The fate of city hall’s atrium skylight

The fate of the atrium skylight at Belleville city hall is in the balance as the city considers changing some staff accommodation.

The city is in the process of redesigning the second floor to meet some current needs.

Director of Engineering and Development Stephen Ashton tells Quinte News there is a need for more regular shaped staff cubicles.

Also, Ashton says the city is doing a lot of engineering projects over the next few years.

At this week’s council meeting, Councillor Chris Malette argued the case for keeping the skylight, calling it “an integral part of the overall design of city hall.”

Malette added it was part of the design of city hall by architect Bill White decades ago, “You gaze upwards to the sky, makes the place so special…it’s nothing short of miraculous.”

He said he hoped there would be an alternative solution that would save the atrium.

Ashton says, “The consultants Shoalts and Zaback will look at alternatives to redesigning the second floor and whether or not we can make accommodation for office space without removing the atrium skylight. If there are opportunities we’ll explore those, but if there are not alternatives then that would be something we would ask council to consider.”

A consultant’s report on the issue will come back to council for a decision.