Coeur d’Alene is remodeling its 1978 city hall to 2017 standards

Teya Vitu//May 25, 2017//

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Coeur d'Alene is renovating its city, which includes a new facade and relocating the elevator to the front of the building. Photo courtesy of city of Coeur d'Alene. — Coeur d’Alene is renovating its city hall. The work includes installing a new facade and relocating the elevator to the front of the building. Photo courtesy of city of Coeur d’Alene.

Coeur d’Alene is upgrading its 1970s-era city hall with a new, larger elevator; new internet wiring, and other amenities.

The 1978 elevator isn’t wide enough to carry more than two people to the second floor, said City Clerk Renata McLeod.

“It’s a very narrow elevator that just comfortably fits two people,” McLeod said. “The door is not wide enough to fit wider wheelchairs.”

Coeur d’Alene City Hall, built in 1978, has Internet service but the cables were strewn above the false ceiling. New IT wiring will be installed

The Coeur d'Alene City Hall elevator comfortably fits about two people. Photo courtesy of city of Coeur d'Alene. — The Coeur d’Alene City Hall elevator comfortably fits about two people. Photo courtesy of city of Coeur d’Alene.

in a more orderly manner, she said.

“It just became a corded mess up there with old phone lines and other lines no longer used,” McLeod said. “We’re going to clear out the elevator shaft and make it an IT cabinet.”

The $2.18 million city hall remodel will replace the aging heating and ventilation system; remodel all the restrooms to make them compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act; replace 20^th century light fixtures with LED fixtures; and install new electrical service, new fire alarms, a new security camera system and magnetic door locks, McLeod said.

The 40-year-old cedar-plank façade, some of it burrowed by birds, will be replaced with a new wood façade and the exterior will be repainted. The employee break room will be moved from the second floor to the ground floor.

Ginno Construction of Coeur d’Alene, the construction manager/general contractor, started work April 10 with an expected October completion. Longwell + Trapp Architects of Hayden is the architect.