City of Trenton Announces Historic City Hall Restoration Project  

The City of Trenton today announced a major step forward in renovating the Historic Trenton City Hall. The building, designed in 1907 by Philadelphia architect Spencer Roberts, is a designated City of Trenton Historic Landmark and is listed in both the State and National Registers of Historic Places. The property has served as the center of Trenton’s municipal government since it opened for official business in 1910.

This project focuses on the exterior of the building, specifically the 12,000-square-foot concrete esplanade that wraps around three sides of the building and features multiple sets of granite stairs, plinths, and a long balustrade.

The scope of work includes the ornamentation of the plaza, the main entrance portico, and the second-floor loggia, which will allow for extensive concrete repairs, as well as refurbishment of original metal, masonry, and decorative elements.

The goal of the project is to restore the building and all its elements so that it can once again function as a safe, beautiful, and lively civic space. The current condition of the building’s exterior is the result of age, weather, and intermediate fixes over the years. Renovations to preserve the historic value and integrity of the building require sensitivity and specialized skills.

Moreover, the goal is not just to repair the symptoms of deterioration, but to mitigate the forces and conditions causing the deterioration.

During construction:

• The front entrance of City Hall will be closed; visitors should enter via Steward Alley
• The sidewalk on East State Street will be inaccessible. 
• Portions of Armory Drive and South Stockton Street will also be inaccessible.
• The handicap ramp on Armory Drive will remain accessible.
• Pedestrians are encouraged to use the sidewalk on the opposite side where possible.

The project budget is $6,297,000 and is being funded primarily through grants received from the New Jersey Historic Trust (NJHT) and capital funds from the City of Trenton. The Department of Recreation, Natural Resources, & Culture began working on this project in 2020 by submitting an application with NJHT for grant funds. The department was subsequently awarded $749,909 from that initial application, an additional $749,644 in 2023, and the final tranche of funding in July 2025 in the amount of $3,000,000.

“Trenton City Hall has long served as an important civic space for our residents and a defining landmark in our city,” stated Interim Director Paul Harris, Department of Recreation, Natural Resources, & Culture. “Thanks to the support of the New Jersey Historic Trust, this project will protect the building’s historic character while ensuring it remains a safe and welcoming space for generations to come.”

The general contractor for the project is Hall Construction Co., a firm with extensive experience in historic restoration projects. Some of their previous work includes the Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall Restoration, the Central Railroad of NJ Terminal – Liberty State Park, the NJ Transit – Newark Penn Station Restoration, the Newark Museum, and the Hudson County Courthouse, among others.

The project has a tentative completion date of fall 2026.