Mount Pleasant Magazine July/August 2017

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MOUNT PLEASANT TOWN HALL
committees, each with its own area on which to focus, and
each tasked with designing a building “by the people, for
the people.”
Meetings were held to garner opinions and suggestions
from the public, department heads were consulted and
included on all decisions and committees were formed –
such as the Finishes Committee and Furniture Committee
– to guarantee that all details would not only contribute to
efficiency but would also integrate the charm of the town
into the project. In the end, the Town Council realized
the need, listened to the opinions of local residents and
acted to provide a multifaceted building that caters to
each department’s needs while also offering a communal
building where the public can congregate.
Director of Planning and Development Christiane
Farrell emphasized the significance of the public’s
involvement. Because the Town Hall was going to serve the
public, all opinions needed to be heard in order to meet
the needs of all residents and town employees. One of the
most important aspects of the new building is the flow of
the design and the larger and more organized work spaces.
Although there are private offices, the majority of the
employees will do what they do at work stations.
“This will improve the ability to communicate and
work together on projects or issues,” Farrell said. “The open,
work station setup is more flexible, so, as our needs change,
we can move work stations around to adjust. Also, with
the open work environment, there is a continuous flow
from one department to another. So with Planning, for
example, our work area flows right into the Transportation
Department section. This is great for us since the two
departments work so closely together.”
Another area of improvement over the previous Town
Hall buildings is the meeting rooms. Before, few conference
rooms were available. In the new building, multiple meeting
rooms of various sizes were included to take care of the
needs of the staff. In addition, the new Town Hall has
meeting rooms in the lobby to serve the public.
Department heads were heavily involved in the design
of their new quarters. Police Chief Carl Ritchie explained
how important it was that administrators were consulted
and involved in the design of their new work space.
“The town’s leadership recognized that we knew best
how a Police Department should be designed for safety,
functionality and security,” Ritchie commented.
The police headquarters is now equipped with
safety components the former building lacked. Such
improvements include what is known as a “sally port,”
an area in the back of the building that allows police
officers to bring prisoners into a secure area. In the
past, prisoners were transported through the main
headquarters area, exposing other employees to a
potentially dangerous situation.
“I am pleased to say the architects and town leadership
listened, and we have a Police Department that is secure
yet functional and will enhance our agency’s ability to
protect and serve those in our community,” Ritchie
commented.
With the completion of the first phase of the Mount
Pleasant Town Hall project – the construction of the main
building – all those who participated in the committees
will see their dreams and visions come to fruition. The
construction of the new building was a town-wide effort.
When the heartbeat of Mount Pleasant government moved
into the new building during the summer of 2017, the
town was complete: schools, shopping, restaurants and a
Town Hall that was a source of pride for all. TH
Photo by Salt Glass Media.
It was important that
administrators were
consulted and involved
in the design of their
new work space,
according to Police Chief
Carl Ritchie.