Gwinnett Daily Post

BERKELEY LAKE - Lindell Sherrill of architectural firm Wakefield, Beasley and Associates presented exterior and interior materials and colors to Mayor Lois Salter and City Council members Thursday for their thumbs-up.

Once the governing body gave their approval, said Sherrill, progress could continue on some of the finer design points of the environmentally friendly building.

Barbara Carroll, who heads up the architectural committee dedicated to the project, said that the group has been meeting with the architectural firm regularly, and the materials and design ideas presented Thursday resulted from those meetings.

Lindell presented color elevations of the building, remarking that the theme reflects a "natural, earth-tone color scheme." Rusts, browns and greens, combined with hardwood floors and lots of natural light, create a natural and hopefully seamless blend with the surrounding landscape.

The new building will have a reception area, offices, a conference room, city council chambers, a work room and a break room. Strategically placed ledges will occasionally display artwork by local artists.

The next step in the construction process will be selection of a construction manager. A Request for Qualifications will be properly advertised for 30 days, and Wakefield, Beasley and Associated will also provide names of construction managers with whom the firm has worked in the past. Once a construction manager is selected, that individual will provide a cost analysis of the total project.

City leaders are considering reducing the size of the children's playground in order to make room for a garden walking path on the site. Councilwoman Debbie Guthrie spoke for several council members when she said that the trail should be minimally invasive as well as secure.