Topeka Municipal Building Renovation – Executive Conference Room & City Manager’s Suite
Breathing new life into Topeka’s City Hall
In the heart of downtown Topeka, the Municipal Building stands as a dignified reminder of the city’s civic ambition. Constructed in 1939 under the Works Progress Administration, the building originally served a dual role—City Hall to the north and a large public auditorium to the south. Over time, however, a series of ad hoc remodels chipped away at the building’s architectural cohesion and left its functionality lagging behind the needs of a growing, evolving community.
Treanor was engaged to support the City of Topeka in reclaiming the building’s original character and reshaping it into a place that actively engages the community today. This work goes beyond aesthetic updates; it reflects a strategic commitment to honoring the building’s legacy while creating a forward-looking civic hub that serves the public more effectively.
Reconnecting with community
Civic buildings are more than places to conduct business. They’re symbols of public trust and access. Topeka’s leadership made clear that its City Hall should reflect the vibrancy of the people it serves. Although tucked just a block off the city’s main thoroughfare, Kansas Avenue, the building’s current layout offered little invitation to the street. In response, the team proposed a bold reimagining of the first floor, activating the space with a “community connection” area where start-up food vendors and entrepreneurs could share space. This gesture not only invites activity into the building, it invites the community itself.
Phased construction
Although the full scope of work encompasses a comprehensive interior renovation of City Hall, and design has been completed for the full project, construction has been carefully phased to support operational continuity. Throughout, the design prioritizes the thoughtful restoration of original materials, bringing terrazzo floors, ornate plaster ceilings, and travertine wainscoting back to prominence. Where past renovations concealed historic elements, this project uncovers and reintroduces them with intention. Modern upgrades, including improved security, enhanced accessibility, new HVAC and electrical systems, masonry repairs, and a new roof, are designed to seamlessly integrate to support long-term function while respecting the building’s enduring character.
Modern function in a historic framework
This phase of work focused on the Executive Conference Room and the City Manager’s Suite—spaces that had once been part of the grand City Commission Room. As civic needs shifted, this area had been subdivided with acoustic ceilings and partitions that obscured its former grandeur. Treanor’s team approached the rehabilitation with a balanced lens, respecting the building’s integrity while adapting it to serve modern needs.
One of the design’s key strategies was to allow the new interventions to reveal, rather than conceal, the room’s original scale and detailing. New full-height partitions, for example, were topped with interior clerestory windows, allowing sightlines through to the decorative plaster ceilings that continued beyond the office walls. These partitions were clearly distinguished in their material and detailing, striking a thoughtful contrast that celebrates the building’s layered history.
Recovering the past, layer by layer
Past renovations had obscured many of the building’s original features, some literally hidden behind dropped ceilings, others modified beyond recognition. Through extensive field investigations and research into archival construction documents and publications, Treanor’s team sought to uncover what remained. A discovery in a 1943 issue of Architectural Record confirmed the original design of the Commission Room, revealing an ombre paint scheme on the walls and a richly detailed plaster ceiling. While color photos weren’t available, this clue helped guide the aesthetic direction for restoration efforts.
Wherever historic fabric remained, it was documented and preserved or sensitively restored. In some cases, such as flat plaster areas that were both damaged and contained asbestos, new plaster was introduced with care to match the original in tone and texture.
Smart systems, seamlessly integrated
Beyond aesthetics, the renovation addressed crucial upgrades in building performance. Modern HVAC and electrical systems were integrated in a way that minimized visual impact. Where the original lighting elements once doubled as air diffusers, new ceiling-mounted boxes were created in similar forms to maintain a consistent visual rhythm.
In the conference room, lighting was reimagined as a blend of old and new. The original combination fixture—both light and diffuser—was restored and upgraded to LED technology. Where original fixtures had been lost, new elements were introduced that paid homage to the originals without compromising the building’s identity.
Resourceful design, rooted in research
With limited resources for extensive forensic paint analysis, the design team conducted pragmatic field testing to guide final finish selections. These on-the-ground strategies exemplified a key aspect of Treanor’s approach: delivering architectural designs that make the most of available resources, without sacrificing quality or historic character.
In the Executive Conference Room, built-in millwork was crafted from salvaged wood recovered from an original vault that had to be adapted for new mechanical equipment. This kind of thoughtful reuse speaks to the team’s ethos, making every detail count, both materially and historically.
Stewarding legacy through partnership
The project leveraged state historic tax credits and required close collaboration with the Kansas State Historic Preservation Office. Treanor’s team guided the process in alignment with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation, navigating regulatory nuances while pushing for design solutions that support longevity and authenticity.
This renovation of Topeka’s City Hall doesn’t just preserve a building—it amplifies its voice. Through research-driven design and a collaborative spirit, the project reclaims civic space for the people it was built to serve.
Awards
- 2025 Merit Award for Excellence, Kansas Preservation Alliance
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