CITY OF BERWYN EXPANDS
PUBLIC WORKS FACILITY

Mayor Joseph J. Lanzillotti of Berwyn succeeded in expanding the city's public works building by 13,800 feet to include additional space for storing and servicing city vehicles. Officials had been aware of the need for space, but the question was how to pay for it.

A water audit conducted by the State of Illinois showed Berwyn's unaccountable water loss as being one of the highest in the State. An aggressive infrastructure program began to reverse those statistics. Faulty water meters and fire hydrants were replaced, main valves were inspected, and a sophisticated computerized survey system searched for water leaks.

Berwyn reduced the unaccountable water loss from 52 percent to 6 percent, saving the city several hundreds of thousands of dollars per year. It was the success of this program that ultimately led to expanding and improving the city's public works facility. "The infrastructure program not only saved us money, it proved that we are capable of finding solutions to our problems," said Tom Martirano, director of public works at Berwyn.

Wight and Company of Downers Grove, Illinois; an architectural, engineering, land surveying and environmental services firm, was hired to provide programming, design, site engineering and construction administration for the public works expansion. Working with the City, the architect provided contract documents for attaching the addition to the existing public works facility. The original building, now surrounded by single-family homes, dates back to 1909. Since that time, three additions have been added to meet the city's growing needs.

Building materials for the new addition were carefully selected to express continuity with existing facilities and to achieve energy efficiency. A brick and metal-clad masonry bearing wall unifies and minimizes the scale of the building while skylights fill the interior with natural lighting, saving energy dollars.

With the increased storage space, the city is now able to shelter an additional 20 maintenance vehicles. By aligning vehicle parking spaces in 45 degree angles and using clear span construction, space utilization is maximized. A work area that contains a multi-use hoist allows for servicing vehicles ranging from police cars to fire trucks. A lubrication area is organized so workers can quickly move vehicles in and out once the work is completed.

According to Tom Martirano, the building does more than provide space. He is quick to point out the benefits the building brings: "By servicing and repairing all of the city's vehicles in-house, in one spot, through one department, administration and record keeping are easier and more accurate. Productivity and employee morale have also increased," he said. Before the expansion, equipment was serviced by outside vendors. Maintenance bills were being generated by different departments, making record keeping difficult. "By centralizing our operation we can keep our fleet well maintained, our records up to date and our costs down," added Martirano.

The Public Works Department now services all city vehicles including 40 pieces of its own equipment, 35 police vehicles, and 25 vehicles operated by the fire department and building inspectors. Other municipal branches including the Sanitary, Forestry, Sewer and Water, and Street departments also benefit from services provided.

The improvement program was not restricted to just providing additional space. Interior remodeling of the existing building embellished office space and created designated workstations. "It's a beautiful facility," said Martirano. The color scheme blends a palette of muted colors including mauve, taupe and light grays. Counters in the reception area are shaped with a curved, contemporary look. With spaces organized by

February 1990 / Illinois Municipal Review / Page 11

function, the 40 people who work in the building are finding it easier to coordinate activities.

Site improvements were also a part of the architectural program. New drainage, utilities, an expanded parking lot, and strategically located service driveways promote efficient use of the new building. The fenced in parking area west of the building is used seven days a week for the city's recycling program. A variety of trees and bushes surround the building expressing the city's pride in being designated a "Tree City" by the National Arbor Day Foundation.

"The project succeeds in creating a pleasant and productive environment for workers, visitors and nearby residents. Service driveways —operating 24 hours a day — lead all traffic to a side street avoiding flashing headlights in residents' windows. Landscaping is similar in appearance to a suburban home, and the additional vehicle storage meets the City's current and projected space needs," said Architect Rich Carlson.

Total cost for the project, including the 13,800 square-foot addition, interior remodeling and site improvements amounted to $1,030,000. "The cost came in at more than eight percent below our budgeted cost," said Martirano.

The city cut its unaccountable water loss by 46 percent and in just eight months built an improved public works facility. By finding the solutions to their problems, Berwyn again has demonstrated its ability to act responsibly for the benefit of the community. •

Page 12 / Illinois Municipal Review / February 1990