News

BAR holding work session tonight on City Hall and Market Square renovation

By James Cullum
Proposed aerial view of the City Hall and Market Square renovation (via City of Alexandria)

The Alexandria Board of Architectural Review (BAR) is conducting a work session tonight (Oct. 22) to discuss the certificate of appropriateness for the City Hall, Market Square, and parking garage renovation project.

The BAR approved demolition plans for the project last week, although it deferred the design approvals. The work session was scheduled after last week’s meeting, and city planners are operating on a tight schedule, hoping to break ground in the second quarter of 2026 with a completion goal of 2028, according to the city.

The meeting will be held in the City Council workroom, on the second floor of City Hall. The BAR will not take any action, and public comments will not be received.

As previously reported, the city government is relocating to temporary and permanent spaces during the renovation. City Council chambers will move to the Del Pepper Community Resource Center (4850 Mark Center Drive), and the mayor, City Council, city manager’s office, and the Department of Planning and Zoning will relocate to Tavern Square at 421 King Street.

The proposed restoration and additions to City Hall and Market Square include:

Restoration

  • Masonry to be re-pointed and damaged bricks to be replaced to match historic mortar and bricks.
  • Damaged sills to be repaired or replaced as necessary.
  • Slate roof to be removed and replaced.
  • Sections of metal cornice to be replaced to match original configuration.
  • Wood repairs at clock tower.
  • Windows to be replaced with wood windows in pattern and profiles to match original windows.
  • Existing metal brick ties and pattress plates to be cleaned, repaired, and repainted.
  • Stone and bronze plaques to be restored or replaced.
  • Original door openings may be restored.

Alterations

  • The addition of a fifth floor.
  • New central portion of 1961 addition with additional entry pavilion and modified roof.
  • New ground floor loggias.
  • Glazed hyphens at the east and west ends of the 1961 addition.
  • A new Market Square to include site walls, paving, an elevator enclosure, shade structures, and exterior stairs and ramps.

About the Author

  • Reporter James Cullum has spent nearly 20 years covering Northern Virginia. He began working with ALXnow in 2020, and has covered every story under the sun for the publication, from investigative stories to features and photo galleries. His work includes coverage of national and international situations, as well as from the White House, Capitol, Pentagon, Supreme Court and State Department. He's covered protests and riots throughout the U.S. (including the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol), in addition to earthquake-ridden Haiti, Western Sahara in North Africa and war-torn South Sudan. He has photographed presidents and other world leaders, celebrities and famous musicians, and excels under pressure.