As his legacy project after 33 years with the City of Madison, City Manager (retired) David Nunn, an ardent preservation advocate, wanted to see the 1938 City Hall building put back in good working order. The City of Madison selected Arcollab to spearhead this effort.
The building has been continuously occupied by city employees since its opening eighty-four years ago, though the police and fire departments have since relocated as the needs of the city administration staff required more space. Alterations to the building made in the 1980s subdivided a former Recorder’s Courtroom with frame walls and dropped ceilings, and most ceilings and original finishes were obscured.
Arcollab led the rehabilitation team, performing a detailed assessment of historic building conditions prior to commencing design work. The resulting rehabilitation has restored the integrity of the building’s interior spaces while upgrading the facility with modern mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems.
Madison City Hall will continue to serve its original function for future decades and will set an example to other preservation-minded towns and cities of the benefits of retaining their historic public buildings for continued use.
The Madison Historic Preservation Commission awarded the Madison City Hall rehabilitation a Preservation Excellence Award in 2023.
