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The Williamsport city administration and City Council have been struggling with decisions over how to house city government offices.
Before engaging an architectural and engineering firm to provide "...professional services related to identifying and designing the optimal long term facility to house city government offices" (to quote the recently issued RFP), we really need to decide if we want a traditional City Hall or a more expansive Civic Building, as defined below:
• A City Hall houses the City Council, its associated departments and their employees. It also usually functions as the base for the mayor of a city and of the executive arm of the municipality (if one exists distinctly from the council).
• A Civic Building is a central landmark in the geographical or business centre of a town or city. It is frequently the pride of a district that fosters a strong local, regional and national identity, as well as providing public services and having a positive impact on a neighborhood.
In order to determine what kind of facility is appropriate there are a number of basic questions that should be explored including the following:
• What functions, generally and then specifically, are required in a 21st century city government building? Are the occupants/city employees working full time in the building or working partly remotely?
• Who will specifically be visiting the building and for what purpose?
• Is there functional and/or financial value in having related businesses and services such as government authorities and non-profit community organizations housed under the same roof?
• What then is the optimal size (in square feet) for this 21st century facility?
• Is the 21st century building simply an efficient place for government to conduct business or does it take on a more ambitious role -- is it a City Hall or a more expansive Civic Building as defined above?
• How might sustainability, equity, and diversity issues be addressed?
Answers to these questions will frame the overall scope and goals of the project.
Potential architectural/engineering applicants can then be evaluated based on their experience and response to the project description.
This all being said, Williamsport certainly deserves an iconic City Hall or better yet, an iconic Civic Building that is seen as a great place for city employees to work, encourages citizens to become more engaged in their community, and projects a welcoming and progressive image to city visitors.
Why not set ourselves up with a vision that is more grounded in the needs of today and tomorrow?
Mark Winkelman is an architect by profession and, with his wife Suzanne, owner of The Pajama Factory complex in Williamsport.