[Press Release] : City offices relocate to Gentry Building

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
Contact: Tony St. Romaine, Assistant City Manager - (573) 874-7214

City offices relocate to Gentry Building

COLUMBIA, MO (November 3, 2006) -- Parks and Recreation Department
administrative offices will leave the Daniel Boone Building and return
to the newly-renovated Gentry Building, 1 South 7th St., on Tuesday,
Nov. 7. The department will be joined by the Office of Cultural Affairs
and the Office of Volunteer Services, which have been operating from the
Gates/Rader Building on North 8th Street.

Anyone needing to do business with Parks and Recreation during the move
may still do so on the first floor of City Hall until the move is
complete. 

The Gentry Building, along with the Howard Building, will be formally
rededicated Friday, Dec. 1, at 5:30 p.m. The public is invited to
attend. The Howard Building, located at 600 East Broadway, is home to
Employee Health, City Prosecutor’s Offices, Human Resources, Municipal
Court and the Parking Utility.

Work on the Gentry Building is part of a master plan that involves
renovation of city downtown office space to increase operational
efficiency and public access; correct code issues while recognizing the
historic sensitivity of the buildings; update mechanical and electrical
systems to improve building energy use; and centralize city operations
in a downtown government complex. Visitors to the renovated Gentry
Building will immediately notice the restored lobby area with the high
ceiling height and crown molding. The cost of renovation was
approximately $900,000. The contractor was United HRB General
Contractors Inc., of Jefferson City, Mo.

The Gentry Building was constructed in 1906 as a post office, a purpose
it served until 1936 when it was sold to the city to operate as a
library. Since that time it has seen many occupants: Columbia Public
Library (1938-1970); Columbia Water & Light Department (1971-1976);
Columbia Parks & Recreation and Human Resources (1976-present). On Oct.
29, 1977, the former post office building was dedicated in honor of Ann
Hawkins Gentry who served as postmistress from 1838 to 1865.

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