2023 MidAtlantic Best Projects
Award of Merit Renovation/Restoration: Old City Hall Renovation
Photo by Ulf Walin, courtesy of Grunley Construction Co.
Old City Hall Renovation
Richmond
Award of Merit
Submitted By: Grunley Construction Co.
Owner: Virginia Dept. of General Services
Lead Design Firm: Quinn Evans Architects
General Contractor: Grunley Construction Co.
Subcontractors: M&E Contractors Inc.; SC Cox Inc.; IHC Ltd.; C.J. Coakley Co.; Custom Ornamental Iron Inc.
The $71-million project involved extensive renovation of a Gothic Revival-style national historic landmark erected in 1894. The four-year project finished on time and on budget and included extensive repairs and replacements of various facets of the 118,293-sq-ft building.
Team members repaired and replaced historic windows and jambs as well as decorative plaster and millwork. They also restored decorative cast iron and sheet metal.
The project also included asbestos abatement and demolition, structural stabilization and installation of new life safety, sprinkler and low voltage systems. Elevators were replaced and the exterior and roof underwent extensive renovations.
The team overcame a number of challenges. The “sheer magnitude” of the scaffolding systems needed to perform the delicate renovation and restoration work required extensive coordination.
The facade work required scaffolding that enabled crews to gain access to more elevated sections of the building. To prevent damage, the team needed to construct scaffolding that did not physically anchor to the building or damage it. In-depth surveys of the existing condition of the facade were required before work began. Temporary protection also was installed along the building’s perimeter.
Extensive interior scaffolding was required, too, particularly around the building’s interior atrium and laylight.
