Stratford’s nearly 130-year-old city hall is getting a major exterior restoration project, and the scope includes the kind of work that keeps historic brick buildings standing strong for another generation.
City council recently approved close to $2 million in repairs to the building’s exterior. Work is set to begin in the fall and continue through next summer, kicking off the first of three phases planned for the landmark.
Phase one focuses on two big needs: restoring the north-side front steps, which have been closed since last year, and addressing building envelope items rated in fair or poor condition, according to Mark Hackett, the city’s manager of community facilities. The approved scope includes masonry repairs, brick repositioning, replacement of slate roofing tiles, painting, and rehab repairs to window sills and window frames. The city also plans to replace doors at the Market Square entrance after a report flagged overall building security concerns tied to the doors’ condition.
Next up, phase two targets similar exterior work on the Wellington Street side of the building, while phase three addresses repairs to the tower portion. The city also sought approval from the Heritage Stratford committee after reviewing building conditions and completing design work.
The repairs will be completed by Brantford-based Robertson Restoration. The project cost is $1,864,500, with an HST rebate bringing the total expense to $1,679,040. Council approved $1.1 million for the project earlier, and the increased total reflects adding the steps and door replacement. Hackett said the building’s size also drives cost because crews will work across large elevations and a substantial front stair assembly.
For restoration-focused mason contractors, the plan is a reminder that public buildings rarely come with a single-trade scope. Masonry repairs sit alongside roofing, window, door, and painting work, so sequencing, access control, and jobsite safety have to stay tight while the building remains open with alternate entrances.
Read the full, original article from The Stratford Beacon Herald here.