Deep Dive: Village of Hamilton Village Hall

The Village Hall for the Village of Hamilton was originally constructed circa 1850 The building has housed a number of different departments and offices in its 170 years of service. In the spring of 2020 the Village decided it was time to renovate the building holistically to improve security, efficiency, and the overall appearance of this historic structure.

Teitsch-Kent-Fay Architects, P.C. assisted the Village in analyzing the current functions of the facility. Brian, also, reviewed the circulation patterns through the building, to ensure that the new plan was efficient and comfortable. The analysis of the building revealed that the traditional front entrance off of Broad Street had been superseded by the entrance closest to the parking lot. Additionally, a variety of renovations from previous decades had resulted in a hodgepodge of finishes and construction types which were obscuring many of the building's original historic details.

After completing this analysis we were able to create a schematic design which retained as much of the historic fabric as possible. This work included restoring a number of previously compromised elements such as baseboard trim and the curved stair in the main entrance. This scheme also accommodated the current needs of the Village government offices. The spaces were reorganized to allow each department to take advantage of the shared facilities, such as copy rooms, toilet facilities and kitchen/break room, to the greatest extent possible. Security was also a major concern with this project. To improve security in the building Brian put in some bullet proof elements. These include a new secure visitors entrance and This helps to protect both visitors and workers within the building.

The design was then reviewed and approved by the Village administration, Teitsch-Kent-Fay Architects, P.C. began to work closely with the Codes Enforcement department. This allowed us to secure the required permits, and prepare construction documents for public bid. The project was successfully bid in the Summer of 2021, and construction began immediately thereafter.

The construction phase of the project required careful coordination with the Village Administration as several departments had to be relocated from the building to allow for the reconstruction to take place. In addition, Village records, archival materials, and technology infrastructure needed to be relocated and reestablished with a minimal amount of interruption. The construction itself took eight months to complete, was completed on time, on budget, and the Village Departments were able to transition into their newly renovated space efficiently, while still serving the people of the community.

This project has restored much of the building’s original grandeur, while allowing it to meet the current needs of the Village and community. The Village of Hamilton’s commitment to this wonderful gift from the past has paid off as the facility looks forward to many years of continued service. Teitsch-Kent-Fay Architects, P.C. would like to thank the Village Administration for their vision, patience and kindness throughout this project.