Greenville seeks design proposals for major City Hall renovation

The city of Greenville has issued a Request for Proposals for the renovation of City Hall at 206 S. Main St. Potential design teams have until Tuesday, Sept. 30, to submit their proposals.

The city plans complete renovations to floors 1-6 for use as city offices and renovation of floors 7-10 as shell space that will be leased out. The city also wants an addition to the real of the building for council chambers and an employee entrance.

The city did not post a budget on its website for the project but did say it can be done without an increase in taxes. The city plans to use reserve funds and borrow funds through a bond issue.

“The city has been planning for this expense as part of its broader facilities management strategy, which is focused on a staged, strategic and financially sound approach to upgrading outdated, cramped and inadequate city facilities,” the city said on the website. “This has been a priority for the city for the past 10-15 years, and City Hall is the next significant project. The city can accomplish this project while also meeting other community needs through designated funding streams.”

Mayor Knox White is quoted on the website: “City Hall’s location in the heart of the city holds even more significance in Greenville, and it should reflect the resurgence of downtown and the revitalization of our city. Its design should also speak to our values, and relocating City Council chambers from the top floor to the ground floor, where it will be more accessible, underscores the importance we place on inviting and fostering public participation in our city government.”

The building has not undergone a major renovation in more than 50 years, and the plumbing, electrical, mechanical and HVAC systems are outdated and malfunctioning, according to the website.

Greenville’s City Hall has been in its present location since 1938, when the city purchased the former Courthouse and Post Office at the corner of Main and Broad. Though that building no longer stands, the current 102,000-square-foot City Hall has served as an anchor on Main Street since 1973. In 2024, the city opened its Public Safety and Municipal Complex at 204 Halton Road, consolidating public safety departments and Greenville Municipal Court, as well as other public-facing departments.

The city expects the project to take about a year of planning and a year of construction, finishing by the end of 2028.

The city in 2023 announced a plan to sell the building in a move that would put the property in private hands. According to current information on the city website, the city plan to move back into the building has not changed, but the city offices will reoccupy the building after the renovation as owners rather than tenants of the space.

The RFP can be found here (pdf).