COPA LIFEGUARD HEADQUARTERS in Port Aransas, TX

The City of Port Aransas is building a new 4,650 sq ft Lifeguard Headquarters at 202 Ninth Street in Port Aransas, Texas. This single-story storage and office facility is estimated to cost $2,000,000, which works out to $430 per square foot. The project is registered with TDLR under the name Copa Lifeguard Headquarters, with plan review completed in May 2025. Construction was scheduled to begin in August 2025 and finish in August 2026, but TDLR has not yet recorded a final inspection, so the current state of the site is not confirmed in the public record.

Project Scope and Design

EDR Architects, PLLC serves as the design firm of record for this new construction project. The scope includes a new storage and office facility intended to support local lifeguard operations. The site is located within Nueces County, specifically in Port Aransas, and falls inside a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area (Zone AE). This designation indicates that the structure is built in a region with a known risk of flooding, which often influences construction standards and site planning.

The City of Port Aransas has registered six other projects with TDLR, totaling $39,200,000. These include the Port Aransas Marina, the City Hall, and the Recreation Center. EDR Architects, PLLC has also designed other facilities in the region, such as the Rock Island Generation Plant and the Sherwin Administration Building. The involvement of a specialized architecture firm suggests a focus on professional design standards for this municipal infrastructure project.

Cost and Market Context

The estimated cost of $2,000,000 is above the median estimated cost of $656,120 for new construction filings in Nueces County over the last 24 months. The cost per square foot of $430 is also above the county median of $118 per square foot. The scheduled build window of 365 days is longer than the county median of 242 days. These figures place the project in the upper range of recent local construction activity, reflecting its size and specific functional requirements.

Third-party records from cityofportaransas.org and bidnetdirect.com indicate that the city issued a request for proposals for the Copa Lifeguard Headquarters. These documents describe the project as a new single-story building involving site work, masonry, and various amenities. The project involves public funds and is located on public land, underscoring its role as a community service facility rather than a private commercial development.