Status Update: Manatee County Ellenton Service Annex

ELLENTON -- An office building with an unusual geometric design ethic is on its way to becoming a new service center for Manatee County's planning and building departments.

Occupied by the county's Ellenton sheriff's precinct until a month ago, the early 1980s building is now undergoing an interior remodel aimed at bringing it into the 21st century, for the most part.

The 4,000-square-foot building at 5030 U.S. 301 was built as three octagons nested into each other around a central lobby. The building, along with the nearly 18-acre lake behind it, is owned by the state of Florida. It was originally built as a tourist information center.

According to the architect for the remodeling project, Fawley Bryant Architects of Lakewood Ranch, interior demolition of the cement block and wood frame building is underway. Construction plans call for a full renovation that includes removing most interior offices to create an open office environment. The building will get a new reception area, new office spaces, a waiting room, a meeting room and new restrooms and break rooms. New furniture and office equipment also will be part of the project.

Infrastructure will get attention, as well. Air conditioning equipment, lighting and plumbing will be updated.

The renovation stops short of the exterior. It will retain its original cultured stone entry area and wood siding.

The initial construction budget for the project is $300,000.

Chelsea Gruber, a marketing coordinator with Fawley Bryant, said the annex is intended to bring building and planning services closer to people living and working in Ellenton and Parrish.

Status Update, a new weekly feature, is a regular look at the progress of construction projects throughout Manatee County.

This story was originally published April 8, 2016 at 11:37 PM with the headline "Status Update: Manatee County Ellenton Service Annex ."