SPANISH FORT, Ala. — Impressed, enthused and appreciative are a few words used by members of the advisory committee exploring the feasibility of constructing the long-discussed city complex after viewing 45-minute presentations Tuesday from each of the six architectural firms deemed finalists for the project.

“I was very impressed with the presentations, and all had unique thoughts and suggestions about the way the property could be best utilized to serve the citizens of Spanish Fort yet protect the nearby neighborhoods,” said Mike McMillan, who represents District 2 on the City Council.

At issue is the long-term development of an 18-acre site at the intersection of highways 72 and 31 intended to house a multipurpose building in the short term and a host of other services and amenities in the long term as Spanish Fort continues to grow.

Members of the committee, which has been meeting weekly since August to pore over the qualifications of the original 19 contenders for the project, systematically narrowed the field to six competitors, each of whom presented two drawings Tuesday that address the multipurpose facility specifically as well as a broader vision for the property.

The finalists include Coast Architects Inc. of Mobile, Forrest Daniel and Associates PC of Daphne, Goodwin Mills and Cawood Inc. of Mobile, The Architects Group Inc. of Mobile, Walcott Adams Verneuille Architects of Fairhope and Watermark Design Group LLC of Mobile.

Planning Commission Chairman Carl Nelson said the fact-heavy presentations went “smoothly,” and he is “looking forward to pushing forward” with the project after the committee reconvenes May 4 to compare notes.

“It was a good experience, and it was really nice to see different talent, concepts and ideas,” Nelson said.

The firms had six weeks to prepare presentations that include design ideas for the multipurpose building, an administrative building; a public works building; a terminal for the Baldwin Rural Area System, a post office; two additional buildings with future uses to be determined; lake/detention with a recreational area; a 100-foot buffer to adjacent neighborhoods; access to the property; parking connectivity and Smart Growth principles.

Smart Growth is a growing national trend to contain urban sprawl and revitalize city centers. The movement is town-centered, transit- and pedestrian-oriented and emphasizes mixed housing, commercial and retail use while preserving green space.

“We gave (each of) them the floor for 45 minutes, and if they had any time left we asked and answered questions that we had,” said Mayor Joe Bonner, noting the committee will reconvene at 8:30 a.m. May 4 to discuss moving the project forward after having ample time to “digest” the diverse proposals.

“We had six wonderful presentations, six different presentations, six unique presentations, and I was very pleased with the response we got. Now we’ve got a lot of homework to do,” Bonner said.

Committee member and Planning Commissioner Maura Dismukes said the time and effort put into the presentations was impressive and appreciated.

“It was obvious that the desires of the committee were taken seriously. Each of the designs could create a finished product the citizens of Spanish Fort would enjoy and be proud of,” Dismukes said.

The existing wish list for the multipurpose building includes incorporation of a library with computer work stations, storage and room to expand; a 300-person capacity activity room to host social events and government meetings with a capacity of 300 as well as an adjacent conference room with table seating for 14 and room to accommodate an additional 20-30 people; a senior center with kitchen and dining area, fitness area, small-group activity room and storage; administrative and building department offices; and a museum area.

Because the project is designed to grow with the city, committee members have stressed repeatedly that connectivity and functionality are being considered above appearance, but tthey have also been quick to note this project will set the tone for the creation of a cohesive downtown space, and they are looking to the design experts for guidance on how to proceed visually.

Specifically, Bonner has said a functional design that allows for construction in phases and the shifting of office space as demand requires is the ultimate goal.

“What I saw gave me a bundle of goosebumps. I saw several things that really intrigued me in saying, ‘That was a good idea,’” Bonner said.

“I basically looked at the daily operations of what was presented and considered how many employees it would take to operate the facility they were proposing and where we are at today with the personnel we have. It’s going to be very intriguing and very challenging to figure all of this out.”

The project has a current working budget of $7.5 million with a goal of securing a design that meets as many of the desired specifications as possible but with the understanding that shelving the project—at any point—remains a possibility given the volatility of the economy.

Bonner said the budget is based upon the $1.5 million the city has already set aside methodically toward a 20 percent downpayment, and he believes the balance of the $7.5 million is a “comfortable” figure for which the city could obtain financing to proceed.