Burr Ridge taxpayers are back to square one on a new Village Hall after trustees unanimously fired the project's architect and rejected all 12 construction bids.

The Burr Ridge Village Board ended its contract with Oak Brook-based Legat Architects at its Oct. 26 meeting, first reported by Patch. The firm had estimated the project at $8.5 million. The lowest bid came in at $13.8 million, a gap of more than $5 million. The highest bid reached $17.2 million.

Mayor Gary Grasso did not hold back.

"It is clear that the market's expectations diverged sharply from Legat's," Grasso said at the meeting, held at Gower Middle School. Given the gap, he added, "I find it hard to believe that they didn't see it coming."

Trustee Anita Mital said the village based its decision to move forward on Legat's estimate. Trustee Tony Schiappa called the situation "some unprofessionalism." Grasso said the firm designed a good-looking building but never communicated the financial reality alongside those designs.

Patch reported that Legat Architects had not responded to a request for comment.

Twelve contractors submitted bids after the village opened the project for competitive bidding. Bids were read aloud at the police department on Sept. 24, according to the village's project page. The low bidder was Staalsen Construction of Chicago at $13,796,996. The village's owner's representative, Consertus, confirmed that figure.

Village Hall employees moved to the public works office on Commerce Street roughly five months ago. The board and its committees have been meeting at Gower Middle School. Burr Ridge is expected to close on the $2.7 million sale of the old Village Hall at 7660 County Line Road to the Goddard preschool chain by year's end.

Legat's design called for the new Village Hall to be attached to the police station next door. Based on the Oct. 26 discussion, that plan no longer appeared viable.

Village Administrator Evan Walter suggested the staff could stay in the Commerce Street office long-term and said the village should explore other properties in town. Trustees indicated support for spending $75,000 to build a lobby in the public works building. They also said the board should begin meeting in the police station's training room starting Nov. 9, a larger space than the old Village Hall chambers.

Walter said he would bring the board options for permanent village offices at a future meeting.