As construction wraps up on New Hanover County’s new government center, more work is set to start nearby on a new $5.59 million building dedicated to running the county’s elections.

The new building will house New Hanover County’s elections operations, which operated out of the former government center before relocating to the Northeast Regional Library branch last year. County officials determined designs for the new government center didn’t fit the needs of an elections facility and opted to build a specialized, standalone facility nearby.

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The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved an amendment to a contract with developer Cape Fear FD Stonewater, adding the construction of the new elections facility. County leaders included the building’s approximately $5.59 million cost as a capital project in its current budget, which was approved last June.

While designs for the government center prioritized collaborative and open space, the Board of Elections requires a more secure and controlled environment, said Eric Credle, New Hanover County’s chief financial officer. That left county staff looking to design a standalone elections facility tailored to the needs of elections operations.

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The new 7,500-square-foot building is set to include a lobby, conference room, hoteling space, offices, work stations, a mail-in ballot room, secure storage space and a one-stop voting area. Outside, the building will feature a large canopy and parking spots dedicated to curbside voting.

In an emailed statement, Elections Director Rae Hunter-Havens wrote that parking spots for curbside voting, secure space not accessible by other county staff or the public, and an area for voters to line up during elections were all identified as key needs when designing the building.

“It will allow for the security that is required for the Board of Elections operations and ensure efficient elections as well,” she wrote.

The new facility will be built on the site of the current government center, according to Sara Warmuth, New Hanover County’s chief facilities officer. Work on the new government center is expected to wrap up early this month with county staff moving into the new facility in March.

The current government center will be demolished in mid- to late-April. Then, construction of the elections facility will begin on the site. The elections facility is expected to be completed in April 2024 with staff moving in the following month.

Reporter Emma Dill can be reached at edill@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: New Hanover set to build new center to ensure 'efficient' elections