They are packing up books, files and office supplies as dozens of Miami Gardens employees prepare to move into the city’s first city hall building, part of a big, sprawling complex that will be among the most sophisticated municipal facilities in the county.
The new facility will provide relief to the some city employees from various departments who have worked in crammed work conditions at a former business complex since the city’s moved in its temporary, makeshift headquarters 10 years ago at NW 15th Avenue and 167th Street.
But on Friday, boxes were everywhere as employees organized their belongings for their long-awaited office at the new city hall, located at NW 188th Street and NW 27th Avenue. City officials expect to have their weekly council meetings in the new building later this month.
The new 71,000-square-foot City Hall building consists of a three-story office building. The Council Chambers contains a community meeting room and a fitness center.
The new 67,000-square-foot Police Headquarters building is located in a three-story building. The new building will incorporate many enhanced security design elements and systems. Inside, an emergency operations center is expected to open later this year.
The municipal complex will have 181,105 square feet of space and a fourlevel parking garage with over 400 parking spaces. Luscious landscaping and palm trees line the facility’s entrance.
The roof includes numerous solar panels to reduce electrical and energy costs. The building cost $55 million to build, but unexpected delays may cost the city at least $7 million more than the budgeted allotment.
