Renovation of City Hall - Part 2
The following article was contained in the program
dedicating the rehabilitation of City Hall in 1985:
Rehabilitation of the Waycross City Hall
In 1982, at the request of the Waycross City Commission,
Surber, Barber & Mooney, architects, undertook an analysis if
the existing City Hall Building in order to determine whether
or not it was suitable for rehabilitation and reuse. Our
investigation and design studies indicated that indeed it
could be made suitable to adequately serve the city’s needs
well into the twenty-first century.
Upon passage of the bond referendum, we prepared construction
documents and have worked closely with Charles E. Lewis
Construction Company through the process of implementation.
The general contractor’s determination and integrity have been
a very important factor in the successful completion of the
project.
The approach to rehabilitation was, generally, to restore the
buildings exterior, to renovate the main public spaces on the
first floor, to remove all materials down to the stud in other
areas, and completely rebuild new spaces within the existing
confines.
Work on the exterior including cleaning, repainting, repairing
the brick, repairing all woodwork, adding a small plaza with a
flagpole on the Pendleton Street side, and planting cherry
trees and Chinese elm trees. Additional, the old
metal shed together with a great deal of exposed piping,
conduit, and general debris was removed. The "Police Precinct"
sign painted on the rear façade was attacked with every
solvent and paint removal technique (short of sandblasting)
known to the architect, contractor, and painting contractor
.As can be seen, it remains as evidence of former building
tenants and as a testament to the quality of paint in the
"good old days".
The interior moldings and trim in the first floor lobby spaces
as well as several adjacent areas were preserved and restored.
On either side of the main entrance are the cashiers, tax
administration and personnel department. By locating these
functions thusly, the vast majority of citizen business can be
conducted without searching the building in frustration. This
arrangement also reduces unneeded traffic in other work areas.
The new commission chamber is designed with acoustical
excellence as a major goal. The splayed walls and relective
ceiling reflect sound into the room while the acoustically
absorptive walls eliminate excessive reverberation. A
sophisticated sound reinforcement system has been installed
along with a concealed projection screen for audit-visual
displays.
In the second floor lobby, the skylight well that had been
closed was reopened and rebuilt. The four plaster columns are
the only remaining existing details, all else is new. Windows
opening into adjacent spaces allow light from the skylight to
be shared. The mayor’s and city manager’s offices are
positioned so that they will be readily accessible to guests
arriving on the second floor.
A major change to the building occurred on the second floor in
what was originally the upper area of the first floor
gymnasium. Here a balcony designed for use as a running track
was removed, as was the ceiling above it. A new floor was
constructed covering the entire gymnasium area and a new
ceiling was installed at the top cords of the existing, but
formally hidden, massive wooden trusses. The new floor houses
the computer center, utilities billing and the finance
operations.
Upon entering the third floor lobby, a visitor is aware of the
skylight shaft and the large reception desk. The employee’s
lounge is located at one end of the U-shaped third floor and
is a particularly pleasant space.
The approach to the interior detailing of the building was to
match moldings, doors, and trim in areas where they originally
occurred and to use design license where it suited the purpose
of function or aesthetics.
Generally, we have attempted to design a building that meets
the operational needs of city governments, while providing
interesting and comfortable working environs for the
employees, while creating a positive, progressive impression
of the City of Waycross.
James R. Barber, AIA