Page 28 - 08.11.2025 Council Packet

II. PLANNING PROCESS

A comprehensive process was conducted in conjunction with the Town of Berlin Mayor and
Council, Executive staff, BCIA, Shore Up!, and the design team: Haley Architecture, SR/A Interior
Design, IMEG Engineering to develop the vision and potential program for a new Community
Center. The BEACON survey served to collect data from Town and County residents which was
used to prioritize current and future needs of the community.

After reviewing the applicable data, the project team:
- Created a draft summary of spaces with square footage for review by committee
members
- Created a preliminary site analysis of the existing land
- Developed a block diagram of the future building on the site for review
- The team engaged an independent general contractor to provide an in-depth construction
cost analysis for budgeting purposes.
- Conducted a series of community outreach workshops to confirm the program, activity
and service needs, along with desired facility elements and concept design.
- The Town staff, with help from consultants, identified potential avenues for revenue
generation as well as ongoing operations costs and staffing needs.
The Architectural team’s approach to this stage of the project is to collect all existing data
leading up to the engagement of the design team and translate it into what will eventually
become a construction project. Additionally, the Architectural team serves as the design team
lead in coordinating the various disciplines (Interiors, Landscape Architects, Civil, Structural, MEP
Engineers, etc.). Upon initial recommendations of spatial sizing and arrangements, the
Architectural team will start to study the physical elements of the building and work with the civil
engineering team to situate it generally on the site. The color block diagrams become a template
to begin conceptual design of the ultimate facility and all the supporting pieces of the same.
Some of those supporting pieces may include parking lots, playgrounds, future expansion,
connection to the Town, etc. During this phase of project development, the Architectural team
works closely with the Interior Designers, Landscape Architects, and Civil Engineering teams.

At SR/A Interior Design, the approach to the feasibility study emphasizes creating a space
that fosters community connection and inclusivity. By offering a program summary, concept
development, site plan color block diagram, and sample images of spaces, the team will ensure
that the design aligns with the community's needs and the surrounding context. This guarantees
that the new Community Center meets the diverse needs and expectations of the community.
While the design approach is guided by the resident’s survey results, it is also important to
recognize the value of ongoing community input. As the design progresses, the team will
integrate findings from Community Meeting Feedback to ensure it continues to reflect the
community’s evolving needs. In collaboration with all project stakeholders, the design team aims
to create a space that meets the needs of its users and the wider community. Ultimately, this
feasibility study will provide a clear foundation for making informed decisions about moving
forward with design and implementation.

To begin the site analysis of the subject site, IMEG Engineering established a base map
utilizing information available from state GIS digital mapping data. This map is the basis for

08.11.25 Council Packet Page 28 of 140
TOWN OF BERLIN COMMUNITY CENTER: FEASIBILITY STUDY 7