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Date: 3/13/2015
CHICOPEE – The work has begun in converting the City Hall Auditorium into a joint meeting space for the City Council and School Committee.
Mayor Richard Kos announced on March 9 that Dietz and Company Architects would be the consultants for the necessary planning and design work. A committee appointed by Kos selected them from five candidates.
Dietz and Company has had experience with the rehabilitation and restoration of historic structures Springfield Technical Community College, Smith College in Northampton and the Caring Health Center in Springfield.
Kos said, “The City Hall auditorium has the potential to be the focal point for meetings and public events in our city, but it needs attention. This begins that effort. We hope to be able to televise public meetings from this location someday.”
Director of Community Development Carl Dietz explained to Reminder Publications the city is now in the process of defining the scope of services and finalizing the contract.
He said the process to address the issues of the auditorium would be a “phased approach.”
The auditorium is in the original part of City Hall that was completed in 1871. For years it was a central meeting area for the city’s residents.
In December 2014, City Messenger Jean Croteau showed the press the condition of the stain glass windows around the auditorium. Not only are pieces missing from some of the windows, but there are also questions about the structural integrity of the largest window, the circular one facing the front entrance of City Hall.
Those questions had caused the closing of the front entrance to City Hall.
Croteau detailed there are several areas of concern. There are questions whether or not the roof has failed. There is lead paint on the walls.
The Request for Qualifications issued by the city also mentioned the weathering and structural integrity of the exterior’s brick stonework and mortar; deferred maintenance to the building’s slate roof; updates to the building’s wiring, heat and cooling system and first floor windows; and the examination of greater energy efficiency as other issues that require analysis.
Deitz said the first task would be a structural analysis of the room and the building with a focus on the repair of the stained glass. He said improvements to the room are anticipated, but at this point are too far along in the process to speculate.
Along with designing the room to be the new meeting area for the City Council and School Committee, Dietz said city officials would also eventually have to determine a new use for the present City Council chambers.