The Dallas City Council this morning approved construction of a $345,000 glass security vestibule for the front of City Hall. Once completed, most visitors will have to enter through the vestibule, where they will go through a security screening.
The Dallas City Council this morning approved a $345,000 contract for construction of an expanded glass vestibule to be built in the front of City Hall as a security screening area for visitors.
Once completed next year, most visitors will have to enter the building through the vestibule, which will house x-ray machines and metal detectors. There will be an additional entrance on the southeast corner of the building for people with disabilities.
The vestibule project is one of several security enhancements at the 35-year-old building designed by renowned architect I.M. Pei. Other enhancements in recent years cost $1.6 million. More security cameras were installed, a “safe room” was created and parts of the main City Council chamber were bulletproofed.
Before the vote, Council member Sandy Greyson raised concerns about how the vestibule might change the look of the building.
“This is kind of an iconic building,” Greyson said. “I’m wondering if we should be changing the look of the plaza side of the building.”
Assistant City Manager Forest Turner said they had considered putting the vestibule elsewhere, but the front entrance is the only place it would work. He said the city has been in contact with Pei’s office and, “so far, they have not told us any issues that they feel would change the design.”
Turner also acknowledged that once the vestibule entrance opens, visitors who park in the main lot behind City Hall will have to walk all the way around to the other side in order to enter.
“I’m not really excited about this,” Greyson said. “I also think it’s a big inconvenience to our citizens to make them walk all the way around the building in order to get to this.”