What is new at County Square? Well, first off, it is no longer going to be a square so we need to change our reference. Groundbreaking for the new county administration building was January 2021. Construction of University Ridge Development by DPR Construction is now in full swing and the steel beams for the six-story office building are rising. A construction camera is coming soon and will livestream from the county’s website.
What is the first building? The building at the corner of Church Street and University Ridge will be home to the new county administration offices. Driving by the location, you will see the topography of the parcel is challenging but will make for an interesting “split-level” type of design — four stories facing Church Street and six stories in the back. Shannon Herman, assistant county administrator, strategic operations, says the corner spot is the most challenging and the rest of the acreage will be more marketable for office and housing.
What about the design? You have read a lot about the architecture and redevelopment of the 40-acre parcel. Not much has changed on the first building since the recent approval by the city of Greenville’s Board of Zoning Appeals. The lead developer, Roca Point Partners, has an impressive list of headquarter developments with statement architecture.
Who will move to the Administration building? The building will house all county employees except for EMS, which is under consideration for relocation. On the back side will be Probate Court (issues involving land and property disputes) and Magistrate Court. In addition, the public terrace will have gathering spaces. Construction is expected to be completed first quarter 2023.
What’s next on the construction schedule? In August 2021, demolition will begin of the Family Court and the Department of Motor Vehicles buildings. Both of these services are moving to 350 and 352 Halton Road. Demolition of Family Court will allow for construction of the new parking garage for county employees. The new Halton Road offices are almost complete and “furniture is being assembled as we speak,” Herman says.
How will county services change? Any good developer is looking at the future of customer interaction. (When was the last time you went inside your bank, for instance?) Herman was quick to point out that even during COVID, county services never closed. County services will include a hybrid interface allowing for in-person and online exchanges. “People still want to come into county offices,” she says.
If you voted early in the November 2020 election, you know the voters registration and elections office handled those long, two-hour lines snaking through the County Square parking lot quite well. Herman says the voters registration office — which will be housed in the administration building — is already preparing for future voting and line-queuing through the public terrace. There will be ample public space that includes the Veterans Memorial wall which Herman says will be a place of “honor and reflection.”
These are your tax dollars at work, folks, so check it out.
Amy Ryberg Doyle served for 12 years on Greenville City Council. She is married and has four children. An outdoors enthusiast, she likes to bike, swim and run, but not all in that order. She power-naps daily.
