Update in Warm Springs

October 18, 2010 - State Property Officer Steve Stancil joined Department of Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond in Warm Springs this week to update community leaders as well as staff and students at the Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute for RehabilitationRoosevelt School on the new state-of-the-art, $20 million residential and vocational complex.

The Meriwether County facility, which will have more than 150 beds, is a 70,000-square-foot, two-story building designed to complement the historic campus. Construction on the project began one year ago and the new building should be ready in Spring, 2011.

Department of Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond called this project the most important project he has ever been involved in, saying it should help ensure Roosevelt Institute is here serving Georgians for another 82 years. "There will never be anything as significant as this in terms of building this facility that will be a national model,” he said.

“This day, this building, this morning is the epitome of my accomplishments. Nothing I ever do will equal this great moment,” Thurmond said at the ground breaking last year.

"It means a tremendous amount of opportunities for Roosevelt at Warm Springs. You see what was once ground it now the beginning to a beautiful school. It's going to allow us to serve more people with disabilities from all over the state," said Roosevelt Institute Executive Director Greg Schmieg.

Much time and thought went into the design of the facility, which has been described as “accessible-plus,” explained Stancil. “From the very beginning the goal has been to design an accessible-plus facility ... the Roosevelt School at Warm Springs will be the model for the rest of the country when it comes to ensuring accessibility complemented with functionality and state-of-the-art technology.”

The Design Professionals, Cooper Carry and Associates, solicited input from students and staff at the school to ensure this building exceeds all expectations, while at the same time designing it to complement this very historic campus. “Without a doubt,” said Stancil, “we believe we are building this with the vision of Franklin Delano Roosevelt as our guide.”

“The dedication of the Design Professionals and general contractor Batson-Cook, working with GSFIC and Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute, to maintain this vision is apparent as we see this project progress from groundbreaking to ribbon cutting,” he added.

The project certainly supports the mission of the Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute to "empower individuals with disabilities to achieve personal independence."

Quick Facts

• Design Professional: Cooper Carry and Associates
• General Contractor: Batson-Cook Construction
• GSFIC Project Manager: Dennis Townsend
• GSFIC Contract Compliance Specials: Chris Cowell