Kodet Architectural Group’s Restoration of Old Town Hall Wins Minnesota Preservation Award

MINNEAPOLIS -- Kodet Architectural Group, Ltd. was honored with a 2007 Minnesota Preservation Award for its planning and design of the historic restoration of the exterior of the Old Town Hall in Bloomington, Minn. The award was presented in October during the National Trust for Historic Preservation Conference, recognizing Kodet’s architectural stewardship for one of the last historic town halls in the Twin Cities metropolitan area and one of the last buildings to remain from Bloomington’s historic downtown.

Due to funding issues, the two-story Gothic-revival building that had survived for 115 years was threatened to be demolished. “There was overwhelming support from the residents to save the Old Town Hall. While the wood structure was stable, the existing foundation walls were starting to show signs of failure and the exterior cladding was damaged beyond repair,” explains Ed Kodet, FAIA.

Using historic photographs, Kodet Architectural Group worked closely with the City of Bloomington to restore the exterior of the building and site to its original 1892 appearance. Kodet says, “It represents the history of the City of Bloomington’s government and was an important meeting site for the fledgling town of Bloomington until the 1960s, when larger facilities were built nearby.”

Currently located at the intersection of Penn Avenue and Old Shakopee Road, the Old Town Hall was moved 20 feet when a basement was added in the 1930s. To get the building to look as it did in 1892, windows at the basement were infilled and the grade brought up around the perimeter of the building. The regrading also allowed the building to be made accessible in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, with a ramp leading up to the front door from the surrounding sidewalks and parking lot. Meeting lo cal building code requirements and energy requirements also were important for this project.  This included installing a fire sprinkler system throughout the entire building and adding insulation into the exterior walls without removing the interior plaster when the siding was replaced.

Drawings from when the Old Town Hall was built were not available, so Kodet relied on historic photographs and field verification for the restoration. The building was completely encapsulated in stucco, which is not historically accurate for the era. A number of exploratory cuts were made to verify the condition and profiles of the existing wood. Because the majority of the wood was not repairable due to moisture problems and damage caused by the installation of the stucco, Kodet replicated the profile of all the trim and siding. The original paint colors were verified through the existing wood samples taken from the site.

The existing stucco was removed from the exterior of the building and replaced with cedar siding. Cast stone, similar to the original stonework, replaced the non-historic brick veneer at the foundation and the cedar trim was replicated. A vault added in the 1920s was removed from the south side of the building. The cupola at the roof was recreated from historic photographs. Asphalt shingles were removed and cedar shingles restored. The failing basement walls were reinforced with steel.

Windows also are key to the historic integrity of the Old Town Hall. The exterior windows were refurbished by specialists in Illinois and returned to working condition. Decorative woodwork along the gable ends was replicated and reinstalled along with operable shutters to match the original.

Kodet Architectural Group utilized the U.S. Secretary of the Interior Standard’s for Rehabilitation as a guideline for all work done on the Old Town Hall. This resource provided a level of quality in materials and craftsmanship that helped to maintain the original integrity of the building.

The Old Town Hall will continue to be a historical museum occupied by the Bloomington Historical Society. The Historical Society currently is fundraising for the next phase of the renovation project. When completed, the layout of the main floor will be reorganized with permanent exhibit cases and rotating exhibit kiosks in the center of the gallery. This will allow the space to be used for community events, educational workshops, receptions, weddings, and history-related programs.
 
The Preservation Alliance of Minnesota (PAM) is the statewide, private, nonprofit organization advocating for the preservation of Minnesota’s historic resources. See www.mnpreservation .org for more information and a full list of the 2007 Minnesota Preservation Award winners.
 
An award-winning, Minnesota firm, Kodet Architectural Group provides a complete range of services such as architectural programming, site planning, referendum assistance, feasibility studies, accessibility, remodeling, historic preservation, lighting and acoustical design, and interior and exterior design. To learn more about Kodet Architectural Group, Ltd., please visit http://www.kodet.com.