Historic City Hall window replacement project underway

By Cameron Montemayor

Windows in place at City Hall since the historic building was first constructed nearly 100 years ago are in the midst of an overhaul.

Improvements to St. Joseph’s chief administration building — built in 1927 — are now well underway. The $2.2 million window replacement project is one of the last to be completed from the previous 2019 Capital Improvement Program list.

St. Joseph Public Works Director Abe Forney said the extensive window replacement project will help with the efficiency of air conditioning and heating, especially during the extreme temperatures of Midwest seasons.

“You can see the wind blowing the curtains on the inside of the building. So it was definitely time to to change these out,” Forney said. “When it was 100% humidity and really hot the day before and then cooled off a little bit, there was a ton of condensation on the inside of the windows.”

City Hall will see a total of 138 windows removed and replaced. Public Works and Transportation officials are hopeful to have the project finished by fall.

Kansas City-based company Timekey Glazing, an expert in window installation, was contracted to carry out the project. Workers have been plowing ahead in the summer heat throughout the week getting huge window panels installed throughout the four-floor building.

“They’ve gotten into a rhythm where they tear one out and they’ll replace it the exact same day. So we’re not leaving open holes in City Hall throughout the weekend or, or throughout the night. But, it’s a pretty intensive process,” Forney said.

The windows being replaced are of considerable size and weight.

“These are good windows and they’re going to last us a really long time,” he said.