Southampton Town Hall Ad Hoc Committee Vice Chair Tony Sheard (left) and Committee Chair Duncan McCallum look over the twinning plans outside the Southampton Town Hall August 9.

Hub Staff

In 2016, Saugeen Shores Council established the Southampton Town Hall Ad Hoc Committee with a mandate to create long-term structural revitalization and sustainability, maintain and improve the use of the building and set out aesthetic and functional upgrades to the municipal lands surrounding the facility.

Following months of meetings and touring town halls around the province, Committee Chair Duncan McCallum presented findings to Saugeen Shores Council April 10.

Since then two public meetings have been held. One on June 8 seeking input regarding the notion of twinning the Southampton Town Hall with the Southampton Library; and another on August 2 to present the twinning design concept prepared by 3 Stones Architecture + Design.

The committee is due to present the design to Saugeen Shores Council September 11 and would like as much public input as possible. McCallum along with Committee Vice Chair Tony Sheard met with Saugeen Shores Hub to discuss the project.

Sheard said that although the first public meeting in June was not well attended, the August meeting, held at the Southampton Fire Hall, was standing room only. “We only had positive comments, we had great questions but there was no negativity in any of the questions,” he said. “What we're trying to do is just broaden the base so that as many people know about it, so that if people have a view or question we can field it before it goes to Council.”

The Ad Hoc Committee were tasked with recommending the best path forward for the Town Hall, explained Sheard. “In terms of picking pieces out that needed to be done for the old building itself; and secondly we were asked to look at the library specifically.” Sheard said that the options ranged from refurbishing the existing library to rebuilding with a glass atrium connecting the two buildings. Conceptually the latter is where the Committee’s draft design currently sits.

Wheelchair accessibility was also a consideration. “There's no easy way into this building or the public toilets on the side so if you take all these things together, the do-nothing option isn't there,” he said. “We have to put accessibility to this building, the library and the public washrooms and we have to refurbish the library because it needs a new roof and there are other structural defects, so it needs a lot of money spending on it just to stand still.” Sheard added that the committee is approaching the project with a vision that will be suitable for the next 100 years.

The cost of the project is yet unknown. “We don't know and don't know for a good reason because the architects haven't yet finalized the design,” said Sheard, adding that the budget estimate will be presented to Council September 11. The budget, Sheard explained, will be in two parts, one to refurbish the Town Hall and second, the annex atrium and library.

The Town Hall itself would see the ceiling reinsulated, a new floor installed, and a demountable stage in place of the current stage to make the room more versatile. In addition, where the former washrooms and elevator shaft is now, a mazzanine level and some tiered seating in would be included.

The added atrium area would join the two buildings making for easy ground level access, explained McCallum. “Inside the front is a new elevator and stairs that allow you to go up to the next level. We're going to end up with three levels, a lower level, ground level and a second floor level,” he said.

Sheard added that it would mirror the levels in the Town Hall itself. “In some respects not ideal but we found a way through the creative architects we've employed to find a solution.”

McCallum said in the entrance level there would be a tourism information area, which would also act as an information desk for the whole building with access to the Town Hall, Art Centre and Library. “The library will be a two story library, a lower level and a ground level,” he said. “We're essentially doubling the space of the library. It currently occupies 2,500 square feet, the new library is about 5,500 square feet.”

The third level would be for community purposes, explained McCallum. “That's where there will be washrooms, there will be a kitchen, there will be meeting rooms, so we're increasing the utilization of the whole facility. And then out the back there's going to be an entertainment area, a courtyard,” he said, adding that an amphitheatre, cafe and terraces are also included in the plans.

Sheard said the next step is finishing the design work and taking it to Council in September with the committee looking for as much feedback as possible in the meantime. A survey is available on the Town of Saugeen Shores website.

If approved, the committee’s next steps would be architectural drawings with construction likely to get underway in 2020, giving the Town an opportunity to apply for grant funding.

“Equally they may say this is too much, we don't want to do it at all. We don't know what ultimately they'll decide,” said Sheard, adding that it’s up to Council and the community whether or not it’s worth the investment.

McCallum said due to the expense of the undertaking, the bigger question may be whether or not the project ranks high enough in relation to other capital expenditures with Sheard making mention of the police station, the pool and recreation centre and beach improvements. “You need to fit it into those priorities... so whether it makes the cut or doesn't make the cut we don't know,” said Sheard, adding that it’s the committee’s job to present a viable option that has community support, then it's up to Council and community whether or not to move forward.

A draft drawing of the Southampton Town Hall. For more drawings, visit saugeenshores.ca/en/our-town-hall/resources/Southampton-Community-Hub---8-Draft-Drawings.pdf.