Construction of new Oakville Town Hall on current site draws closer

By

Published August 14, 2023 at 4:57 pm

Plans on building a new Oakville Town Hall continue to move forward.

A recommendation that staff go ahead with the programming and building requirements for a new town hall on the existing site will be presented to Oakville Council at a meeting on Tuesday night (Aug. 15).

With plans to build a road through the current site in the late 2020s, a feasibility study to find a new site was conducted, but it determined that the site at 1225 Trafalgar Rd. was suitable and eliminated the need to purchase new land, which results in cost savings.

In order to ensure that a new town hall is operational by the late 2020s, Town staff is recommending they be authorized to go ahead with the site analysis and the development of a blocking and stacking plan (a strategy that allocates space in the most efficient manner) in 2023/2024.

“The vision for the new town hall in Oakville is to create a future-proof, technologically advanced, and environmentally conscious facility that supports a hybrid work environment for 600 staff members,” said the Staff report. “The town hall will prioritize accessibility, inclusivity, and smart technologies while aligning with Oakville’s goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

“The new town hall is recommended to be constructed on the existing town hall site, to the west of the future road construction.”

This would also ensure a smooth transition of operations and minimizes disruption to the functioning of the town’s administrative processes.

Other sites considered for construction a new town hall included the Centennial Square, Mid-town and Uptown Core.

The new building will accommodate space for up to 600 staff members. There are currently 450 town employees who work at the current building, meaning the new site will support a 25 per cent growth in staff.

The new building will also include meeting rooms, conference rooms and breakout areas for effective communication and collaboration. It will also incorporate ergonomic furniture and adjustable workstations to promote employee well-being and productivity.

There will also be smart technologies. These smart building management systems will optimize energy consumption, lighting, and HVAC systems.

Once conceptual design is completed a presentation will be made to Council for review and approval. Public consultation regarding the design will be conducted with an opportunity to provide input through public meetings, social media and stakeholder groups.

Staff will report back on the overall cost and timing of the town hall relocation.

INhalton's Editorial Standards and Policies