Park City plans extensive interior remodel of City Hall

City Hall in Park City, Utah. Photo: TownLift // Bailey Edelstein

PARK CITY, Utah – The City Council is considering a comprehensive interior remodel of the 445 Marsac building, widely recognized as City Hall, aiming to improve customer service and adapt to the increasing demand for public services. City council has approved a preliminary budget as part of the Fiscal Year 2024 Capital Budget. This step marks the beginning of a planning phase that staff says is intended to enhance the functionality and historical integrity of the building.

Deputy city manager Jennifer K. McGrath and senior project manager Dave Gustafson, in collaboration with FFKR Architects, have developed conceptual designs to help preserve the building’s historical essence. The proposed renovations aim to introduce a “one-stop shop” customer service model on the main floor, reducing the need for visitors to navigate between departments for different services with a hope to dissolve departmental silos.

This decision follows a previous renovation in 2009, which addressed public safety, accessibility, and modernization of the historic structure at a cost of $7.3 million. That project included seismic safety improvements, ADA compliance upgrades, and the introduction of green energy sources, such as geothermal wells and solar panels, alongside the consolidation of frequently accessed departments.

The current project status highlights the receipt of the latest design concepts and cost estimates from FFKR Architects in March 2024. Before moving forward, the city aims to engage in a comprehensive review of these proposals, considering the need for additional space and the potential impact on public access and service continuity during construction. With an anticipated additional capital budget request of approximately $1 million for FY25, the council will decide on the project’s future direction.

Renovation benefits outlined include enhanced customer service experiences, accommodation of a growing workforce, and technological updates to the Council Chambers to address the need for modernized IT equipment and the inclusion of gender-neutral bathrooms, in line with recent legislative requirements.

The original allocated budget for FY24 was around $1 million for the new improvements. The chart below, provided by the Park City Municipal staff, displays the planned improvements to the building, as well as cost allocation and new/requested budget additions for FY25.