Plans for Bradford’s future town hall are taking shape, thanks to the strategic projects advisory committee.
Councillors voted to endorse the committee’s recommendation to proceed with the first of three layout options during the Dec. 19 council meeting.
While previously proposed to be four storeys, the new design would result in a three-storey town hall located just across from the community centre with an outdoor public plaza leading to a central entrance and lobby area connecting the 200-seat performance space/council chamber to the administrative offices and community space. The building is also proposed to include a 620-square-metre multi-purpose double gymnasium, a suite of four change-room facilities and six multi-purpose community rooms.
The design is intended to front onto Simcoe Road with proposed tree plantings to the north and south as well as landscaped greenspace in the northwest, on top of which a potential 1,200-sq.-m future expansion could be built.
Deputy Mayor Raj Sandhu is also the chair of the committee and previously explained that he hopes the “significant investment in one of our original neighbourhoods” will bring more staff together under one roof, reduce the costs of leasing space in multiple units around town and create “additional patronage for the nearby downtown core.”
The committee decided to make the recommendations during their Nov. 27 meeting based on information from Tom Wilson of +VG Architects.
All three of the potential options would require extending William Street south to curve around and connect with Simcoe Road, making room for the new town hall to be built along the western edge of the property over what is currently an open lawn, but also the existing community centre parking lot.
To help make up for that lost parking, the design also includes 180 underground parking spots and a surface-level lot to the south of the curling rink.
Council approved the committee’s recommendation without discussion.
This latest step forward follows council’s decision on Sept. 5 to proceed with a 30-per-cent design-build construction method and to consider efficient green initiatives throughout the design process.
Chief administrative officer Geoff McKnight estimated during a May meeting of council that the contract for construction could go to tender in late 2024, once a detailed design for the town hall is completed.
The town hall is planned to be the cornerstone of the redevelopment of 125 Simcoe Rd., where the entire campus has been a hub for the town for decades, housing various outdoor recreation facilities and the town’s Canada Day celebrations, plus the community centre and curling club.
In addition to the town hall and existing buildings, the town is considering including several other items into the full redevelopment, including:
- a public square
- a water feature
- a rooftop garden
- pedestrian pathways
- urbanized streetscape with trees, patios and benches
- surface and underground parking
- a rain garden
- a skating trail
- an event stage
- sports courts
- a splash pad
- a playground
- a shade structure
- landscaping and naturalized seating
- open green space
- a skate park
While the town hall project doesn’t include updates for the community centre or the curling club building, Sandhu said there are ongoing plans for that work as part of the Community Centre Master Plan.
