Delano Herald Journal

Serving the communities of Delano, Loretto, Montrose, MN, and the surrounding area

Study results in on Winsted city hall



Two studies assessing the condition of the old Winsted
city hall have been completed and the findings were presented to the city
council Tuesday by Gary Turpening, architect with Rieke, Carroll and Mueller
(RCM).

In an effort to decide what to do with the old city hall
building, the council approved a three phase study/needs project, conducted
by RCM, the city’s engineers. No type of renovation for the city hall has
been approved. The studies are only informational.

The first phase was composed of the two studies. One looked
at the condition of the exterior brick, the other was an engineering study
that looked at the entire condition of the building.

To determine the condition of the exterior brick, RCM contracted
Mark Macphereson of the Macpherson-Towne Company, experts in building restoration
and building preservation.

According to the report by Macphereson, considering the
age of the building – 103 years old – the exterior masonry appears to be
in fair condition, and a “comprehensive” restoration program would
return the exterior masonry surfaces to a sound condition.

After restoration, the brick would require “only normal
maintenance expected in a masonry structure.”

Macphereson noted the damage on some areas of brick and
mortar has been caused by water; this and other damage is repairable.

Macphereson outlined two options for repairing the exterior
brick. The first, at an estimated cost of $70,000, would be to cut out and
repoint deteriorated mortar joints in the exposed brickwork and stonework.
This estimate is based on repointing approximately 25 percent of the mortar
joints in the areas most in need.

Work would also include cutting out and caulking the end
joints in the stone trim, removing and replacing deteriorated brick in the
working area, caulking the joint between the building and the sidewalk,
and repairing and/or replacing the existing cement wall wash cap.

The function of the wash cap is to drain water from the
top of the wall. Macphersons’ cost estimate on this option includes an
allowance for replacing 1,200 bricks.

The second option, with an estimated cost of $93,000, is
to cut out and repoint all mortar joints in the exposed brickwork and stonework,
cut out and caulk the end joints in the stone trim, remove and replace deteriorated
brick where needed, repair and/or replace the existing cement wash wall
cap. This estimate also include an allowance for replacing 1,200 bricks.

These two cost estimates are just for repairing the areas
of damaged brick. Other costs would be incurred.

All the following costs are estimates: cleaning the brick,
$8,000; caulk around windows, doors, etc. $4,500; install new sheet metal
covers on existing stone and brick ledges, $4,000.

Two estimates were given for installing a new wall cap.
Cost for a one made of sheet metal would be about $7,500. To install a new
stone or precast concrete wall cap was estimated at $27,000.

The engineering study was designed to determine if it is
reasonable to save and reuse the building for public use, and compares the
cost of building a new city hall or restoring the old one.

Turpening, said the building can be restored, updated,
and an addition built on. This would increase the building size to 11,985
square feet.

Turpening estimated the cost to renovate the building to
the “very nicest it could be” at $1.3 million. He said to build
a new three-story building of the same size on the old city hall site, or
to build a two-story building at another site would cost in the area of
$1.5 million.

If the building were renovated, the state would kick in
$75,000 to restore the exterior.

The building was examined in March, and Turpening said
the roof trusses are in total failure.

“Most of the building appears to be sound, but built
of inadequate structural strength to support the loading of office and gather
spaces under the current Uniform Building Code,” he said.

Turpening said several of the trusses have rotted and the
roof must be removed and replaced. For this, RCM has created two options.

Both options would use microlaminated beams because they
can be built to fit in the same masonry beam pocket locations of the original
trusses.

The first option would be to build a simple flat roof with
tapered insulation, then drop a new ceiling or leave the flat wood ceiling
exposed with new beams.

The second option is to take pieces from the existing trusses
or micro-lam beams and use them to create a roof that will replicate the
original.

Turpening said because of the roof, reconstruction of the
building will be tricky. ” . . . the roof support system basically
holds the walls together. When the roof is taken off of the walls, the building
will be in fragile condition until the new roof is in place.

“For this reason only a very experienced general contractor
should be considered for the project,” he said.

Although the first floor is solid, neither it nor the second
floor meet current codes for loadings. Both floors would have to be reinforced.

Mechanical and electrical systems are also not up to code
and will have to be scrapped.

To increase workable space and allow for mandated handicapped
accessibility, Turpenings’ design includes removing the east wall and placing
an addition there. The addition would be 48’x28′ and three stories high
to match the existing floor levels.

The next step in this project is to proceed with the planning
phase. In this step, the overall needs of the employees and the city itself
will be looked at.

Planned, but no date set, are public meetings where people
can have input as to what they want in a building, i.e., a public meeting
room, kitchen for senior dining, etc.

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