Natural light and glass office fronts will be some of the updated features at Owen Sound City Hall.
City councillors, staff and media took a tour Tuesday (March20) of the $8.6 million renovation in progress.
Right now, there are concrete floors and steel studs on the upper levels, outlining where offices and will be and a basement level that’s nearer to completion.
Manager of Property Kristan Shrider says work is expected to be wrapped up by June, with staff and council back in the building by August, “We’re happy with the progress, we would like to be a little further ahead. We are behind schedule and that’s no secret. I think that happens with any project to this scale,” says Schrider.
The project, which started in March 2017, met some unforeseen delays during the excavation of the basement, the discovery of more mold and asbestos than previously thought, and the need to level the foundation among other issues.
Shrider says one of the best features to come out of the project will be new two meeting rooms that will be glassed in, “I think that’ they’ll be gorgeous. The views from them, one overlooking the downtown, one overlooking river and the back parking lot, I think those will be the showcase.”
Meanwhile, Mayor Ian Boddy notes times have changed since the 1960s when the building was designed. Asbestos aside, where once upon a time an office held a desk, an ashtray, papers and maybe one electrical outlet for a lamp, now they need to be outfitted for up-to-date computers and technology while natural light is preferable to fluorescent overhead lights.
In addition to increasing space at the building from 20,000-25,000 square feet, it is also having an archive, storage and print centre added.
New furniture will cost just under $400,000.