The maze of city offices that houses the city’s administrative team is about to be overhauled.

Contractors will begin renovating approximately 7,500 square feet of the Municipal Building in July, said Gerry Jones, the city’s capital project director.

The renovation will encompass most of the second floor, including the management services department and neighboring offices occupied by the assistant city manager, city clerk and communications department.

On Thursday, the city opened five bids ranging from $440,000 to $465,000. The contract will be awarded in coming weeks, Jones said.

The renovation will make better, more efficient use of the building, providing some much-needed additional office space, he said. The project should create at least six new offices.

&uot;City hall is strapped for space right now,&uot; Jones said. &uot;People are scattered wherever there is some free office space.&uot;

Even employees within the same department are spread out throughout the building, Jones said.

Revamping the building will also make it more user-friendly for citizens, said city spokesman Dennis Craff.

People will be able to check into a main reception area, where someone will be on hand to direct them to the appropriate person or department.

&uot;Customer service is what it’s all about,&uot; said Craff. &uot;The whole idea of the renovation is to make it easier for the people who come here to do business.&uot;

The renovation to the management services department is overdue, said Ralph.

&uot;All buildings need some sprucing up and changes occasionally,&uot; he said. &uot;There’s been nothing done there in years so far as significant renovations.&uot;

The renovation would already be under way except the police department needed some unexpected shoring up last spring, he added.

The last renovation was in 1999, when the current council chambers were built, Jones said.

allison.williams@suffolknewsherald.com