North Augusta Today

North Augusta's first towering structure is near the end of construction.

City Administrator Sam Bennett said the Georgia Avenue municipal building is about 90 percent complete.

Workers are finishing the fine details inside and office furniture is being assembled. Bennett said they will hold an open house in mid to late June for the public to view the building before city employee's move to their new offices.

The most important floor for the public will be the first floor to pay their water bills, taxes, get building permits. When walking into the building from the parking lot off Center Street, offices are situated to the left and right. Mayor Lark Jones said the building was designed for the residents.

"They can walk right in and get served," he said, noting that the first floor is for the general public.

The Boudreaux Group out of Columbia designed the building and said they received community feedback on what residents wanted of the new structure.

"We heard sentiments that the building should be traditional, timeless, welcoming and reflective of southern hospitality, serving as a catalyst and model for future town center development and possessing a strong civic presence," said Heather Mitchell, project manager of the company.

Mitchell said one of the most interesting things about the new municipal building is that the building can be seen from all sides in the downtown area.

The new building will offer triple or quadruple the space for each department compared to the current site on East Buena Vista Avenue, Jones said. In fact, there are more offices than personnel.

"Twenty-five percent of office space and stuff is for future growth," Jones said.

Just a few more steps into the building on the first floor is the North Augusta Arts and Heritage Center.

The 7,600 square foot art center includes a separate gift store and will house rotating art displays.

The second floor has a balcony space that overlooks the Arts and Heritage Center. Planning and economic development offices are also on the second floor.

The third floor will be Bennett's and Jones' new home where the city administrative offices will be located, including the city council chamber.

"There is a public space outside the chamber just for people to go outside and talk," Jones said.

The chamber has about 180 seats and was created as a multifunctional facility that can be used for events such as a wedding ceremony, Jones said.

Information technology and the computer server room are on the opposite side of the city administrative offices.

The fourth floor has the Palmetto Terrace Ballroom that will serve as North Augusta's new party rental space. It has a large balcony space that overlooks Augusta's skyline.

Bennett said he thinks the community will be pleased with the outcome of the building. The North Augusta Community Center, where most events are currently held, offers outdoor activities and they tried to do the same at the new municipal building, he said.

"It has the Brick Pond Park and walking trails," Bennett said.

Jones said he hopes there will be activities at the municipal building every night of the week.

Reach Crystal Garcia at crystal.garcia@northaugustatoday.com.