Cascade County Commissioners approved a $243,000 contract to BSpark, a local architectural firm, for design services to build a new gymnasium at the Juvenile Detention Center.

The project will be funded using $1.5 million of the JDC’s departmental reserves and a $1.5 million state loan.

The JDC is located at 1600 26th St. S. and the gym will be used to help keep juveniles active while they’re in the center and it can be used for overflow capacity when needed, according to county officials.

The county solicited statements of qualifications for architectural/engineering services this spring and they were due March 21.

County approves funds for capital projects

The county received statements from BSpark, Nelson Architects and LPW, all of Great Falls.

Staff reviewed and scored those statements, ranking BSpark the highest and recommending that commissioners award the contract to that firm.

In December commissioners discussed the gym project during a special meeting to allocate funding to capital improvement projects.

Commissioners had previously authorized a geotechnical survey of the site before moving forward with construction.

Shanna Bulik-Chism, JDC director, told commissioners during the December meeting that the gym would allow space for indoor fitness activities, other small group activities and overflow capacity.

County approves $13.3 million in ARPA allocations [2022]

Her department has put $1.5 million in to reserves in anticipation of the project and commissioners approved applying for a $1.5 million intercap loan through the Montana Board of Investments to finance the rest of the project with her budget taking on the loan’s debt service.

The county has used the MBOA loans for other major projects, including the county courthouse roof and the new grandstands at Montana Expo Park.

County approves projects for juvenile, adult detention centers [2019]

Les Payne, county public works director, told commissioners in December that the TD&H did the geotechnical survey and determined the project could be done and make recommendations for the foundation type.