MONROE - The face of Monroe's city hall is in need of some repairs - more than just cosmetic, and the building needs better accessibility, not just for the disabled but for everyone, according to City Administrator Phil Rath and Public Works Director Colin Simpson.
City aldermen for several years have been eyeing the crumbling cement steps and brick mortar, especially on the hall's front entrances, and have approved small stop-gap measures, such as tuckpointing.
Now the Board of Public Works is ready to take a look at an overall design plan that Rath and Simpson say has the goal of increasing accessibility, security and energy efficiency in a building whose use has evolved over the past few years.
The board on Monday recommended hiring the New Glarus architecture firm of McGowan at a cost of $15,165 to redesign the front entrance, city hall council chambers and the offices around it, as well as the building's heating and air conditioning system. Rath and Simpson said they interviewed three firms, with tours of the facility, and recommended McGowan's proposal.
The front, physical repairs and redesign is expected to be done in 2015, and was included in the 2015 budget. Work on the interior remodeling and heating system will be planned in the future as the costs become known.
Before taking on the major repair and accessibility project to the front of the building, Rath asked that the city consider future changes to the inside of the building, including rearranging the chamber hall, fixing problems with the multi-unit heating and air conditioning system and helping visitors to the hall find their destination inside.
Built in the mid-1960s, the city hall has three front entrances - one each into the south wing and the north wing and the center, grand entrance into the city council chambers. None meet the Americans with Disabilities Act standards.
Rath said people get lost or confused when they come to the city hall. The grand entrance is usually locked, except for public meetings. A back door is intended for staff and for wheelchair access, but it is not powered, has no visibility from the inside offices and leads directly to the dark and empty chamber. Offices in the south wing have moved to or consolidated with departments in the north wing, and the steps to the south wing were recently closed off because of deterioration.
Rath is looking for an updated entrance design that will naturally flow all people traffic through the north door, partly for visitors' convenience and partly for staff security. But before investing in the exterior redesign, Rath wants approval of a future, interior rearrangement that will correspond to the new arrival traffic, new staff workflow and, hopefully, expanded public use of the council rooms.
Rath and Simpson also asked to include a review of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system (HVAC). Over the years, the building has amassed 12-15 HVAC units tied into a complex system, Simpson said. The result is noisy blowers, hard-to-control temperature, hot and cold pockets of air, and disconnected thermostats. Maintenance crews must control the temperature from the basement. Changes to the HVAC system could include a new system, a retrofit or a new control system, Rath said.
McGowan's proposal expects to include design options for the public entry, the council chambers remodeling and the periphery offices remodeling to accommodate the new entrance and improve control of customer circulation; a written report on the HVAC system and at least two options for upgrades; probable costs for the projects; and a project schedule for the new entrance for 2015 construction.
City aldermen for several years have been eyeing the crumbling cement steps and brick mortar, especially on the hall's front entrances, and have approved small stop-gap measures, such as tuckpointing.
Now the Board of Public Works is ready to take a look at an overall design plan that Rath and Simpson say has the goal of increasing accessibility, security and energy efficiency in a building whose use has evolved over the past few years.
The board on Monday recommended hiring the New Glarus architecture firm of McGowan at a cost of $15,165 to redesign the front entrance, city hall council chambers and the offices around it, as well as the building's heating and air conditioning system. Rath and Simpson said they interviewed three firms, with tours of the facility, and recommended McGowan's proposal.
The front, physical repairs and redesign is expected to be done in 2015, and was included in the 2015 budget. Work on the interior remodeling and heating system will be planned in the future as the costs become known.
Before taking on the major repair and accessibility project to the front of the building, Rath asked that the city consider future changes to the inside of the building, including rearranging the chamber hall, fixing problems with the multi-unit heating and air conditioning system and helping visitors to the hall find their destination inside.
Built in the mid-1960s, the city hall has three front entrances - one each into the south wing and the north wing and the center, grand entrance into the city council chambers. None meet the Americans with Disabilities Act standards.
Rath said people get lost or confused when they come to the city hall. The grand entrance is usually locked, except for public meetings. A back door is intended for staff and for wheelchair access, but it is not powered, has no visibility from the inside offices and leads directly to the dark and empty chamber. Offices in the south wing have moved to or consolidated with departments in the north wing, and the steps to the south wing were recently closed off because of deterioration.
Rath is looking for an updated entrance design that will naturally flow all people traffic through the north door, partly for visitors' convenience and partly for staff security. But before investing in the exterior redesign, Rath wants approval of a future, interior rearrangement that will correspond to the new arrival traffic, new staff workflow and, hopefully, expanded public use of the council rooms.
Rath and Simpson also asked to include a review of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system (HVAC). Over the years, the building has amassed 12-15 HVAC units tied into a complex system, Simpson said. The result is noisy blowers, hard-to-control temperature, hot and cold pockets of air, and disconnected thermostats. Maintenance crews must control the temperature from the basement. Changes to the HVAC system could include a new system, a retrofit or a new control system, Rath said.
McGowan's proposal expects to include design options for the public entry, the council chambers remodeling and the periphery offices remodeling to accommodate the new entrance and improve control of customer circulation; a written report on the HVAC system and at least two options for upgrades; probable costs for the projects; and a project schedule for the new entrance for 2015 construction.