A green roof, a design that maximizes natural light and low-flush toilets are part of a proposed City Hall expansion for the downtown.

The $60-million to $70-million first phase of the civic centre project could eventually be a building that sits across the street from the library, where the RCMP station is now.

Red Deer residents had a sneak preview showcasing the plans at City Hall Thursday night.

Wayne Pander, of Red Deer, said he liked the green roof idea — which will use a carpet of green vegetation on the top of the building to improve insulation, keeping the new structure cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.

However, he was also interested in the energy efficiency of the edifice and if geothermal or solar panels would be used — all of which he feels are important to include in the new building.

Pander said he liked the design of the project, but he would also like to see some more updating of the current City Hall to make the facility have a more modern facade.

André Lachance, of Red Deer, said he liked everything that he saw in the open house. In particular, he appreciated the green roof. Lachance was impressed with all of the things that are being done to make the building environmentally sustainable.

“It’s good to see that our City Hall is going to take the lead with that stuff,” he said.

Phase 1 of the project will involve a new building at the current RCMP station, expanding office space for city employees. A larger RCMP headquarters is being built at 4602 – 51 Ave.

During the second phase of the project a Plus-15 will be built to connect the new building with the library and older City Hall in a walkway above the street. A new section will be added above the library for council chambers and other offices.

City manager Craig Curtis said for a number of years City Hall has been bursting at the seams and as a result city staff are working in the photocopy rooms, in former coffee rooms and in rented office accommodation all over the city.

The new plan would consolidate all of the operations and have staff together, improving efficiencies.

Curtis said they hope to start phase one at the end of 2010 or start of 2011, with phase two following sometime thereafter.

He said at the moment it looks like funding for Phase 1 will come from municipal sustainability initiative funding from the province.

The building will meet a LEED silver standard and is being designed by Group2 Architecture Engineering in Red Deer.

Contact Stacy O’Brien

at sobrien@reddeeradvocate.com