Historic Preservation, Governmental
Hipolito F. Garcia Federal Courthouse and Post Office
San Antonio’s City Hall is one of the longest continuously operating municipal facilities in the Country. The building was originally constructed in 1892 in the Romanesque revival style, but in 1927, the building was altered substantially by the addition of a fourth floor and the transformation of elements of the exterior into the popular Spanish revival style. In the following years, the building interior was renovated many times, breaking the floor plan up into an increasingly larger number of office spaces and dropping ceilings for air conditioning. This created a confusing experience for occupants and visitors alike.
FPC was selected as the restoration architect to restore both the interior and exterior of the building, and provide substantial upgrades, including to make the building more globally accessible for all City residents. FPC peeled back the layers of renovations on the interior and developed a more organized floor plan in keeping with the historic layout while meeting the current needs of the city. City offices and conference spaces seamlessly blend the historic character with the modern conveniences of a twenty-first office. Dropped ceilings were removed uncovering original 1927 ornate plaster ceilings and moldings. The original decorative stenciled ceiling in the main lobby was uncovered below layers of white-washing and revealed to the public, while the mayor’s office was restored to its 1927 appearance using historic drawings. On the exterior, the limestone and cast stone cladding are completely restored along with the historic windows.
Certified as LEED Silver, City Hall has many sustainable strategies sensitively incorporated throughout this historic landmark, now the city’s highest performing building outpacing newer constructed properties.