The renewal of government and court complex One Montgomery Plaza was undertaken to transform the facility into a safer, more attractive, and long-last civic asset for Montgomery County and its residents in Norristown, PA.
Challenge
Deteriorating masonry walls had become a safety concern, with bricks falling from the façade due to previous design deficiencies. The design solution needed to be delivered quickly, remain within budget, and accommodate continued occupancy by more than 1,500 employees, visitors, and court users.
Solution
Our design replaces the failing envelope with a cost-efficient façade of fiber cement panels and window wall systems, reworking window proportions while maintaining the character of the existing building. The renewal includes a redesigned entrance plaza, roof repairs, a new security room, and phased construction that enabled the 10-storey complex to remain operational throughout the reskinning process.
Outcome
The renewed façade resolves critical building envelope issues while providing a more durable and contemporary appearance. By allowing government departments and courts to remain in operation during construction, the project minimized disruption to public services while extending the life of an important county facility.
The new façade significantly reduced the amount of curtain wall, creating a cost-effective solution that preserved the character of the existing building
The façade renovation was executed in five phases, allowing the government and court complex to remain fully operational throughout construction.
A busy government and court complex at One Montgomery Plaza in Norristown, PA required an urgent facelift. The existing masonry walls were failing, causing bricks to fall from the building. Initial plans to reskin the building with a curtain wall window system solved the aesthetic and speed requirements but not the owner’s budget constraints. NORR’s alternate design reskins the building with cost-efficient metal panel and greatly reduces the amount of curtain wall. The window proportions were revised, creating an affordable, beautified facade that maintains much of the building’s previous design.
One Montgomery Plaza design approach allowed for five phases of construction broken into vertical sections of the facade which allowed the building to remain functional and occupied through construction. The new facade was designed as stick built back up system, but through bidding was evaluated and is being erected as a panelized facade system. The design incorporates a complete exterior entrance plaza and reskin, along with roof repairs and a new security room in the parking garage level. Inside, NORR created a swing space and made interior design upgrades to allow county departments and courts to remain in operation.
