How we’re planning to develop Sundsvall’s Town Hall
The Town Hall should be a meeting place that inspires people to be creative, experience new things and think in new ways. A place that creates the ideal conditions for successful business and relationships between people. A range of possibilities for a wide target group should ensure a constant flow of visitors that will benefit the Town Hall’s tenants. But will it be a designer hotel with 29 rooms or workspaces with a visitors centre for the newly established Sundsvall Business Region? These are the two main proposals for the new-look Town Hall that the board of Stadshuset i Sundsvall AB have put forward after a year of working on a long-term business plan. The ideas will be presented to the residents of Sundsvall at an open house on Sunday, December 7th. “We want to combine the historic atmosphere of the Town Hall with new experiences. The first floor with the Town Hall function room and its associated activities will be kept. What’s new is that we will utilise the empty loft space and the undeveloped bottom floor”, says Per Persson, Managing Director for Stadshuset i Sundsvall AB and a Business Developer at Norrporten. One suggestion is to convert the loft into an open project office for organisations that are working to develop the Sundsvall of tomorrow. Investera, Åkroken Science Park, Företagslotsen, Turistbyrån, På Stan, Norrlands Huvudstad, Konferensstaden and Nyföretagarcentrum want to work together under the same roof in a cooperative project called Sundsvall Business Region. “The idea is to use parts of the bottom floor as a visitors centre for tourists, business owners and the general public. The loft would become a working space where different organisations can sit down together and explore cooperative advantages. In other words all the ideas in a single place”, says Per Persson. Originally parts of the Town Hall were used as a hotel. History could repeat itself if the loft was transformed into hotel rooms. According to plans 29 innovatively designed rooms could be built. The combination of entertainment and conference facilities, restaurants and accommodation possibilities could turn the Town Hall into an attractive location. Both proposals require lots of light. That’s why there are plans to open up skylights towards the courtyard which do not affect the sensitive exterior of the building. Today most of the bottom floor stands empty and Stadshuset i Sundsvall AB would like to fill it with companies and organisations that increase the flow of visitors. “We want to create a ‘testing arena’ for new ideas with temporary tenants, for instance exhibitions of design or art or presentations of new products and services. It would create an exciting and changeable presence”, Per Persson says. As of today there are no final tenancy contracts in place. Neither are there any permits for new windows in the loft. Stadshuset i Sundsvall AB intends to apply for building permission for this at the earliest in the first quarter of 2009. For more information contact Per Persson, Managing Director of Stadshuset i Sundsvall AB, Business Developer Norrporten on +46(0) 60-641228.	Culture and experiences in a historic setting.   In the loft there are plans to build a designer   29 bedroom hotel.   A modern office and visitor centre for Sundsvall   Business Region is also a possibility.   Attractive conference and entertainment facilities.