Local architecture critics Linda Mack and Larry Millett probably wouldn’t think much of this monstrous idea, as reported by the Minneapolis Daily Star.

5-Story Addition to Courthouse Proposed
to Save Cost of Building New Structure

Voegeli Opposes Leasing
of Office Space — $3,000,-
000 Savings Seen

The city hall and court house building would be converted into a 10-story sky-scraper under a plan advanced by County Treasurer Henry Voegeli, which will be submitted for approval to the Hennepin county building commission.

Mr. Voegeli believes that the addition of five stories to the present structure will solve the problem of the urgent need for additional space by city and county departments in the most efficient and economical manner possible.

In his opinion, it would spell the death knell of a movement likely to develop for a new city hall and court house by providing sufficient office room for all municipal needs for at least the next 30 years and probably for all time.

Plan Called Feasible

	Here’s what the city hall/courthouse is supposed to look like: An aerial shot by the Star Tribune’s David Brewster in 2000 shows the building’s Romanesque roofline and open interior. At the bottom of this entry you’ll find a drawing of what the building would look like with five more floors stacked on top of a flattened roof. Brace yourself.

Engineers, who have investigate the matter, Mr. Voegeli says, report to him that the plan is perfectly feasible, inasmuch as the foundation is sufficiently strong to carry the five additional floors.

The cost of the addition probably would be in the neighborhood of $1,500,000, compared to the expenditure of from $3,000,000 to $5,000,000 that would be involved in the construction of a new court house and city hall on another site, the county treasurer points out.

“My suggestion is purely in the interest of economy for the taxpayer,” said Mr. Voegeli today. “The best way to forestall any clamor for a new building, I believe, is to remodel the present structure in such a way that all the departments may be kept under one roof.”

Flat Roof Proposed

The Voegeli plan would necessitate the tearing off of the present roof, which is of Romanesque architecture, because buildings of 10 stories or more usually have flat roofs. There might be objection raised to the plan because of this fact, Mr. Voegeli admits.

The city engineering department is now in the midst of a survey to determine additional space needs of the various city and county departments and what methods can be adopted to meet these demands. Mr. Voegeli already has submitted his suggestion to the department.

Among the departments whose quarters are particularly cramped are those of the county treasurer, the county auditor, the city treasurer, the register of deeds, the park board and the health department. There also is need of additional court rooms. The school board has under consideration a plan to move its offices from the city-county building to the old Central High school building on Fourth avenue S. and Eleventh street, because it is in immediate need of more room.

Juvenile Room Asked

Judge P.W. Guliford this week appealed to the building commission to provide space on the fourth floor under the city jail in quarters no occupied by the school board for a detention room for juvenile offenders, if the board moves to the old Central high building. He says that present facilities for juvenile offenders are entirely inadequate and may result to the moral detriment of the youths being held for appearances in juvenile court.

One proposed solution for the present space shortage is the rental of space in a proposed office building a block from the present city hall and court house ant Fifth avenue S. and Fourth street. An offer has been made to erect this building if the city and county will rent two or three floors for offices.

Voegeli Opposes Leasing

Mr. Voegeli opposes the leasing of such space because he believes it eventually would lead to the demand for a new city hall and court house.

Utilization of the present unused space in the building also is being considered. The building commission this week indicated that it would oppose a proposal to take out the broad stairway on the Fourth street side. This stairway, at the foot of which is the statue of the Father of Waters, adds considerably to the appearance of this section of the building and the building commissioners believe it should not be tampered with.

New Plan Proposed

Another proposal advanced is to build up two stories on an inside wall. These two stories would not show from the street.

Engineers oppose the suggestion that the center square air and light space be utilized for building purposes. By doing this, much light and air would be shut off. Also, the engineers point out, it would be difficult to get anybody to work in such undesirable quarters, like an inside room of a hotel that even does not face on a court.

Under the Voegeli plan, one of the new floors would be used for modern city and county jails.

Original caption: This is the way the city hall and court house would look if raised to 10 stories and the Romanesque roof were replaced with the flat roof usually placed on structures of that height.

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