Project Summary

The Waverly Akins Wake County Office Building was constructed in 1940 for Durham Life Insurance. Wake County purchased the building in 1978 and gradually occupied all of the building through the 1980s and 90s.

In 2011, a Building Master Reuse Study was completed for the Office Building. The study established a long-term, 20-year Master Plan for how each floor would ultimately be occupied or “restacked.” In 2016, after extensive study, the County identified the Ground Floor of the Office Building to be the location for a new Emergency Operations Center (EOC). This renovation project was incorporated into the Office Building Restack Master Plan.

This Ground Floor Renovation was the fourth major renovation project in the restack of the Office Building. The scope of this phase was to fit-up the entire Ground Floor (19,480 SF) to serve as a new Emergency Operations Center, Employee Health Clinic, and shared spaces for the County’s Innovation Program and Corporate Conferencing activities. The Renovation includes new operation spaces, breakout rooms, conference rooms, offices, collaboration spaces, exam rooms, elevator lobbies, support spaces, new mechanical, electrical, plumbing and sprinkler services, and ADA-compliant restrooms. Improvements include new furniture, audiovisual system, security, signage and high-efficiency LED lighting.

Construction began in February 2022 and was completed in summer of 2023.

Building Information

Building Area:
19,480 SF

Programs Offered:
Emergency Operations Center, Employee Health Clinic, and Innovation and Corporate Space

Architect:
Little Diversified Architectural Consulting

Contractor:
Harrod & Associates Constructors Inc.

Final Construction Cost:
$7,050,000

Project Completed:
September 2023