More than 50 years since Salem Civic Center’s creation, City Hall is readying for a major renovation.
The construction will close City Hall and relocate services for at least 18 months starting this summer.
Built from 1970 to 1972, the concrete New Brutalist-style hub for Salem’s city government has a roof that leaks, an out-of-date fire system and walls that could crumble and trap occupants during an earthquake.
Salem City Hall will undergo renovations over 18 months beginning this summer to make the building seismically safe and will replace the roof.
The project is expected to cost $39.4 million and is funded by the 2022 voter-approved infrastructure bond.
City officials said the goal of the project is to create a safe and sustainable building that’s inviting and usable to the public and a modern workplace for staff.
“It’s an over 50-year-old building,” said assistant city engineer Aaron Kimsey. “At the time, it didn’t have the same structural codes and regulations that we have today. Safety and security upgrades, building system upgrades are all really important parts of this project.
“Getting the building to be safe during an earthquake for the employees and the public that are within the space — and giving them an opportunity to be able to exit safely during that event — is the most important thing.”
Creating an inviting space with easy access points for the public will also be key as well as modernizing the technology and work spaces.
City staff based out of the building on Liberty Street SE will be relocating from March to July.
Here’s what to know about the project, where City Council meetings will be held during construction and other bond-funded projects happening around Salem this year.
How are Salem City Hall renovation costs being paid for amid budget deficit?
Money for City Hall renovations will come from the voter-approved infrastructure bond, not the city’s General Fund, which faces a projected $13.8 million budget shortfall.
Salem voters approved the $300 million bond in 2022 to improve the city’s streets, sidewalks, parks, libraries and bridges. The projects detailed in the bond include $157 million for sidewalks and streets, $28.4 million for park upgrades and $39.4 million for Civic Center upgrades. The rest of the bond goes to branch libraries, affordable housing, fire stations and equipment as well as technology upgrades and security.
The amount of funding provided by the bond meant the city wasn’t going to get everything on its wishlist for the project.
“That’s set out in the commitment that we’ve made to voters in the bond,” said Courtney Knox Busch, Salem’s strategic initiatives manager.
That means nixing items like new insulated windows, extensive Peace Plaza upgrades, enclosure of the atrium space, extensive renovation and relocation of departments and moving council chambers.
Some improvements, like the Peace Plaza upgrades to repair the water fountain, add a greenspace and parking, could remain a possibility with grant funding.
Salem City Hall will undergo renovations including new skylights in the atrium.
Why are the renovations at Salem City Hall needed?
The historic structure was built before people fully understood the seismic risk in the region. Currently, the big, heavy concrete building could collapse in an earthquake.
The seismic upgrades would reinforce all City Hall buildings to a life-safety standard and allow for a “higher probability of a safe exit during an earthquake.”
Renderings of renovations for Salem City Hall show a shear wall to withstand earthquakes.
Shear walls similar to those at the Salem Public Library will be added to resist seismic forces by absorbing tremors and preventing the building from twisting and swaying.
The current skylights over the atrium are yellowed, leaking, dangerous to service and not seismically sound, city officials said.
New skylights will maintain the historic design characteristics but will be made of laminated glass that will not yellow or shatter. The addition will seismically reinforce the atrium and improve the light quality.
The building will also get new roofing and insulation, better accessibility and up-to-code fire sprinklers along with interior refreshes like new paint, flooring, lighting and mechanical systems. Peace Plaza will get some fountain upgrades.
Howard S. Wright Construction and Hacker Architects, the same design-build team the city hired for the library renovations, are helming the project.
Renderings of Salem City Hall renovations show new skylights to brighten the atrium and keep it seismically safe.
How long will Salem City Hall be closed?
Construction is expected to begin in July. It is expected to take 18 to 20 months, meaning it could be wrapped up around February 2027.
“A lot of things can change through the construction process,” Kimsey said. “18 months is pretty aggressive, but we think it’s doable.”
Before construction can start, about 166 city hall employees will need to relocate to various locations throughout Salem.
Some departments, like legal, community planning and development compliance, will be moving to existing city spaces like the Urban Development downtown building and offices at 295 Church St. SE. Those moves can happen in March and April.
Several departments, including finance, the city manager’s office, community planning and development, the community services department and the customer service center, will move to leased space at the SAIF building at 440 Church St. SE in May and June. The lease will cost $30,000 per month.
Municipal court will be relocated to leased space at 2850 Broadway St. NE around June and July. That lease will cost $33,376 per month.
Seismic upgrades will be made to the exterior concrete shear walls of Salem’s City Hall.
Where can Salem residents access city services?
The relocation means that until 2027, the public will have to access city services online or at new locations.
City Council meetings will be held in Loucks Auditorium at Salem Public Library at 585 Liberty St. SE. Because the auditorium will still be used for other community events, council chambers will have to be set up and taken down with each meeting.
Other than Salem Municipal Court, which will be held at the Broadway building, most other city services will be available on the fifth floor of the SAIF building.
City officials said parking and signage will be available to direct the public to services.
Salem City Hall will undergo renovations over 18 months beginning this summer to make the building seismically safe and will replace the roof.
What other bond projects are expected in Salem in 2025 and 2026?
Projects funded by the 2022 infrastructure bond will be spaced out until fiscal year 2032.
Salem has already used bond funds to pave the dog park parking lot and expand the parking lot at Minto-Brown Island Park, resurface failing pavement on Liberty Street SE near the Pringle Creek bridge and new sports courts at River Road Park and Sumpter School Park.
A total of 24 city parks will receive bond-funded improvements like new bathrooms, playgrounds, courts and paths.
The coming year will bring bond-fund construction at Geer Community Park; pavement rehabilitation and 17th Street intersection reconstruction on Silverton Road NE; a traffic signal at Davis Road NE; bridge rehabilitations at Mission and Pringle Creek, 15th Street NE and Mill Creek, 17th Street and Mill Creek and Liberty Street NE and Mill Creek; and new playgrounds at Livingston and Morningside parks.
In 2026, McKay Park will undergo field, shelter and restroom improvements, and Riverfront Park will get a new playground and an electrical upgrade.
The concept design of the proposed new playground at Riverfront Park features an inclusive structure, rubber surface, nature play and a beaver dam.
To date, about $20.6 million of the $300 million bond has been used. About 70%, or $14.5 million, has gone to local contractors.
The city is posting listings for several projects now until May and has invited contractors to bid. Interested bidders can track open bids and awards through OregonBuys.gov
For questions, comments and news tips, email reporter Whitney Woodworth at [email protected], call 503-910-6616 or follow on X at @wmwoodworth
This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Salem City Hall will undergo $39.4 million in renovations
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