The City of Germantown, Tenn., broke ground on a new fleet maintenance facility on Jan. 23. The new facility is east of the City’s existing public services complex. The City stated construction should be complete by October 2013.

The original facility was constructed in 1982, according to the City, and problems with it, including a lack of space for accommodating the City’s fire apparatus and issues with maintaining OSHA compliance and meeting environmental regulations led the City to build the new structure.

The City began planning the new facility in October, 2011, when the City’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen authorized a Professional Services Agreement with architecture and engineering firm Barge, Waggoner, Sumner & Cannon, Inc. to provide its services to design and build the new facility. The facility’s design incorporates sustainable design elements, including translucent wall panels, occupancy sensors, and double ceilings designed to better insulate ducting.

The City also chose construction firm ViktorHall, at a low bid of $1,537,950, for the project. Funding for the project is included in the City’s FY-2013 Capital Improvements Plan Budget.