Meridian City Hall
Encyclopedia
City Hall in Meridian, Mississippi
in the United States is located at 601 24th Avenue. Originally designed by architect P.J. Krouse
in 1915, the building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1979 and as a Mississippi Landmark in 1988. Since September 13, 2006, the building has been undergoing a restoration to its original 1915 appearance, scheduled to be completed in September 2011. Temporary City Hall is located at 2412 7th Street.
The building was originally built in the Beaux Arts style. There were no major alterations to the building until the 1950s, when modern conveniences were added. Air conditioning was added to the building, necessitating drop ceilings to make room for the ducts, which obscured the original plaster moulding in the interior. Wood panelling was added to create more offices out of the large chambers present in the original design, and mahogany windows were replaced with aluminum ones. Windows on the ground floor were filled with concrete during the 1950s as well. City governments, believing they were making improvements to the building, actually harmed it or diminished its historical value. Terracotta tiles were painted over, which trapped moisture inside the tiles and caused parts of the building to rot. Scagliola
columns were painted blue, wood and marble floors were covered with linoleum, and the grand staircase was replaced with an elevator.
By 2003, some city workers had complained about faulty HVAC
systems in the building. The city then hired consultants to repair the systems, but they found so many other problems with the building that the city decided to renovate the entire building. The city began planning the operation in 2005, and the first bonds to finance the renovation were sold in 2006. The renovation was split up into four phases: planning, selective demolition, exterior renovation, and interior renovation. The first phase took place in 2005 before construction began. Phase II began in 2006, Phase III began in 2007, and Phase IV began in 2009.
During Phase III, the terracotta tiles on the exterior were methodically replaced, cross and jack sunscreens were returned to their original black shade, and the fountain constructed on the front lawn in the 1950s was replaced. Thirty-two of the decorative column capitals were replaced, and a new parapet
cap and flashing system was designed for the roof.
By March 2010, two of three fire stairs had been installed, and the elevator shaft had been moved to make way for a marble staircase. By January 2011, the building's scagliola columns had been restored, the decorative glazing on the floors had been finished, and progress was being made on the installation of the elevators.
The renovation was awarded the Masonry Construction Online Project of the Year Award for 2009.
of $10 million that was also supposed to fund the construction of a new fire station and several smaller projects. By 2010, that estimate had more than doubled to $17 million. One reason for the increase was unforeseen necessary repairs, such as iron supports that had rusted to less than half their original size and a damaged drainage system. The building's listing on the National Register of Historic Places
also increased cost. The Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH) required that anything salvageable from the original building must be repaired and reused rather than replaced. The terracotta tiles on the outside of the building, if not salvaged, were required to be replaced with exact replicas, and only two companies in the world could make them. In some cases, MDAH forced the city to spend more than they planned for historical accuracy. For example, the city had originally planned to install relatively cheap windows painted to look like the 1915 originals, but MDAH required the city to buy more expensive mahogany.
Each phase of construction is financed individually, but the original $10 million bond in 2006 was enough to cover the first three phases of construction. For Phase IV, the city received a block grant
from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act totaling $182,400 for the installation of energy efficient equipment in the building. The remaining cost will be covered by additional bonds.
Another hiccup in the renovation process was a lawsuit
filed by Evergreene Architectural Arts, one of the project's subcontractor
s, against Panola Construction, the general contractor
, and B.B. Archer, the architect. Evergreene claimed that negligent and incompetent actions had led to cost increases and scheduling delays for both Evergreene and the city. Archer characterized Evergreene's work as "shoddy" and "falling apart." Evergreene, who was in charge of producing a decorative plaster for the building's interior, was later fired, causing further delays as the contractor searched for a replacement. As a result of this controversy, the scheduled completion date was pushed back to May 23, 2011. As that deadline approached, the deadline was pushed back to September 1, 2011. Cheri Barry
, the city's mayor, said that the building renovations and furnishings would be complete by that time so that the building could be occupied again, but the landscaping would not yet be complete. Landscaping was scheduled to begin sometime between fall 2011 and spring 2012.
and plastic
will be removed from the interior and replaced with historic materials like wood, marble, plaster, and glass. A set of fire stairs on all three floors will be added, and the elevator will be in a different location to make way for a restored grand staircase of marble. Other interior changes include replacing the aluminum windows added in the 1950s with mahogany replicas of the originals, removing vinyl flooring to expose the original oak and marble beneath, and replacing aluminum doors and unsightly fluorescent lights.
The renovated building will also be more energy efficient. Automatic lighting controls, insulated glass, efficient HVAC
systems, and shades that automatically lower to keep out sunlight at specific times of day will be added. The HVAC system will be housed in a mechanical building across the street.
The first floor of the building will house the Human Resources department, the Information Technology department, and a conference room. The second floor will be the main entrance of the building and will be home to the mayor's office and the Finance and Records department. The third floor originally housed an auditorium with a large stage and the Community Development department. The auditorium will be rebuilt, though smaller in size than the original, and will serve as a public space available to be rented for receptions and as the city council chambers. A kitchen for event catering will be constructed beside the auditorium, and the floor will also contain office space and a conference room.
Meridian, Mississippi
Meridian is the county seat of Lauderdale County, Mississippi. It is the sixth largest city in the state and the principal city of the Meridian, Mississippi Micropolitan Statistical Area...
in the United States is located at 601 24th Avenue. Originally designed by architect P.J. Krouse
P.J. Krouse
Penn Jeffries Krouse, usually known as P.J. Krouse was a prolific architect in the state of Mississippi. Many of his buildings were located in the Meridian area.Buildings he designed that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places include:...
in 1915, the building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1979 and as a Mississippi Landmark in 1988. Since September 13, 2006, the building has been undergoing a restoration to its original 1915 appearance, scheduled to be completed in September 2011. Temporary City Hall is located at 2412 7th Street.
History
Before the current city hall was built in 1915, the city government operated out of a building built in 1885 and designed by Gustav Torgenson, the same architect that designed the Riley Center in 1889. Architects R.H. Hunt, C.L. Hutchisson, and P.J. Krouse competed for the chance to design the new city hall in March 1914. Krouse was chosen to design the building on April 15, 1914.The building was originally built in the Beaux Arts style. There were no major alterations to the building until the 1950s, when modern conveniences were added. Air conditioning was added to the building, necessitating drop ceilings to make room for the ducts, which obscured the original plaster moulding in the interior. Wood panelling was added to create more offices out of the large chambers present in the original design, and mahogany windows were replaced with aluminum ones. Windows on the ground floor were filled with concrete during the 1950s as well. City governments, believing they were making improvements to the building, actually harmed it or diminished its historical value. Terracotta tiles were painted over, which trapped moisture inside the tiles and caused parts of the building to rot. Scagliola
Scagliola
Scagliola , is a technique for producing stucco columns, sculptures, and other architectural elements that resemble inlays in marble and semi-precious stones...
columns were painted blue, wood and marble floors were covered with linoleum, and the grand staircase was replaced with an elevator.
Restoration
HVAC
HVAC refers to technology of indoor or automotive environmental comfort. HVAC system design is a major subdiscipline of mechanical engineering, based on the principles of thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer...
systems in the building. The city then hired consultants to repair the systems, but they found so many other problems with the building that the city decided to renovate the entire building. The city began planning the operation in 2005, and the first bonds to finance the renovation were sold in 2006. The renovation was split up into four phases: planning, selective demolition, exterior renovation, and interior renovation. The first phase took place in 2005 before construction began. Phase II began in 2006, Phase III began in 2007, and Phase IV began in 2009.
During Phase III, the terracotta tiles on the exterior were methodically replaced, cross and jack sunscreens were returned to their original black shade, and the fountain constructed on the front lawn in the 1950s was replaced. Thirty-two of the decorative column capitals were replaced, and a new parapet
Parapet
A parapet is a wall-like barrier at the edge of a roof, terrace, balcony or other structure. Where extending above a roof, it may simply be the portion of an exterior wall that continues above the line of the roof surface, or may be a continuation of a vertical feature beneath the roof such as a...
cap and flashing system was designed for the roof.
By March 2010, two of three fire stairs had been installed, and the elevator shaft had been moved to make way for a marble staircase. By January 2011, the building's scagliola columns had been restored, the decorative glazing on the floors had been finished, and progress was being made on the installation of the elevators.
The renovation was awarded the Masonry Construction Online Project of the Year Award for 2009.
Funding
The original estimate of the cost was $7-8 million, which would be paid for by a single general obligation bondGeneral obligation bond
A general obligation bond is a common type of municipal bond in the United States that is secured by a state or local government's pledge to use legally available resources, including tax revenues, to repay bond holders....
of $10 million that was also supposed to fund the construction of a new fire station and several smaller projects. By 2010, that estimate had more than doubled to $17 million. One reason for the increase was unforeseen necessary repairs, such as iron supports that had rusted to less than half their original size and a damaged drainage system. The building's listing on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
also increased cost. The Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH) required that anything salvageable from the original building must be repaired and reused rather than replaced. The terracotta tiles on the outside of the building, if not salvaged, were required to be replaced with exact replicas, and only two companies in the world could make them. In some cases, MDAH forced the city to spend more than they planned for historical accuracy. For example, the city had originally planned to install relatively cheap windows painted to look like the 1915 originals, but MDAH required the city to buy more expensive mahogany.
Each phase of construction is financed individually, but the original $10 million bond in 2006 was enough to cover the first three phases of construction. For Phase IV, the city received a block grant
Block grant
In a fiscal federal form of government, a block grant is a large sum of money granted by the national government to a regional government with only general provisions as to the way it is to be spent...
from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act totaling $182,400 for the installation of energy efficient equipment in the building. The remaining cost will be covered by additional bonds.
Delays
The unforeseen structural problems and the strictness of MDAH not only increased the cost of the project, but they also continued to push back the estimated date of completion. When the renovation began in 2006, it was expected to take only two years. Phase III took longer than expected because of the historical standards imposed by MDAH. Since only two companies in the world could make the terracotta tiles for the exterior of the building, there was a long wait for them. On top of that, it also took a long time to place them on the walls because they each had a specific place and none were standardized. Though Phase III began in 2007, the installation of the tiles didn't begin until January 2009. By February, 400 of the 1,643 tiles had been replaced. Because of this wait, the completion date was moved back to Spring 2010. By March 2010, the scheduled completion date was February 2011.Another hiccup in the renovation process was a lawsuit
Lawsuit
A lawsuit or "suit in law" is a civil action brought in a court of law in which a plaintiff, a party who claims to have incurred loss as a result of a defendant's actions, demands a legal or equitable remedy. The defendant is required to respond to the plaintiff's complaint...
filed by Evergreene Architectural Arts, one of the project's subcontractor
Subcontractor
A subcontractor is an individual or in many cases a business that signs a contract to perform part or all of the obligations of another's contract....
s, against Panola Construction, the general contractor
General contractor
A general contractor is responsible for the day-to-day oversight of a construction site, management of vendors and trades, and communication of information to involved parties throughout the course of a building project.-Description:...
, and B.B. Archer, the architect. Evergreene claimed that negligent and incompetent actions had led to cost increases and scheduling delays for both Evergreene and the city. Archer characterized Evergreene's work as "shoddy" and "falling apart." Evergreene, who was in charge of producing a decorative plaster for the building's interior, was later fired, causing further delays as the contractor searched for a replacement. As a result of this controversy, the scheduled completion date was pushed back to May 23, 2011. As that deadline approached, the deadline was pushed back to September 1, 2011. Cheri Barry
Cheri Barry
Cheri Merritt Barry is currently the mayor of Meridian, Mississippi. She is the first woman to hold that position.-Biography:Cheri Merritt grew up in Meridian, where she was a graduate of Lamar High School in 1973...
, the city's mayor, said that the building renovations and furnishings would be complete by that time so that the building could be occupied again, but the landscaping would not yet be complete. Landscaping was scheduled to begin sometime between fall 2011 and spring 2012.
After restoration
When complete, the building will match the original architectural drawings as much as possible while still conforming to modern building codes. The panelling used to create small offices will be removed, and the rooms will be in the same places they were in 1915. All vinylVinyl
A vinyl compound is any organic compound that contains a vinyl group ,which are derivatives of ethene, CH2=CH2, with one hydrogen atom replaced with some other group...
and plastic
Plastic
A plastic material is any of a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic organic solids used in the manufacture of industrial products. Plastics are typically polymers of high molecular mass, and may contain other substances to improve performance and/or reduce production costs...
will be removed from the interior and replaced with historic materials like wood, marble, plaster, and glass. A set of fire stairs on all three floors will be added, and the elevator will be in a different location to make way for a restored grand staircase of marble. Other interior changes include replacing the aluminum windows added in the 1950s with mahogany replicas of the originals, removing vinyl flooring to expose the original oak and marble beneath, and replacing aluminum doors and unsightly fluorescent lights.
The renovated building will also be more energy efficient. Automatic lighting controls, insulated glass, efficient HVAC
HVAC
HVAC refers to technology of indoor or automotive environmental comfort. HVAC system design is a major subdiscipline of mechanical engineering, based on the principles of thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer...
systems, and shades that automatically lower to keep out sunlight at specific times of day will be added. The HVAC system will be housed in a mechanical building across the street.
The first floor of the building will house the Human Resources department, the Information Technology department, and a conference room. The second floor will be the main entrance of the building and will be home to the mayor's office and the Finance and Records department. The third floor originally housed an auditorium with a large stage and the Community Development department. The auditorium will be rebuilt, though smaller in size than the original, and will serve as a public space available to be rented for receptions and as the city council chambers. A kitchen for event catering will be constructed beside the auditorium, and the floor will also contain office space and a conference room.