The first of two phases of city council chamber renovations were done over the summer break, changes that have been 40 years in the making.

Calgary city council chambers were closed to the public over the summer months as an estimated $2 million modernization began in the council and clerk’s side of the public meeting area.

The changes are likely to look cosmetic, with a flashy new white surface and wood panelling encasing the outdated council area, dubbed, the “horseshoe.” The changes go beyond the surface, however, to allow councillors and administration to work “effectively in a functional and ergonomically appropriate space…,” the City of Calgary said.

“I’s been almost 40 years since Council Chamber opened and much of it, including Council desks, is (was) still original,” read an email from the City of Calgary.  

“We know that the ways that people work and participate in Council meetings have changed. This modernization project was previously approved as the space was due for a lifecycle upgrade.”

Among the changes in Phase One were upgrades to seating, technology, and enhanced desk areas. The desks are now height adjustable (sit/stand) and ergonomically appropriate, and have improved line of sight to laptops, colleagues and presenters, the City said.

The organization and housing of IT and audiovisual equipment was also updated.

Ward 11 Coun. Kourtney Penner said it allows every councillor to have a sit or stand option, rather than the individualized kiosk attachment that some councillors had. Before that, if you were taller, knees would knock against the desks because they were low, she said.

“It’s really about kind of building in the functionality and the ergonomics, the space without totally overhauling,” she said.

Elements beneath the desk have also been cleaned up, leaving more space available for storage and personal flexibility in the area.

Councillors are aware the costs create challenging optics

Ward 13 Coun. Dan McLean joked that with the height adjustment he’s going to have to stand up all the time, but did appreciate the area refurbishing.

“They’re really good. They’re nice,” he said.

“I don’t know how much it costs, though. The other ones were pretty good, too. Always gotta be fiscally (responsible).”

Ward 8 Coun. Courtney Walcott said he knows the roughly $2 million price tag, which is for both the first and second phase, will likely rub some Calgarians the wrong way.

Considering that it’s been nearly 40 years since any major upgrade happened in council chambers, preventative upgrades were necessary, he said.

“I think the public would, I think in many ways, as the varying expenses go, people would almost appreciate seeing some of these things that fall apart before we make those changes,” he said.  

“Then, the reality is that when the breakdowns happen, that changes how we actually do the job and how we do government and how we’re accessible to the public.”

Like many upgrades, it just gets more expensive as it gets put off, he said.

Coun. Penner said that when councillors – and clerks – are supposed to be in a workspace for 12 hours a day, ergonomics matter for productivity.

Phase two will involve the public side of the city council chambers, with improvements made to accessibility and citizen interface.

“The big thing that I look forward to in the future is citizens actually seeing those upgrades, new, better chairs, better seating, more accessible features for them as they come in,” said Coun. Walcott.

The City of Calgary said that the work will be funded within the approved Workplace Sustainment Program.