Benton County has revised its designs for the new Kennewick office building that will house administrators with the Covid-19 pandemic in mind.

Instead of leaving the second floor unfinished for future growth, the county is finishing it to accommodate its information technology and accounting departments.

The changes add nearly $700,000 to the cost of the 40,000-square-foot building now under construction at the 7122 W. Okanogan Place.

County commissioners agreed in June to add $684,000 to the budget. The updates push the cost to $14.5 million, from the original $13.6 million. The project is funded through the county’s capital projects fund.

The original architectural and engineering designs were completed before the Covid-19 pandemic. The pandemic inspired a review of space needs.

The revised plan leaves 2,600 square feet of vacant space on the second floor to accommodate future growth.

The new building will serve as the Kennewick quarters for many of the county’s nonjudicial functions, now housed in the justice center. The addition will free space in the secured justice center for courts and legal activities.

Banlin Construction LLC of Kennewick is the general contractor.

The additions extended the construction schedule by up to 35 days with completion set for summer 2021.