NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The new administrative building is slated to be moved Thursday morning.

 

Peter Enzien of Stantec Consulting Services, the airport's engineer, told the Airport Commission on Tuesday that the long-awaited building move should start Thursday morning between 8:30 and 9:00.

 

"There are some things that have to happen in the morning prior to the move but then they will be ready," he said.

 

The city plans to move the vacant medical building on the north side of the Harriman & West Airport campus about 150 yards and use it as a new administrative building. The 8,700-square-foot facility was constructed in 2001 on leased airport land and was donated to the city by Berkshire Health Systems. Once moved, the shell will be renovated to include office and classroom space, public restrooms, and a food service operation. 

 

"This is an exciting step forward for a project that has been in the works for several years," Mayor Thomas Bernard said in a statement released earlier in the day announcing the move, adding in his thanks to BHS for donating the building.

 

In the same statement, commission Chairman Jeffrey Naughton said, the restaurant in the terminal means residents, pilots and others "can look forward to enjoying dinner while looking out over the runway at the spectacular views of Mounts Prospect and Williams."

 

DA Sullivan & Sons contractors have been gutting the structure and installed a foundation at the new location. 

 

Enzien said this work is largely complete.

 

"As you know it is well under construction, and the foundation work has been completed," he said. "The utilities have all been installed ... essentially everything around the parameter is complete."

 

He said the start time really hinges on National Grid, which will have personnel on site at 8 a.m.  He said they have to turn off the power before the move and feed in some new lines.

 

"The key to the whole thing is National Grid," he said.

 

Enzien said it will take between 15 to 20 minutes to clear the wires and hours for Wolfe Movers is move the building.

 

During public comment, Trevor Gilman, former commissioner, asked the commission to solicit the Federal Aviation Administration to design a new departure procedure for the airport.

 

"Right now the published departure in North Adams is a circling climb until you are clear of the mountains, which is pretty much impossible to do in the clouds ... it is completely unsafe," Gilman said. "There are safe ways to depart the area and to stay clear of terrain but it needs to be in a published procedure so people can legally fly it."

 

Commissioners thought it was a good idea and said they would figure out how to start the process.

 

In other business the commission reorganized. Jeff Naughton will continue to serve as chairman and Shaun Dougherty will serve as vice chairman.