman
2,254
Law Office
1,040
Shared Conference Rooms (5)
1,160
1895 Building
Information Technology
1,539
Voting Machine Storage
400
Health and Human Services
3,513
Personnel
1,575
Constituent Services
1,635
Veterans’ Services
1,250
Finance Department - Grants Development
425
Office of Sustainability and Environment (OSE)
425
Arts Council
1,050
Inspectional Services Department (ISD)
4,175
Capital Projects and Planning
2,002
Engineering
2,233
Office of Strategic Planning and Community
Development (OSPCD)
6,360
OSPCD - Housing Division and Office of Housing
Stability (OHS)
2,250
Shared Conference Rooms (9)
3,400
January 10, 2019
City of Somerville
Departmental Relocation Strategy and Implementation Plan
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January 7, 2019
Proposed Building
Department
Proposed
Square Feet
Edgerly School
School Administration
10,209
Somerville Family Learning Collaborative (SFLC)
and Parent Information Center (PIC)
3,720
City Clerk - Archives
3,100
Clothing Drive
1,945
English Language Learners (ELL)
2,235
Special Education
9,960
Parks and Recreation
2,059
Somerville Center for Adult Learning Experiences
(SCALE)
14,300
SCALE English Language Learning
985
Afterschool Programs/Community Schools
1,412
Extended Learning Program (ELP) Classroom
973
Swing Space - Classrooms (3)
2,303
Shared Conference Rooms (1)
540
Cummings School
Swing Space - Classrooms (22)
14,389
Swing Space - Offices (14)
3,256
45 College Avenue
Council on Aging
TBD
DPW/Franey Rd
DPW
8,000
Water & Sewer
1,700
Key benefits of Option A include:
x
OSPCD would be located in the 1895 Building, bringing it closer to City Hall than in Option
B.
x
ISD, Capital Projects, Engineering, and OSPCD would be co-located.
x
More program space would be available at the DPW Building compared to Option D due
to the relocation of Capital Projects and Planning and Engineering in addition to ISD.
x
The Cummings School would be available for classroom and/or office swing space if
needed during future construction projects (beyond those called for in this report), though
this would require an investment of capital funds to renovate this facility.
Some drawbacks to Option A include:
x
The relocation of ISD to the 1895 Building would bring substantial new vehicular traffic to
Central Hill.
x
The Cummings School would need to be renovated to be brought up to code and made
ADA accessible for any major use as swing space, requiring a significant investment of
capital funds.
January 10, 2019
City of Somerville
Departmental Relocation Strategy and Implementation Plan
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January 7, 2019
x
The Cummings School would remain unused for much of the time unless it was
required for swing space. This would require maintaining utilities to and insurance
for the building, even if it was unoccupied.
January 10, 2019
Pros:
• Improvement of egress routes within the
existing structure of City Hall
• Modest Expansion of departments and an
increase of conference space
• Addition of toilet rooms
• Relocating the voting machines frees
up vault space
Somerville City Hall
Option A - Plans
Level 2 Option A Plan
Level 3 Option A Plan
Basement Level Option A Plan
Level 1 Option A Plan
Cons:
• Requires the relocation of OSPCD from
City Hall
• Extent of renovations may require
relocation of departments to either the
1895 High School Building or modules
• Parking on the ‘hill’ is limited
Option A: City Hall
-62-
Figure 12
-59-
-63-
-60-
1895 High School
Option A - Plans
Level 3 Option A Plan
Level 1 Option A Plan
Level 2 Option A Plan
Level 4 Option A Plan
Pros:
• Provides close proximity for 1895 High
School Building departments to City Hall
• With the utilization of the 1895 High School
Building, the City government will have a
more efficient use of assets r
• Relocation of building departments
from DPW frees up space for renovations
• Grouping of department provides better
synergy between departments.
• School Dept functions all reside at Edgerly.
Cons:
• Somerville High School is the only school
presence on the ‘Hill’
• Parking will become a major issue with the
addition of ISD
• The third floor of Edgerly would be used
for SCALE program, resulting in limited
classroom “swing space”.
hool
Building
-63-
Figure 13
Option A: 1895 High Sch
Building
-60-
-64-
STORAGE
STORAGE
HALL
LOUNGE
WOMEN'S
TOILET
MEN'S
TOILET
INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY
1539 SF
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
3513 SF
BUILDING
SYSTEMS
910 SF
JC
BLD
SYSTEMS
445 SF
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT:
SOMERPROMISE
COUNCIL ON AGING
VOTING MACHINES
400 SF
SHARED
CONFERENCE
400 SF
BOILER ROOM
918 SF
STAIR 1
STAIR 2
STORAGE
STORAGE
SHARED
CONFERENCE
400 SF
SHARED
CONFERENCE
400 SF
CAPITAL PROJECTS
2002 SF
ENGINEERING
1600 SF
2233 SF*
ISD
4175 SF*
CONF
480 SF
CONF
480 SF
MEN'S
TOILET
WOMEN'S
TOILET
LOUNGE
JC
HALL
STAIR 1
STAIR 2
PERSONNEL
1575 SF
HALL
STORAGE
CONSTITUENT
SERVICES
1635 SF
VETERANS SERVICES
1250 SF
STORAGE
MEN'S
TOILET
WOMEN'S
TOILET
LOUNGE
ISD
960 SF*
SHARED
CONFERENCE
230 SF
ARTS COUNCIL
1050 SF
GRANTS
425 SF
OSE
425 SF
ENGINEERING
633 SF*
STAIR 1
STAIR 2
JC
Level 2 Proposed Department Relocation
-61-
Edgerly School
Option A - Plans
Pros:
• Edgerly School provides efficient use of
available space on all floors
• All education programs are located in one
facility with direct connections to School
Administration
• SCALE program has use of an Auditorium
and lunch room facilities
• Once the boxing tenant has moved, SFLC
and PIC buildout can occur.
• Provides “one stop shopping” for parents
Cons:
• There is limited parking for Staff and
Constituent events as Edgerly is located
within a neighborhood.
• The Next Wave and Full Circle programs,
currently existing on the third floor, will
not move out until the New High School
is completed in 2021, possibly delaying
construction/remodeling activities.
Level 3 Option A Plan
Level 1 Option A Plan
Level 2 Option A Plan
Option A: Edgerly School
-64-
Figure 14
-61-
-65-
-62-
Cummings School
Option A Swing Space - Plans
Pros:
• Adequate swing space for the City
of Somerville during school or office
renovations
• The auditorium space could be used for city
meetings.
Cons:
• Facility will remain empty most of a year
unless it is needed for swing space
• The potential to sell the building for the
city’s gain outweighs the necessity to keep
the asset for swing space
• Changes to make the building available for
city departments will potentially affect the
traffic plan for the surrounding community.
Level 3 Option A Plan
Level 1 Option A Plan
Level 2 Option A Plan
Option A: Cummings School
Level 2 Option A Plan
-65-
Figure 15
-62-
-66-
-63-
City of Somerville
Departmental Relocation Strategy and Implementation Plan
-65-
January 7, 2019
Departmental Relocation Strategy - Option B
Table 3 and Figures 16 through 19 show the proposed relocation of departments into City Hall,
the 1895 Building, Edgerly, Cummings, 45 College Avenue, and 42 Cross Street.
Table 3 – Departmental Relocation Strategy – Option B
Proposed Building
Department
Proposed
Square Feet
City Hall
Communications and Community Engagement
1,480
Elections
1,035
Personnel-Payroll
300
Finance Department - Purchasing
680
Finance Department - Auditing
1,220
Finance Department - Treasury
1,045
Finance Department - Assessing
1,285
City Clerk
960
SomerStat
456
Mayor/Executive Administration
1,400
Board of Alderman
2,254
Law Office
1,040
Shared Conference Rooms (5)
1,160
1895 Building
Information Technology
1,539
Health and Human Services
3,513
Clothing Drive
1,400
Personnel
1,918
Constituent Services
1,551
Veterans’ Services
1,250
Finance Department - Grants Development
400
Office of Sustainability and Environment (OSE)
400
Somerville Center for Adult Learning Experiences
(SCALE)
13,300
SCALE English Language Learning
985
Somerville Family Learning Collaborative (SFLC)
and Parent Information Center (PIC)
6,190
Shared Conference Rooms (3)
2,003
January 10, 2019
City of Somerville
Departmental Relocation Strategy and Implementation Plan
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January 7, 2019
Proposed Building
Department
Proposed
Square Feet
Edgerly School
School Administration
10,209
English Language Learners (ELL)
2,235
Afterschool Programs/Community Schools
1,415
Special Education
9,960
Parks and Recreation
2,059
Extended Learning Program (ELP) Classroom
973
Swing space - Classrooms (14)
19,256
Shared Conference Rooms (2)
880
Unallocated Space
8,495
Cummings School
Office of Strategic Planning and Community
Development (OSPCD)
5,753
OSPCD - Housing Division and Office of Housing
Stability (OHS)
2,390
Engineering
2,142
Inspectional Services Department (ISD)
6,297
Capital Projects and Planning
1,600
Arts Council
975
Shared Conference Rooms (5)
2,043
Shared Auditorium
1,995
45 College Avenue
Council on Aging
TBD
42 Cross Street
City Clerk - Archives
3,100
Voting Machine Storage
400
DPW/Franey Rd
DPW
8,000
Water & Sewer
1,700
Key benefits of Option B include:
x
ISD, Capital Projects, Engineering, and OSPCD would be co-located at the Cummings
School, which has the additional benefit of having adequate off-street parking.
x
More program space would be available at the DPW Building compared to Option D due
to the relocation of Capital Projects and Planning and Engineering in addition to ISD.
x
There is unallocated space available at the Edgerly School, which could be used for a
number of purposes including, but not limited to, day care facilities, affordable rental space
for community non-profits and/or small businesses, and space to accommodate
unforeseen departmental growth beyond what is projected in this report.
x
The third floor of the Edgerly School would be mostly available for classroom and/or office
swing space during future construction projects (beyond those called for in this report).
x
SCALE would be in the 1895 Building, providing better connections to the new high school
and its facilities, and would be located near the planned MBTA Green Line Extension train
station, providing easy access for students.
January 10, 2019
City of Somerville
Departmental Relocation Strategy and Implementation Plan
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January 7, 2019
Some drawbacks to Option B include:
x
OSPCD would be located further away from City Hall than in Option A, making interactions
less convenient.
x
SFLC/PIC would be located further away from the School Administration than in Options
A and D, potentially reducing synergies and making the constituent experience less
convenient.
x
The Cummings School would need to be renovated to be brought up to code and made
ADA accessible, requiring a significant investment of capital funds and adding an
estimated three years to the implementation timeline.
January 10, 2019
Pros:
• Improvement of egress routes within the
existing structure of City Hall
• Modest Expansion of departments and an
increase of conference space
• Addition of toilet rooms
• Relocating the voting machines frees
up vault space
Somerville City Hall
Option B - Plans
Level 2 Option B Plan
Level 3 Option B Plan
Basement Level Option B Plan
Level 1 Option B Plan
Cons:
• Requires the relocation of OSPCD from
City Hall
• Extent of renovations may require
relocation of departments to either the
1895 High School Building or modules
• Parking on the ‘hill’ is limited
Option B: City Hall
-69-
Figure 16
-66-
-70-
-67-
1895 High School
Option B - Plans
Level 3 Option B Plan
Level 1 Option B Plan
Level 2 Option B Plan
Level 4 Option B Plan
Pros:
• SCALE, SFLC, and PIC programs School
Department will have a presence on the
‘Hill’
• SCALE could use the High School
Auditorium to host programs for students
Cons:
• SCALE, SFLC, PIC programs are not
located near School Administration
functions, which are located within Edgerly
School.
• The parking on the ‘Hill’ is limited
• SCALE proximity to the High School may
present negative feelings for some SCALE
students
• ISD, Engineering, and Capital Projects
would relocate to Cummings School
Building
Building
Option B: 1895
-70-
Figure 17
-67-
-71-
PERSONNEL
1918 SF
SCALE
ENGLISH
LANGUAGE
LEARNING
985 SF
HALL
STORAGE
CONSTITUENT
SERVICES
1551 SF
VETERANS SERVICES
1250 SF
STORAGE
MEN'S
TOILET
WOMEN'S
TOILET
LOUNGE
STAIR 1
STAIR 2
JC
SHARED
CONFERENCE
970 SF
SHARED
CONFERENCE
230 SF
SHARED
CONFERENCE
633 SF
OSE
400 SF
GRANTS
400 SF
-68-
Edgerly School
Option B - Plans
Pros:
• SFLC, PIC, and SCALE program has
presence on the ‘Hill’.
• The third floor is swing space for school or
office renovations
• Building is in relatively good condition
• Recreation Department gains access
to a gym for after school activities and
locates them near other programs at
near by Recreation facilities.
Cons:
• Third Floor use as “Possible Swing Space”
is not most efficient use
• Prevents the Planning and ISD
departments from moving to 1895 High
School Building.
• Parking is limited for Staff and
Constituent events
• Next Wave/Full Circle will not move
until New High School is completed in
2021.
Level 3 Option B Plan
Level 1 Option B Plan
Level 2 Option B Plan
Option B: Edgerly School
-71-
Figure 18
-68-
-72-
-69-
Cummings School
Option B - Plans
Pros:
• Adequate Parking for ISD inspectors and
other program uses.
• The auditorium/gym can be used for
Public Meetings or daily after school
activities
• Better synergy between departments
• The proximity to City Hall is ideal.
• School Department keeps presence on
the ‘Hill’.
• Convenient access to ISD for
Contractors
Cons:
• During events, the parking will become
limited to do to the residential location of
Cummings School
• Next Wave and Full Circle uses will
not move out until New High School
is completed in 2021, possibly delaying
construction/remodeling activities.
Level 3 Option B Plan
Level 1 Option B Plan
Level 2 Option B Plan
Option B: Cummings School
-72-
Figure 19
-69-
-73-
ROOF
337 SF
T
ENGINEERING
711 SF
2142 SF
187 SF
T
ARTS
COUNCIL
230 SF
ST.
ARTS COUNCIL
745 SF
975 SF
SHARED
CONFERENCE
300 SF
ROOF BELOW
ROOF BELOW
179 SF
251 SF
477 SF
ROOF
BELOW
SHARED
CONFERENCE
315 SF
OSPCD
214 SF TOTAL
HC
HC
2
3
HC
29
30
14
28
27
31
32
25
26
33
34
35
24
23
36
13
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
ENTRY
OSPCD
343 SF TOTAL
AUDITORIUM
1995 SF
533 SF
ISD
1303 SF
6297 SF
SHARED CONF
337 SF
866 SF
FILES
741 SF
686 SF
OSPCD
1277 SF
5753 SF
MEN'S TOILET
432 SF
1375 SF
BOILER
473 SF
EMER.
GEN.
61 SF
FIRE MAIN
221 SF
WOMENS TOILET
347 SF
251 SF
HC
LIFT
JC
T
T
M
W
ST.
ST.
ST.
ST.
T
T
T
T
REVISED PARKING
36 REGULAR SPACES
2 VAN ACCESSIBLE SPACES
SHARED CONF.
251 SF
PROPOSED HC
ELEVATOR
1
4
SHARED
CONFERENCE ROOM
840 SF
705 SF
CAPITAL PROJECTS
895 SF
1600 SF
= 16'
Proposed Department Relocation
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City of Somerville
Departmental Relocation Strategy and Implementation Plan
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January 7, 2019
Departmental Relocation Strategy - Option D
Table 4 and Figures 20 through 22 show the proposed relocation of departments into City Hall,
the 1895 Building, Edgerly, 45 College Avenue, 42 Cross Street, and the new public safety
building. For this option, the Inspectional Services Department (ISD) would be relocated to leased
space, and Capital Projects and Planning and Engineering would be relocated into the space that
ISD vacated in the DPW Building.
Table 4 – Departmental Relocation Strategy – Option D
Proposed Building
Department
Proposed
Square Feet
City Hall
Communications and Community Engagement
1,795
Elections
1,035
Personnel-Payroll
300
Finance Department - Purchasing
680
Finance Department - Grants Development
305
Finance Department - Auditing
1,220
Finance Department - Treasury
1,045
Finance Department - Assessing
1,285
City Clerk
960
SomerStat
456
Mayor/Executive Administration
1,400
Board of Alderman
2,254
Law Office
1,045
Shared Conference Rooms (4)
855
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City of Somerville
Departmental Relocation Strategy and Implementation Plan
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January 7, 2019
Proposed Building
Department
Proposed
Square Feet
1895 Building
Information Technology
1,539
Health and Human Services
2,900
Veterans’ Services
1,250
Voting Machine Storage
400
Personnel
1,575
Somerville Center for Adult Learning Experiences
(SCALE)
13,445
SCALE English Language Learning
1,251
Office of Strategic Planning and Community
Development (OSPCD)
6,017
OSPCD - Housing Division
1,918
OSPCD - Office of Housing Stability (OHS)
815
Office of Sustainability and Environment (OSE)
520
Shared Conference Rooms (6)
2,215
Unallocated space
840
Edgerly School
School Administration
9,885
English Language Learners (ELL)
2,235
Afterschool Programs/Community Schools
1,415
Special Education
9,960
Parks and Recreation
2,309
Somerville Family Learning Collaborative (SFLC)
3,449
Parent Information Center (PIC)
6,762
Clothing Drive
904
Extended Learning Program (ELP) Classroom
1,415
Arts Council
1,415
Swing Space - Classrooms (6)
5,518
Shared Conference Rooms (3)
2,240
Unallocated space
8,495
Leased Space
Inspectional Services Department (ISD)
6,297
New Public Safety
Building
Constituent Services
1,635
45 College Avenue
Council on Aging
TBD
42 Cross Street
City Clerk - Archives
3,100
DPW/Franey Rd
DPW
4,500
Capital Projects
1,500
Engineering
2,000
Water & Sewer
1,700
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City of Somerville
Departmental Relocation Strategy and Implementation Plan
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January 7, 2019
Key benefits of Option D include:
x
OSPCD would be located in the 1895 Building, bringing it closer to City Hall than in Option
B.
x
The relocation of ISD frees up program space at the DPW Building for expansion of the
Capital Projects and Planning and Engineering departments.
x
The Cummings School is unused, eliminating the need to expend capital funds to renovate
and modernize the building and creating an additional property for which other
opportunities can be explored in discussion with the community.
x
SCALE would be moved to the 1895 Building, providing better connections to the new
high school and its facilities, and it would be located near the planned MBTA Green Line
Extension train station, providing easy access for students.
x
There is unallocated space at both the 1895 Building and Edgerly, which could be used
for a number of purposes including but not limited to day care facilities, affordable rental
space for community non-profits and/or small businesses, and space to accommodate
unforeseen departmental growth beyond what is projected in this report.
x
Some classroom or office swing space would be available on the third floor of Edgerly for
use during future construction projects (beyond those called for in this report).
Some drawbacks to Option D include:
x
ISD, OSPCD, and Capital Projects and Planning/Engineering would be in three different
locations, reducing interaction and synergies between the departments.
x
Constituent Services would be located at a new public safety building, requiring that
building to be constructed before City Hall is reopened after renovation.
x
Option D provides less swing space for future construction projects (beyond those called
for in this report) than Options A and B.
January 10, 2019
Pros:
• Improvement of egress routes within the
existing structure of City Hall
• Modest Expansion of departments and an
increase of conference space
• Addition of toilet rooms
• Wellness Rooms have been added
• Relocating the voting machines frees
up vault space
Somerville City Hall
Option D - Plans
Level 2 Option D Plan
Level 3 Option D Plan
Basement Level Option D Plan
Level 1 Option D Plan
Cons:
• Requires the relocation of OSPCD from
City Hall
• Extent of renovations may require
relocation of departments to either the
1895 High School Building or modules
• Parking on the ‘hill’ is limited
Option D: City Hall
-77-
Figure 20
-73-
-77-
-74-
1895 High School
Option D - Plans
Level 3 Option D Plan
Level 1 Option D Plan
Level 2 Option D Plan
Level 4 Option D Plan
Pros:
• Provides close proximity to City Hall for
many city departments while allowing for
their program expansion.
• GLX access for SCALE.
• Wellness rooms have been added
• SCALE gives School Department more
presence on the ‘Hill’.
Cons:
• The parking on the ‘Hill’ is limited; students
and staff will need to park in the
surrounding communities
• SCALE is not near the School
Administration functions
• SCALE proximity to the High School may
presentnegative feelings for some SCALE
students
Building
Building
Option D: 1895
Level 1 Option D Plan
-78-
Figure 21
-74-
-78-
-75-
Edgerly School
Option D - Plans
Level 3 Option D Plan
Level 1 Option D Plan
Level 2 Option D Plan
Option D: Edgerly School
Pros:
• Modest Expansion of departments and an
increase of conference space
• Additions of toilet rooms
• Allows for “one stop shopping” for parents
• Wellness Rooms have been added
• City has retained future use space for
community usage
Cons:
• Parking is limited for Staff and Constituent
events
• Next Wave/Full Circle will not move until
New High School is completed in 2021.
-79-
Figure 22
-75-
-79-
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City of Somerville
Departmental Relocation Strategy and Implementation Plan
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January 7, 2019
VI.
PRELIMINARY FINANCIAL COMPARISON
To assess the financial consequences of the three options summarized in the previous section,
Kleinfelder prepared cost estimates of the work that would be needed to renovate City Hall, the
1895 Building, Edgerly, and Cummings. It should be noted that these estimates are high level and
are intended to represent order-of-magnitude costs; more precise estimates will only be available
when the City has hired an owner’s project manager (OPM) to oversee the projects and begin the
actual design process.
Since these four cost estimates only tell a portion of the story, the City developed a broader
framework, detailed below and summarized in Tables 5 and 6, for comparing the full financial
consequences of the three departmental relocation strategy options as well as the status quo.
x
Status quo: Under the status quo, the City would have to invest in the buildings we
currently occupy, including City Hall, Edgerly, Cummings, the Recreation Building, and the
Annex. At a minimum, this would require addressing the estimated capital needs from the
City’s 2018 Facilities Plan, the costs of which are noted in Section IV - Existing Conditions.
The City would also need to continue leasing space at the TAB building, which is
represented in the table below as a 30-year cost. Finally, though this does not have easily
estimated financial impacts, the City would have to decide what to do with the 1895
Building, which, absent a significant investment, would sit vacant and boarded up on
Central Hill.
x
Option A: Under Option A, the City would undertake a full renovation of City Hall, the 1895
Building, and Edgerly. The City may have to undertake a full renovation of Cummings
depending on whether it is used for office or school swing space. This uncertainty is
reflected in the table below through the creation of two sub-options: Option A.1 (no
Cummings renovation) and Option A.2 (including Cummings renovation). With SCALE and
Community Schools vacating the TAB in 2024, the City would only have to pay for this
portion of the TAB lease for six years. Finally, the City would not need to invest in the
Annex or the Recreation Building as these properties would no longer be in use.
x
Option B: Under Option B, the City would undertake a full renovation of City Hall, the 1895
Building, Cummings, and Edgerly. With SCALE and Community Schools vacating the TAB
in 2025, the City would only have to pay for this portion of the TAB lease for seven years.
Finally, the City would not need to invest in the Annex or the Recreation Building as these
properties would no longer be in use.
x
Option D: Under Option D, the City would undertake a full renovation of City Hall, the 1895
Building, and Edgerly. With SCALE and Community Schools vacating the TAB in 2025,
the City would only have to pay for this portion of the TAB lease for seven years. Finally,
the City would not need to invest in the Annex, the Recreation Building, or Cummings as
these properties would no longer be in use.
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City of Somerville
Departmental Relocation Strategy and Implementation Plan
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January 7, 2019
Table 5 - Preliminary Financial Comparison – Estimated Expenses*
Status Quo
Option A.1
Option A.2
Option B
Option D
City Hall
Full Renovation
$11,400,000
$11,400,000
$11,400,000
$11,400,000
1895 Building
Full Renovation
$28,500,000
$28,500,000
$28,500,000
$28,500,000
Edgerly
Full Renovation
$21,000,000
$21,000,000
$21,000,000
$21,000,000
Cummings
Full Renovation
$18,000,000
$18,000,000
ISD Lease
(Over 30-year Period)
$5,400,000
Space at New Public
Safety Building for
Constituent Services
$800,000
City Hall
Estimated Capital
Needs
$7,500,000
Edgerly Estimated
Capital Needs
$14,000,000
Cummings Estimated
Capital Needs
$11,400,000
Recreation Building
Estimated Capital
Needs
$4,100,000
City Hall Annex
Estimated Capital
Needs
$1,400,000
TAB Lease For School
Uses
(Over 30-year Period)
$5,600,000
$1,100,000
$1,100,000
$1,300,000
$1,300,000
TAB Lease for City
Uses
(Over 30-year Period)
$2,400,000
$2,400,000
$2,400,000
$2,400,000
$2,400,000
Total Estimated
Expenses
$46,300,000
$64,400,000
$82,400,000
$82,600,000
$70,800,000
*Notes: 1) All estimates are in 2018 dollars. 2) Option A.1 assumes the City has to undertake a renovation of
the Cummings in order to use it for office or school swing space; Option A.2 assumes this renovation does not
occur. 3) Full renovation estimates provided by Kleinfelder; estimated capital needs drawn from the City’s
2018 Facilities Plan (see Section IV). 4) Though the Status Quo does not include an estimate for renovating the
January 10, 2019
City of Somerville
Departmental Relocation Strategy and Implementation Plan
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January 7, 2019
1895 Building, the City would have to make a decision about how to handle the property, which, absent an
investment, would sit vacant and boarded up. 5) Costs associated with 45 College Ave. are not included in this
analysis because, at the time of this report, there was too much uncertainty about the future uses of the
property. The City has committed to undertaking a community engagement process to develop a more
defined plan, however. This table therefore assumes that the City continues to lease space at the TAB for the
Council on Aging.
Through conversations with the community, the City could also consider the potential to offset
some of these expenses by disposing of the properties that would no longer be in use. Table 8
presents estimated sale prices if these properties were sold at market rate.
Table 6 - Preliminary Financial Comparison – Potential Estimated Proceeds from
Property Disposition
Status Quo
Option A.1
Option A.2
Option B
Option D
Recreation
Building
$2,300,000
$2,300,000
$2,300,000
$2,300,000
City Hall Annex
$2,400,000
$2,400,000
$2,400,000
$2,400,000
Cummings
$6,000,000
Total Potential
Estimated Proceeds
From Property
Disposition
$4,700,000
$4,700,000
$4,700,000
$10,800,000
Total Estimated
Expenses Net of
Potential Estimated
Proceeds From
Property Disposition
$46,300,000
$59,600,000
$76,600,000
$77,800,000
$60,000,000
It should be noted that this is a relatively simple financial comparison and that a number of factors
are not included here, including but not limited to construction cost inflation, swing space costs
and borrowing costs. Furthermore, the cost estimates provided by Kleinfelder are, as noted
above, order of magnitude.
January 10, 2019
City of Somerville
Departmental Relocation Strategy and Implementation Plan
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January 7, 2019
VII.
RECOMMENDED STRATEGY AND IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
Recommended Strategy
Based on the results of the in-depth evaluation process and input provided by the Master Plan
Working Group, Option D is the recommended strategy for the City. This option centralizes many
City services on Central Hill – providing a better customer experience for constituents and
improving communication and synergy between departments – while simultaneously expanding
the educational experience on the Hill by relocating SCALE to the 1895 Building. It also centralizes
school administration functions in the Edgerly, and, in doing so, relocates all departments
currently in the Cummings building. In addition, the Master Plan Working Group identified an
important objective not to locate high-traffic departments like Inspectional Services in the
neighborhoods and therefore proposed leased space for this department.
It should be noted that while this plan is comprehensive, it is not exhaustive. It does not examine
parking capacity in depth, for example, nor does it evaluate the future of the Department of Public
Works building in detail. Both of these issues will require additional attention and resources. The
future of the City-owned property at 45 College Avenue, the location identified in this report for
the Council on Aging, will also require additional planning, which the City intends to initiate with a
community process in 2019.
Nonetheless, the work summarized here is a significant achievement for the City: it establishes a
realistic plan with support from a diverse set of stakeholders for improving the constituent
experience, increasing the efficiency of services, and reducing operating costs through
departmental relocations. If the implementation plan outlined in below is followed, the plan –
including major construction efforts at 1895, City Hall, and Edgerly – can be fully implemented by
the end of 2025, a mere seven years from now.
Implementation Plan
A key element in developing a Departmental Relocation Strategy is to understand how it can
realistically be implemented. Kleinfelder prepared conceptual implementation plans outlining
major milestones that would need to be achieved to implement each of the Departmental
Relocation Strategies. Presented below in Table 7 is the implementation plan for Option D (see
the appendices for the implementation plans for Options A and B). The plans are based on a
construction start date of 2021 to coincide with the estimated completion of the new high school.
Design phases for the relocations can begin in 2019.
Implementation will involve the following general steps:
x Owner’s Project Manager: By statute, for a project of this magnitude, the City will need to
retain an Owner’s Project Manager (OPM) to represent the City’s interests during design
and construction of the project. Due to the project’s complexity, the OPM should be
retained early in the design process to help select the design consultant. The OPM could
be retained in 2019.
x Design: Temporary and permanent spaces will need to be designed by an outside
consultant. Design services to be performed will include:
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City of Somerville
Departmental Relocation Strategy and Implementation Plan
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January 7, 2019
o detailed inspections and survey of existing conditions
o parking and traffic studies
o subsurface investigations for any building footprint expansions
o hazardous materials inspections
o preparation of preliminary layouts
o preparation of bid documents
x Permitting: Building permits will need to be obtained at various stages of construction for
both temporary and permanent conditions.
x Temporary Construction: Swing space will need to be constructed to temporarily house
departments while permanent spaces are renovated. In some cases, swing space could
be available in existing buildings, which might only require minimal work to use or might
involve significant code-required upgrades. In some cases, swing space could be provided
using temporary trailers, like those used for the new high school construction.
x Permanent Construction: Permanent construction will include interior fit-outs; building
system upgrades and code-required upgrades (i.e. egress, ADA accessibility and life-
safety systems).
x Temporary and Permanent Departmental Relocations: Department relocations will need
to be performed at various stages of implementation. Each relocation will need to be
coordinated, including phasing of IT requirements.
Note that the timeline for implementation is highly dependent on many factors, including approval
of funding, final scope of design, extent of code-required upgrades, and availability of swing space
to allow staged construction. The implementation plan presented in Table 7 is meant to represent
a reasonably feasible scenario, assuming that funding is available. If this plan is followed, Option
D could reasonably be expected to be fully implemented by the end of 2025.
January 10, 2019