There has been a lot of conversation about the front entrance at Durham Regional Headquarters.

This isn’t just a building for employees. Many residents walk through its doors every day to get help navigating regional services, pay bills, attend counselling and so much more.

Here are five things you should know:

1. The door system needed major repairs

The door was almost 20 years old. It had accessibility challenges, wasn’t energy efficient—letting in cold air during the winter and hot air during the summer—and raised health and safety concerns in a high-traffic area.

Replacement was the most cost-effective and long-term solution. The revolving door system is estimated to be at least eight times more energy efficient than the existing sliding doors.

2. The project was open to all contractors

There is municipal legislation governing procurement processes. The work went through a formal Request for Proposals (RFP) process. This means any qualified contractor could bid on the project, ensuring transparency and fairness. The Region issued public tender “T-1047-2023 Main entrance revolving door systems at 605 Rossland Road East, Whitby”. It’s available for review on the Region’s bidding platform under awarded bids.

3. We chose the lowest qualified bid

Our policy is to award contracts to the lowest bidder who met all requirements. This ensures responsible use of public funds. Bids closed on July 25, 2023. We received three bids to the tender call. Construction work was awarded to the lowest bidder as per our process.

4. The entrance was closed for temporary repairs

The revolving door system has been in use since 2024. We were working on outdoor maintenance in front of the west entrance as part of our ongoing efforts to improve safety. That maintenance has been completed two weeks ahead of schedule and the main entrance is open as of August 6.

5. We want to hear from you.

Your feedback matters. Share your thoughts in the forum and follow @RegionofDurham on social media for updates.