Kokua Line June Watanabe

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Design delays solved for Mission Memorial site

Question: The Mission Memorial Building, next to City Hall, supposedly is undergoing a $5.3 million renovation. However, nothing has happened for a long time. Is this another taxpayer money pit, or is something ever going to happen? It's also an eyesore in a heavily tourist-visited area.

Answer: Work resumed on the historic building, notable for its eight white pillars, just about the time we received your question.

Because of delays caused by the discovery of an "unforeseen structural condition" and a necessary change in roofing material, the target completion date now is July 22, according to Eugene Lee, director of the Department of Design and Construction.

Because of five change orders, an additional $98,894 has been added to the initial $5.3 million cost of renovating and restoring the building.

The project includes a total interior and exterior renovation, new roof, removal of hazardous materials, structural retrofits, upgrades to electrical and mechanical systems, a fire suppression system, landscaping, office furniture and other incidental work, Lee said.

During construction, the "unforeseen structural condition" was found when the existing framing was exposed, Lee said.

"This required additional design work before the construction work could proceed," he said. "This is not an uncommon occurrence when dealing with old buildings as the as-built information is often lacking and/or inaccurate."

There was another delay when the original roofing material chosen was unavailable and a new one had to be chosen, he said.

We asked what the exterior renovation entailed, since the building is considered historic.

For that reason, "We are obligated to preserve the architectural look/features of the building as much as practically possible," Lee said.

Because some of the materials used in the original construction are either not available or inappropriate today, "appropriate substitutions are used," he said.

The building housed the Department of Human Resources and the Planning Commission conference room.

Once renovations are completed, it will be used as general office space.

The Mission Memorial Building and the Mission Memorial Auditorium (renovated in 2004) are two of three red-brick buildings that were known as the City Hall annex.

Designed by H.L. Kerr, they were built in 1915 and 1916 in anticipation of the 100th anniversary of the arrival of New England missionaries to Hawaii, which was celebrated in the 1920s. The third building was added in 1930.

Mahalo

To the state Department of Land and Natural Resources for enforcing the no-surfboard rule at Point Panic during the last big south swell. We, the bodysurfers there that day, really appreciated your efforts. -- No Name