pride of the city

A city's town hall is often a long-standing symbol of its rich heritage and culture. However, buildings steeped in tradition don't usually come with the fine requisites of today's building codes. Refurbishing an historic hall without compromising its classic aesthetic can be an exercise in precision design and detail.

Sydney Town Hall has been comprehensively upgraded by architects Howard Tanner, Robert Yuen and George Phillips of Tanner Architects to comply with city codes and meet criteria for a Public Place of Entertainment Licence. The project also involved a transformation of the Lower Town Hall, on the floor below the Centennial Hall.

"The improvement of services included upgrading existing sprinklers and introducing new ones, installing smoke alarms and fire protection, and adding new air conditioning in some areas, with energy-efficient light bulbs and sensor lighting throughout," says Phillips. "In addition, a building monitoring and control system was installed to further mitigate power usage. The inclusion of 240 solar panels discreetly placed on the roof and the insulation of the roof contributed to the building's greatly improved energy savings," says Phillips.

New plant, stormwater infrastructure and cabling were also introduced as part of the two-year upgrade."

Working with such a precious heritage environment can be labour intensive all floors and walls were protected with plywood sheeting, the doors were wrapped, and light fittings taken down during construction works.

Work was closely monitored to ensure the new fire protection was near invisible in the opulent setting.

"The installation was discreet sprinklers are tucked up behind cornices and wall mouldings. This project includes a new waterless fire-protection system with inert gas suppression for areas easily damaged by water, such as behind the organ," Phillips says.

Tanner Architects has had a working relationship with the Town Hall for years, including undertaking an upgrade of the Centennial Hall in the 1990s. This time it was the turn of the Lower Town Hall on the level below. The existing space was dimly lit and this part of the project called for the lower hall to be transformed into a multi-function space. A new curatorial storage space also needed to be created beneath to archive historic items.

"Before this could happen, 6750m² of soil and rock had to be excavated to gain additional space, and several factors had to be considered," says Phillips. "As the town hall was built over Sydney's first official European burial ground, the excavation was monitored to meet archeological requirements, and 66 coffins and a few skeletal remains exhumed.

"We also worked with the NSW Heritage Council as the Centennial Hall had to be supported on temporary steel-trussed bridges while some of the Lower Hall's columns were removed so excavation could proceed. Sensors monitored any movement or vibration above."

With the basement built, columns reinstated and a new floor laid, the Lower Hall has been transformed into a multifunctional exhibition space with climate control system, flexible lighting and staging.

In addition, old apertures were reopened in this area to improve circulation and connections between the foyer and Lower Town Hall were also improved.

"The revamped Sydney Town Hall now offers modern functionality and safety, with a dynamic new entertaining venue at its heart," says the architect.

Story by: Charles Moxham