Story

Henley Construction is honored to submit the Manassas City Hall renovation project for the Excellence in Construction Award. Located in the heart of this historic town, the project sought to preserve the building’s character while adapting it to meet the evolving needs of city officials and residents. The project involved a comprehensive overhaul of the existing 30,000-square-foot, 4 story building. Key elements of the renovation included the removal and replacement of the aged façade to enhance the building’s aesthetic appeal and structural integrity. Structural upgrades were made to the existing steel and masonry components, which were carefully reinforced to maintain the building’s stability. Most of the masonry, windows, and curtainwalls between the structural bones of the building was removed and replaced as part of the renovation, posing an interesting decision to be made regarding its demolition- whether to perform the work from the inside or the outside. In the end we determined it would be more efficient working from inside, however this required an additional level of safety training and enforcement, making sure our demolition crew was always aware of the dangers of their position where the fall hazard was not always apparent, and to protect the outside below from damage and keep other workers away from falling debris. Another significant aspect of the renovation was the upgrade of essential building systems. The HVAC, plumbing, sprinkler, electrical, and low-voltage systems were all replaced to optimize energy efficiency and functionality. While the City’s employees vacated the building during the renovation, the existing communications systems that feed all the other public facilities in the City remained active there. This required an extra level of care during the demolition work to ensure that these critical utilities remained live and again came into the forefront of planning when it came time to replace the main electrical switchgear while at the same time maintaining power to these systems with minimal interruption. Another key challenge was the removal and replacement of the elevator. The ongoing finish work happening concurrently meant that all construction materials would have to be hand-carried up the stairs to maintain the project schedule. We coordinated to stage as much of this material as possible in the upper floors prior to removal of the elevator, but there was still material left to be brought up by crews who no longer had access to old elevator. The interior building finishes came together nicely to provide flexible, modern spaces designed to support the daily operations of city officials and foster civic engagement. The new design incorporates modern amenities and technology to enhance energy efficiency, functionality, and accessibility. Henley Construction successfully balanced these objectives, revitalizing City Hall to better serve the community's needs for many years to come. Henley Construction’s work on the Manassas City Hall renovation exemplifies our commitment to excellence in construction. This project sets a high standard for future renovation and preservation efforts in the region.