Town Hall Renovation Building Committee

                                          Overview

 

Scotland Town Hall began its life in the 1840s as a single-room schoolhouse serving children in the village district. In 1894, the Town Meeting voted to consolidate all the school districts in a single building, and to expand the village school to accommodate them. A two-story section was added to the front of the building, which served as the town’s grade school until 1962, when Scotland Elementary School opened at its current location on Brook Road. At that time, the library moved into the original building, the three remaining rooms served as offices for the Town Clerk and other local officials. In 1980, a two-story vault was added to the Town Clerk’s office, and the the First Selectman’s office moved into its current location when the library moved to its new building on Brook Road.
 

In addition to its role in providing vital public services, the building’s architecture and its location on one of Connecticut’s best-preserved town greens make it an important cultural asset to the town. But in recent years, it has fallen into disrepair. A Conditions Assessment conducted in 2009 turned up many deficiencies, including structural problems in the foundation and the roof, a lack of access for disabled people, an inefficient heating system, inadequate electrical and information technology infrastructure, and lack of compliance with many building and fire codes. Emergency roof repairs were undertaken, but the building remains largely as it was 15 years ago—in need of total renovation.

 

In 2022, Congressman Joe Courtney arranged for the town to receive a $700,000 grant from the Department of Housing and Development’s Community Project Fund. Since then, grants have been awarded from two funds of the State Department of Economic and Community Development--$50,000 from the State Historic Preservation Office, and $581,000 from the Community Investment Fund 2030. A $1.5 million award from the Community Development Block Grant, a federally funded program administered by the State Department of Housing, brings the total amount available to the town of $2.8 million. The financing will come entirely from external sources; except for the costs of administration by town staff, no local tax dollars will be expended on the project.

 

Since then, preliminary work has been completed, including a hazardous materials analysis and environmental review, as required by the grants. In 2023, a conceptual design for the renovation was developed by Nelson Edwards Architects, the firm that carried out the Conditions Assessment. The design calls for an addition housing an elevator, staircase, and office, to be located at the rear of the building. The addition will allow for the removal of the exterior fire escapes and the concrete handicap access ramp, thus returning the exterior to its original appearance, while increasing the building’s accessibility. The interior space will be reconfigured to allow for both private and public meeting spaces, and for added security and productivity for the staff. Mechanical, electrical, heating, and plumbing systems will be upgraded to increase energy efficiency and reduce the carbon footprint. The foundation will be repaired, the basement improved, the well and septic updated, and the vinyl siding replaced with cedar clapboard. Interior features, such as the pressed tin ceilings in the oldest part of the building, will be restored. The final product will be a functional and beautiful Town Hall that will enhance the historic appearance of the village. 

Here are a couple of images from the Conceptual Design.