PRESS RELEASE

Chicopee City Hall Rehabilitation Project Status Report 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

CHICOPEE – The primary purpose of the City Hall Rehabilitation Project Status Report is to communicate that the project is on track. Mayor Kos believes appropriate and timely updates of the performance of the project, strengthen accountability by informing the community about the City Hall construction process. It also assists the appropriate entities in managing programs and activities for which they are responsible and provides a basis for advice on the implementation and adjustment of construction planning directions.

Below are bi-weekly breakdowns designed to provide a clearer picture of the outcomes being achieved over the past several weeks performed by the following qualified contractors: American Environmental, Guarducci, T.J. Conway, Corcoran Plumbing & Heating, Griffin Electric, D.A. Sullivan, Calhess, Titan Roofing, Pilgrim Interiors, Ayotte & King and Morduct.

Weeks One/Two

• Relocation of staff breakroom to former HR file room
• Beginning and ongoing of demolition: staff breakroom/3^rd and 4^th floor bathrooms
• Annex basement abatement work - completed
• Closure and development of staging area between City Hall and Old Library
• Photo documentation of stained-glass windows in preparation for removal
• Plumbing work including cut/cap of old plumbing in 3^rd and 4^th floor bathrooms; layout of new sewer stack in these facilities
• HVAC work including cut/cap of old heating lines in 3^rd and 4^th floors bathrooms; layout of new lines in these facilities
• Removal of ductwork in the clock tower, 3^rd and 4^th floor bathrooms, and auditorium
• Disconnection of electrical in auditorium & installation of temporary electrical service
• Installation of safety rails in the clock tower/removal of clock weights from tower
• Mock-ups of cleaning and cutting techniques for exterior masonry/surveying of stone on City Hall main building

Weeks Three/Four

• Demolition & removal of 3^rd and 4^th floor bathroom floors
• Abatement of stained-glass window openings - north side of building
• Removal of stained-glass windows - north side of building
• New pipe installation for roof drains, temporary bathroom piping installation, layout of new sewer stacks in bathrooms
• Layout of new HVAC lines – 1^st floor hallway
• Mark-out of locations for new thermostats in hallways and offices
• Installation of conduits for new control wiring
• Installation of ductwork on 4th floor & auditorium
• Installation of cable, security conduit and sleeves on the 1st floor – main building
• Stone surveying and mock-ups of brick/stone cleaning & cutting - exterior of both buildings
• Auditorium demolition of stage, stairs, and mezzanine
• Installation of return air duct drops on the 1^st and 2^nd in the Annex and 1^st floor of main building

Weeks Five/Six

• Ongoing demolition & removal - 3^rd and 4^th floor bathroom floors (saw cutting of new doorway openings)
• Mark-out of locations for new thermostats in hallways and offices
• Radiator control valve replacements
• Installation of copper mains for auditorium radiant floor heating
• Installation of ductwork in auditorium attic
• Installation of wiring for fire alarms in basement and Annex - 4^th floor
• Temporary window protection for removed stained-glass windows
• Installation of protective fencing and jersey barriers at Annex Parking Lot and Front & Springfield Streets
• Masonry cleaning - south facades of both buildings
• Abatement of stained-glass windows - south side of the building
• Elevator equipment removal - Annex roof
• Removal of stained glass windows - north side of building
• Carriers and new water pipe installation in 3^rd and 4^th floor bathrooms
• Installation of conduits for new control wiring - second floor of Annex & first floor of City Hall
• Rough wiring installation for fire alarms - 4th floor and 3^rd floor – Annex
• Floor infill installation – 3^rd and 4^th floors – Annex
• Installation of new stair treads in Clock Tower
• Repointing of the brick on south side of Annex

 Weeks Seven/Eight

• Ongoing elevator demolition & removal
• New water pipe installation in 3^rd and 4^th floor bathrooms
• Installation of conduits for new control wiring - 2^nd floor of Annex & 1^st floor of City Hall
• Wiring for control valves - 4^th floor
• Valve replacements in Annex - attic and crawl space
• Rough wiring installation for fire alarms - 1^st and 2^nd floors – both buildings
• Floor infill installation – 3^rd and 4^th floors - Clock Tower
• Masonry cleaning, brick removal, and repointing – south façade of Annex
• Masonry washing and mortar removal – east façade of both buildings
• Installation of temporary roofing on Annex – where parapets are being rebuilt
• Framing of new walls in 3^rd and 4^th floor bathrooms
•  Patching and leveling of floors in 3^rd and 4^th floor bathrooms

Mayor Richard J. Kos stated “City Hall was in need of extensive repairs and doing so now will prevent further deterioration and potential structural collapses of stonework from occurring. Completing the project now minimizes the potential for increased costs if further deterioration occurs.”

Lee M. Pouliot, Director of Planning & Development who has been the City lead on this project stated, “Chicopee City Hall is a well-known historic icon that defines Chicopee Center and provides an ever-present historic link to the City’s past.  The City’s founders realized the importance of such a structure for the civil and social events of the City.  This commitment ensures that Chicopee City Hall will continue to provide future generations with an invaluable link to our heritage and history while ensuring City Staff are provided a healthy workplace to provide services to the residents of Chicopee.” 

The repair and construction project was estimated to cost nearly $16 million. However, the bidding of the project has resulted in the pricing of $11.7 to date. Repairs of the City Hall elevator were bid separately to secure grants of $250,000 which offset total repair costs of over $500,000 for the elevator.

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