A bright and airy refresh for a dated municipal space.

Originally built in 1912, years of incremental renovations had left the interior of this historical building outdated and overcrowded. Our work to revive the council chamber involved peeling back the accumulated years of infill and renovations to reveal the original vaulted ceiling and expansive floor space of the chamber. The design celebrates the character of the chamber through careful protection of heritage elements and thoughtful integration of contemporary features.

Occupant health and safety was one of the main design priorities for the renovation; this meant that our conservation approach needed to balance restoration and rehabilitation treatments with extensive testing and hazmat remediation. Through a process of detailed documentation, we were able to recreate the contaminated heritage elements, preserving the character of the room while removing hazardous materials from the space.

This project also provided an opportunity to improve the energy performance of the chamber. With the addition of insulation to the exterior walls and attic space, new energy efficient lighting, occupancy sensors, exterior window replacements, and upgrades to the HVAC system, we were able to improve building performance and increase occupant comfort levels.