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YBI starts hiring process of architecture, engineering firm
YOUNGSTOWN
The Youngstown Business Incubator has launched its search for an architectural and engineering firm to renovate The Vindicator’s downtown office building.
YBI, 241 W. Federal St., is requesting a statement of qualifications from interested firms to renovate the 60,000-square-foot building at the corner of Vindicator Square and West Boardman Street in downtown. The building will be used as startup space for additive manufacturing companies and graduate space for startup businesses that have entered the market.
The statement needs to be received by Jan. 10, which will be followed by the interview process, which will take place during a two-week period.
“I think we’ll get a good response,” said Barb Ewing, chief operating officer of YBI.
The firm would be paid more than 5 percent of the total project cost, Ewing said.
“This is a very significant contract,” she added.
The cost to renovate the building is $5 million.
YBI received $3 million from the U.S. Economic Development Administration, $1.5 million from the Ohio Capital Appropriations budget and $500,000 from the city of Youngstown to renovate the building.
Ewing said the firm would be selected based on qualifications and experience, and she expects the process to wrap up by Feb. 1. The selected firm then would start the actual design work.
“We’re thrilled that this project is moving forward,” Ewing said.
The renovations would be completed in 2015.
The hiring process for the firm will be conducted as the organization is finalizing its purchase of the building.
The purchase price of The Vindicator’s steel- reinforced concrete building is $700,000. The price was based on the cost to rearrange and renovate space in the newspaper’s Front Street production building to house employees moving from the office building.
Personnel now housed in the office building are employees in the advertising, accounting and circulation departments. They would be moved across the street to the production building by June 1, said Mark Brown, The Vindicator’s general manager.