County awards $21.6 million contract for government campus

Pinellas County officials have selected the Dali Museum’s design firm to bring their vision for a much-anticipated new government complex in Largo to life.

Commissioners unanimously approved a $21.57 million contract with St. Louis-based HOK, formerly known as Hellmuth, Obata + Kassabaum, at their July 22 meeting. County documents state that staff terminated negotiations with the previously top-ranked firm, Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, “due to an inability to reach the budgetary goal price and required scope delivery.”

Pinellas purchased a 21-acre site at 13600 Icot Blvd. in November 2023 for $33 million to build a consolidated, modern and centrally located government headquarters. Initial estimates pegged the massive project at $263 million to $334 million.

“This is going to be the kick-off of our new campus,” County Administrator Barry Burton said of the contract. “This is huge.”

Burton said HOK would work closely with commissioners over the next year. Documents note that the firm, which operates a regional office in Tampa, will provide architectural, engineering and “all disciplines of required professional services needed to develop full construction design documents.”

Pinellas received seven project proposals. Blaine Williams, assistant county administrator, said HOK “scored very highly with a multi-stakeholder review panel” and called the latest negotiations “productive.”

“We got almost everything we wanted in scope, and I think it’s a fair fee,” Williams added. “They have tremendous court experience. It’s a national group with a local presence.”

The 70-year-old firm has 26 offices worldwide and opened a Tampa location in 1984. Senior principal Jonathan Rae said HOK has over 40 people in the area.

Pinellas has 14 government buildings totaling 569,000 square feet scattered throughout downtown Clearwater. Many of those opened in the 1960s and 1970s and are now functionally obsolete.

The existing Pinellas County Courthouse at 315 Court St. in Clearwater. Photo: Google Maps.

In September 2024, real estate consulting firm CBRE presented preliminary site plans for a streamlined, 317,500-square-foot complex that accommodates new technologies and can host government operations for at least 50 years. Senior vice president Lee Anne Korst said the space differential “speaks to the inefficiencies of your current campus.”

Those initial configurations included two three-story buildings and one two-story building, with either surface parking or a more expensive garage. A justice and recording facility would total 135,000 square feet and house 459 staffers.

An administrative headquarters would encompass 120,500 square feet and accommodate 490 county employees. Development services would occupy a two-story, 62,000-square-foot structure with space for another 321 people.

Commissioner Dave Eggers asked HOK’s representative for their thoughts on the previous size estimations at the July 22 meeting. Kristine Bishop Johnson, the firm’s director of civic and justice projects, said the team believes the “square footage is accurate for the departments that have been identified.”

“We’re going to take all of the information that we’ve seen and has been completed to date, and we understand the budget constraints that we’re working in,” Johnson said. “What we’ll be doing is using that as a launch pad to move forward and progress the process.”

She reiterated that the overarching goal is to design a “very efficient and flexible facility for your future growth.” Eggers expressed hope for value engineering opportunities but said it is “important to come back to reality with what we have to offer.”

Burton pledged that commissioners can offer feedback throughout the configuration process. He tasked HOK with providing the “best examples of new space designs” and how those could incorporate new technologies.

HOK has designed over $6 billion worth of justice buildings in the past five years. The firm partnered with Williamson Design Associates (WDA), a local small business enterprise that has worked with Pinellas County agencies on over 50 projects throughout the past 25 years.

Commissioner Vince Nowicki credited HOK’s “impressive resume” and expressed his excitement to work with the firm. However, he said many of the courthouse projects “seemed like they’re just a lot of glass.”

“I’d like to see classical architecture that’s more timeless,” Nowicki said. “I think it can be modern and energy-efficient on the inside, but just have nice classical components.”

He will not support a government campus with “modern glass buildings.” Johnson said HOK will host visioning sessions to garner feedback from commissioners.

“We pride ourselves on being able to produce buildings that are extremely contextually appropriate to their communities,” she continued. “We’re working in different architectural styles all around the country. So, I’m confident we’ll be able to come to a design consensus here.”

According to HOK’s proposal, the firm expects to complete the design and permitting process by July 2026. If the project remains on schedule, a new government campus would open in August 2029.