Phase Two of renovations underway for Chicopee City Hall

July 29, 2022 | Matt Conway
mconway@thereminder.com

City Hall will undergo phase two of renovations in the near future.
Reminder Publishing submitted photo

CHICOPEE – Constructed in 1870, City Hall stands as a relic of Chicopee’s history. Planning Director Lee Pouliot shared that the city is continuing renovations to modernize the aging facility.

The building, which along with the Edward Bellamy House represents the two remaining historic architecture artifacts in Chicopee, started undergoing the first phase of its renovations in July 2015. Pouliot said renovations became crucial as the building began falling apart at the seams, with stain glass windows starting to loosen up and shatter in front of City Hall.

The phase one renovations included an array of interior and exterior repairs. Pouliot detailed the city’s efforts to repair damage to the City Hall annex, solidify foundational repairs, improve the building’s installation, replace HVAC equipment and modernize the building for accessibility purposes. The city also underwent extensive repairs to City Hall’s famed clock tower.

The city reached completion with phase one renovations in December 2021. The city spent an estimate of $14.3 million from a $17.3 million estimate.

Pouliot shared that the city also remodeled its central auditorium. The city installed new flooring, a completely redesigned ceiling, stain glass windows and technological tools for filming meetings. Improved parking was also critical to support citizens’ involvement with City Hall, with the city remodeling their parking lot to hold as many as 65 vehicles, according to Pouliot.

With phase two, Pouliot said the focus will be on improving the building’s interior. The planning director envisions improvements to each office suite, along with additions that will enhance the building’s security and technology services.

“Phase one focused on mechanical systems and the building…but it didn’t really deal with the internal finishes or updates within all the office suites,” said Pouliot in an interview with Reminder Publishing. The planning department conducted a study to maximize each office space’s efficiency and accessibility. Some of the offices will embrace a new location within City Hall once renovations are completed.

The interior upgrades will address ceilings, lighting, walls, floors, carpets and furnishing within each office space. Phase two will also improve the City Council’s chambers on the fourth floor of City Hall. Members of the council have expressed interest in returning meetings to that room instead of the refurbished auditorium that they currently meet in.

“We want to make sure we are making the best decisions to ensure that we are modernizing our operations in the building and looking forward to what the future is going to bring us,” said Pouliot.

Pouliot explained that the Planning Department is currently finalizing schematic designs and expects the phase two project to go out to bid next year.

“We’ve got a little ways to go. It’s a slow and steady process,” said Pouliot.

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