Historic Bay City Hall
An architectural jewel in the heart of downtown Bay City, MI
- Product: Historic skylight renovation
- Location: Bay City, MI
- Contractor: Gregory Construction
- Architect: Quinn Evans Architects
- Get Specs
- CSI Code: 08 63 00
- 24288
About this Project
For over a century, Bay City Hall has been an architectural jewel in the heart of downtown Bay City, MI. Originally constructed in 1897 in the Richardsonian Romanesque style, the building is even listed on the National Register of Historic Places. So when an attic fire in 2010 caused over $1 million in damage, restoring this historic landmark was a top priority.
A key part of the building’s original beauty was its grand skylight overlooking the atrium. Sadly, this signature feature sustained heavy smoke and fire damage. As part of the building’s restoration, Crystal Structures was brought in to rehabilitate the damaged skylight and bring back its former glory.
Crystal Structures specializes in customized historic skylight replacement and rehabilitation. For the Bay City Hall project, they worked closely with preservation architect Quinn Evans to select materials and a design that would restore the skylight to its original historic appearance. The new skylight replicates the original materials and profiles, allowing natural light to once again filter into the building’s soaring atrium space.
The meticulous skylight renovation was a key part of revitalizing this community landmark. Combined with other restoration work, such as replacing exterior doors with replicas, the project won two Michigan Historic Preservation awards. The reopening of the restored Bay City Hall marked a new chapter for this historic structure, returned to its former grandeur thanks to the skylight’s stunning rebirth. The renovated skylight serves as the jewel in the crown, emphasizing the beauty of the building’s Victorian-era architecture for all to enjoy.
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