McDowell County Jail Detail Report

 

Component

Current Status

Recommendations

Cost

General Exterior

The original date of the McDowell County Jail’s construction is 1976. P1 The approximate size of the jail is 16,500 square feet and is two stories plus a basement.  The jail is still being used for housing prisoners.  Views of the jail. P2 P3 P4 P5 The general exterior is in good condition.

 

After the regional jail is in place and the McDowell County jail is no longer needed, we recommend remodeling the interior of the jail for office and storage space.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exterior Walls

The foundation of the jail is concrete. The exterior walls of the jail are poured concrete. There is no evidence of foundation settlement. The jail is in good condition, with no visible cracks in the walls.  There is some water damage and moss on the brick on the north side. P7 P8 The foundation and exterior walls are in good condition.

 

Clean the exterior brick on the north side, approximately 500 square feet.

 

 

$  1,000

Roof

The roof on the jail is a low slope (relatively flat) with a rubber membrane and was replaced approximately ten years ago. P9 P10 The roof is in good condition.

 

 

 

Windows and Doors

The windows throughout the jail are original from the 1976 construction.  They are in good condition with aluminum frames, single pane jalousie windows. P11 Some of the windows have bulletproof glass and do not open. P12.  The glass block windows are new. P13 The front entrance doors to building are steel frame without panic hardware.  The front doors are in good condition. P14 P15 The main doors swing into the building.  There are fire doors located on each floor with panic hardware installed with the door swinging out.  Pictures could not be taken of the fire exits due to security reasons.

 

Replace all exterior jalousie windows with commercial sashes.

 

$15,000

Fire Safety

The jail has a fully functioning fire alarm system throughout the building. P16 P17 The fire alarm equipment is in good condition and appears to be properly spaced in the building.  Hoses located on each floor of the building handle fire suppression.  The front doors swing into the building.  The fire doors swing out of the building.

 

 

Structure

 

There were no reported or noticeable structural problems with the building.

 

 

Security

There is a closed circuit television system in the building.  No pictures could be taken due to security reasons.  There were guards, wand metal detectors, and bulletproof protective glass (located in the front windows).  The building did not have an alarm system.  All existing security systems are in good condition.

 

 Install a security system.

See General Interior Below

Electrical

The main electrical service for the Jail entered underground on the west side of the building from a courthouse sub-fed.  The service was distributed from a Square D 208Y / 120V, 1600 A, 3 Phase, 4 Wire main distribution panel located in the basement. P18 The electrical service is distributed to panels throughout the building. Some of the panels have open breaker spaces and need blanks installed in the openings. P19 P20 P21 The electrical system is in good condition with no reported problems of overloading or lack of distribution equipment.

 

The Jail has two different communication systems.  The first system is fed from the courthouse and the second is a Panasonic 616 Easa-phone for the inmates. P22 Both of these systems are in working order and are in good condition.

 

The interior lighting (fluorescent and incandescent) of the building is adequate and in good condition.   The emergency lighting appears to be in its proper place and operates with a battery backup. They are in working order.  There are exit lights located in proper places and are in working order.

Reuse some of the electric equipment during renovation.

 

Mechanical

The jail has four gas fired Armstrong forced air furnaces / cooling combo units. P23 P24, P25 P26 P27 These units are working and in good condition with no specific date of installation.  The gas meter is located on the west side of the building and is in good condition. The water meter is located at the courthouse.

 

Cooling is handled by the above Armstrong furnace / cooling combo units listed above.

Reuse some of the mechanical equipment when renovating.

 

Work Safety

There are no issues to report.

 

 

Space requirements

NA

 

 

General Interior

The general interior of the jail is currently set up for prisoners and is in good condition.

Remodel Interior of jail, approximately 16,500 square feet

 

$1,320,000

Subtotal

 

 

$1,336,000

Soft Costs

Professional fees, permits, surveys, and studies

20%

$26,720

Total

 

 

$1,362,720

 

 

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