It took them five decades, but the City of Toronto is finally going to replace city hall’s 50-year-old windows with modern, energy-efficient double-pane units.
The new windows will reduce operating costs and address the issue of managing internal temperature within the building, according to a press release sent out by the city late last month.
Natasha Hinds Fitzsimmins, project communications and marketing consultant, says the old single-pane windows were very cost ineffective due to the inefficiency in maintaining the buildings heat, particularly during the winter months. But, she said, replacing the windows simply hasn’t been in the city’s budget until now.
“When you touch the window, you can feel the cold transfer coming off of them,” she said. “With the double-pane windows, you won’t be able to feel those temperature variations, making it easier for the building operators to regulate the internal temperatures.”
The work will be scheduled after regular work hours in order to reduce disruptions to office employees, Fitzsimmins said.
“Most of the work will be starting after 4 p.m.,” she said. “Because of safety concerns, however, the floors will be inaccessible during the time work will be ongoing.”
Fitzsimmons says considerations were made in order to maintain the building’s appearance once the work is complete.
“Because City Hall is classified as a heritage site, there should be no visible difference from what the building looks like,” she said. “The windows are custom made for the building.”
The cost of the project is estimated to be $5 million, Fitzsimmins said. The projected completion date for the east tower is the end of the year.