Town of Farmington committee: new town hall nearly complete; seeks fix for visible stone joints

The Town of Farmington building committee on Wednesday said the new town hall project is essentially complete but asked the design team to resolve visible gaps where the stone veneer meets the front entry.

Presenter: The building presenter told the committee that the front entry was designed as "an open joint system" with "about a half an inch reveal between the stones" and that some substructure members showing silver where the black paint did not fully cover them made the joints visually prominent. He said the team is pursuing a flexible finish – a ‘‘SECA Mortar’’-style repair or soft joint – that would give the appearance of mortar while allowing movement so the veneer will not fail over time. "We don't want to mortar these joints," the presenter said, "They're gonna move and fail over time, so it needs to be something flexible."

Why it matters: Committee members said the issue affects the building's curb appeal as the town prepares for a public ribbon-cutting. The presenter said he has reached out to the product representative for samples and will produce a mock-up so the committee can pick a color and finish that hides the underlying members without compromising the veneer.

Additional design choices: Members also suggested minor wayfinding improvements to make the main entrance clearer from the street, such as a contrasting band or signage above the door. The committee discussed the placement and finish of decorative columns and agreed to review elevations and color options so the columns harmonize with the stone rather than stand out in bright white.

Next steps: The presenter said the team will pursue samples or a mock-up of the proposed soft joint treatment and return with options for color and installation. Committee members expect final site work and punch-list items to be resolved within about a week.