The design and materials for the new Richardson City Hall have come into focus after a recent presentation to Richardson City Council.

City staff presented a City Hall design that is expected to complement the updated library during the June 17 council meeting.

The gist

The design of the new building will have the new council chambers, which will be able to hold 170 individuals, as a focal point of the structure, Assistant City Manager Charles Goff said. According to the staff presentation, there are also plans to have an outdoor patio on the second floor, incorporate various energy-efficient design elements and use drought tolerant, native Texas plants for landscaping.

On the interior, Goff said the new Richardson room will be larger compared to the old one inside the previous City Hall, and there will be a photo mural wall along with a small public art display on the first floor. Staff also outlined plans to have a “one-stop shop” of public-facing departments, such as utility billing on the first floor to better serve individuals needing assistance.

According to the presentation, the budget for the project remains $91 million, which allocates $82.5 million for various construction costs and $7.5 million to cover the project contingency and relocation to the temporary City Hall. Funding is sourced through the 2021 and 2023 bonds, insurance proceeds and project savings.

Some context

The new City Hall is needed after the previous structure was damaged by a fire in August 2022. Demolition on the old structure began in May with construction expected to start later this year.

Per the presentation, there are other components to the project not included in the bidding scope, which is meant to provide flexibility, including:

• $1.25 million for rooftop solar panels, which would generate 10% of the necessary power for the facility while covering 75% of the roof
• $1.1 million for plaza and Leadership Grove enhancements
• $200,000 for parking lot repairs
• $325,000 for an extended second floor patio
• $225,000 for relocating a transformer on the site

The new City Hall project is part of a larger municipal campus project, which includes a $48.1 million renovation of the Richardson Public Library that began in March. A public art budget of $1.32 million is also allocated for the new City Hall.

What’s next?

Goff said a groundbreaking ceremony is likely to take place this fall when construction begins.