Relocating the city of Philadelphia administrative offices.

The situation:
The City of Philadelphia evaluates existing properties for a pending move and consolidation of Administrative personnelWith the City requiring over 500,000 square feet of useable area, consolidating departments into one facility became a challenge. Properties were available, but some of the most attractive properties, from a financial standpoint,may not have been the most desirable from floor plate standpoints. With location, floor size and configuration, overall area capability andlease / buy proposals all rising as important considerations for building evaluation, the decision-making process for the City to narrow on one building was complex and riddled with political implications.In an attempt to document a systematic and formal analysis of possible relocation sites,the City embarked upon a short, detailedassessment of candidate buildings. MGZA was retained, as member of a multi-disciplinary project team, to assess five major Center City, Philadelphiahigh-rise office buildings. Each building, comprising 450,000 to 500,000 square feet of space, was assessed, within a one month period of time, to determine suitability for a major relocation of City personnel.

The MGZA process:
Specifically, the strategic analysis were intended to provide the City with facility information that would lead to a decision about which building would be best suited to house the City’s primary municipal departments. MGZA, in association with the construction management giant, Bovis International, conducted efficiency studies, programming analysis, and architectural studies to result in a major recommendations report.

The solution:
Cost ramifications of moving into each building were presented by the project team, based upon forecast space planning,area assessment, and strategic analysis. A rating structure was developed which would lead to the selection of an appropriate building for the City’s move.MGZA’s studies proved that planning efficiencies could be obtained in buildings that werestructurally conducive to the City’s open office planning program. Certain buildings savedconsiderable square footage, by lending themselves to efficient floor layouts. The efficiencies could result in significant cost savings, based upon the current lease rates that would be in effect for the buildings.This study, completed in April, 1995 led toa clear understanding of each buildings value,as well as deficiencies.A similar review of two more propertiesresulted in a move completed in late 1998.