Hamilton Town House, Hamilton
Hamilton Town House is a Category ‘A’ Listed building in South Lanarkshire, and is owned and operated by South Lanarkshire Council. It contains both the town’s main public hall (formerly known as Hamilton Town Hall) and public library, as well as various council departments including licensing and community learning.
Client: South Lanarkshire Council
Architect: Colthard Early
Hamilton Town House, Hamilton
Hamilton Town House is a Category ‘A’ Listed building in South Lanarkshire, and is owned and operated by South Lanarkshire Council. It contains both the town’s main public hall (formerly known as Hamilton Town Hall) and public library, as well as various council departments including licensing and community learning.
The building, although appearing to be one, was actually built in stages over a 21 year period. The library section of the complex was opened by Andrew Carnegie in 1907. The adjacent townhouse offices were opened by King George V in 1914, and finally the town hall completed the building in 1928.
In 2002, the building was closed to enable a major refurbishment and redevelopment project. This was required to bring the internal facilities to current standards, while restoring the exterior of the building.
The building was completely restored to provide a new district library, civil wedding rooms and function areas. It also plays a major role in supporting arts and learning facilities for the community. The existing Town Hall theatre accommodation was completely refurbished including installation of new specialist stage lighting, acoustic systems and internal decoration.
In August 2004, the new integrated Townhouse complex was opened to the public, with an offcial opening by HRH Princess Anne in September. The library won two awards: the “Architect Meets Practicality Award” for libraries of significant architectural interest that are practical and user-friendly and the “Mary Finch Accessibility Award” for the library which most addresses access issues from physical through to cultural barriers
Structurally, the project involved Woolgar Hunter in a thorough investigation of the existing building, in order to establish the nature of the construction, followed by careful and sensitive design of the required repair, restoration and new interventions. These involved new stairs, lifts and associated structural openings. In addition, a new glass structure extension at first floor was constructed, to create an extension to the theatre bar and breakout area.
The building, although appearing to be one, was actually built in stages over a 21 year period. The library section of the complex was opened by Andrew Carnegie in 1907. The adjacent townhouse offices were opened by King George V in 1914, and finally the town hall completed the building in 1928.
In 2002, the building was closed to enable a major refurbishment and redevelopment project. This was required to bring the internal facilities to current standards, while restoring the exterior of the building.
The building was completely restored to provide a new district library, civil wedding rooms and function areas. It also plays a major role in supporting arts and learning facilities for the community. The existing Town Hall theatre accommodation was completely refurbished including installation of new specialist stage lighting, acoustic systems and internal decoration.
In August 2004, the new integrated Townhouse complex was opened to the public, with an offcial opening by HRH Princess Anne in September. The library won two awards: the “Architect Meets Practicality Award” for libraries of significant architectural interest that are practical and user-friendly and the “Mary Finch Accessibility Award” for the library which most addresses access issues from physical through to cultural barriers
Structurally, the project involved Woolgar Hunter in a thorough investigation of the existing building, in order to establish the nature of the construction, followed by careful and sensitive design of the required repair, restoration and new interventions. These involved new stairs, lifts and associated structural openings. In addition, a new glass structure extension at first floor was constructed, to create an extension to the theatre bar and breakout area.
Client: South Lanarkshire Council
Architect: Colthard Early