The Coral Gables City Commission is scheduled to vote Tuesday, July 1, on whether to replace the historic wood-framed windows at City Hall with steel alternatives—despite objections from the city’s Historic Preservation Officer, the Historic Preservation Board, and independent preservation experts.

The resolution, added to the July 1 agenda, proposes moving forward with steel windows manufactured by Hope’s Windows, a New York-based manufacturer of high-end steel windows commonly used in institutional and historic buildings. The decision comes after years of calls for a formal assessment comparing the restoration of the original windows to full replacement.

City Historic Preservation Officer Anna Pernas recommended that “before replacement is considered, a thorough evaluation of the current windows should be conducted to determine their condition.” The Historic Preservation Board passed a resolution urging the city to “retain the existing windows.”

Authorities cite cost, authenticity, design concerns

Among those supporting restoration is Dean Stanbridge, president of Provive Professional Revitalization Services, a firm specializing in historic architecture. Stanbridge presented his findings at a June 23 event organized by the Historic Preservation Association of Coral Gables.

“I don’t have a horse in this race,” he told the Gazette. “I just want the public to understand all the options.”

Stanbridge said that although both wood and steel window systems would require full removal and opening reinforcement, “this building and the architect who designed it would have chosen wood for a reason—they could have gone with steel or aluminum at the time, but they chose wood. So wood should be the material of choice.”

He acknowledged City Manager Peter Iglesias’s preference for Hope’s Windows and described the presentation as “very good,” but added: “If it was me, I would build a replica wooden window, put it side by side with the Hope’s, and let people touch, feel, and see the difference.”

Stanbridge also said properly restored wood windows could match the durability and impact resistance of metal systems at lower cost. “You can restore it so that it would last another 120 years,” he said. “In general terms, Hope’s Windows are a lot more than wood, which is less expensive.”

Preservation advocates say replication is not enough when original materials can be restored.

City’s resolution moves forward without public analysis

Karelia Martinez Carbonell, president of the Historic Preservation Association, expressed concern over both the material choice and the process. “We are on the side of preservation and restoration, not replacement,” she said. “Everything points to the fact that these windows are perfect candidates for restoration.”

Carbonell said the item was added to the commission agenda unexpectedly after a three-year delay. “For three years we’ve been asking for an assessment, a comparative analysis so that the city can make a very balanced decision on restoration versus replacement. But here we are.”

She said Mayor Vince Lago was unavailable for a meeting when she sought clarification. Her association is now asking the city to defer the vote until a formal cost analysis and design comparison can be presented. “My understanding is that steel windows would be as much as 50 percent more expensive than restoration, but I haven’t seen any analysis.”

She also challenged a claim in the city’s resolution that replacement windows would not alter the design. “The original window design is different from the Hope’s Windows, which have four panes instead of six like the existing ones,” she said.

City defends safety concerns with steel alternative

The city’s official rationale, provided in a statement from Director of Communications Martha Pantin, emphasized hurricane resilience rather than cost or appearance.

“The integrity of Coral Gables City Hall — a building listed on the National Register of Historic Places — is of the utmost importance to us,” the statement read. “Our top priority is to preserve this iconic structure and ensure it continues to stand for generations to come.”

Pantin said the building’s original windows remain “highly susceptible to damage” during storms. “Once windows are breached during a storm, the entire structure can quickly become unstable. This happens because when hurricane-force winds enter through broken windows, they create internal pressure that can lift the roof or collapse walls. For this reason, it is critical that we address this issue as part of our ongoing commitment to protect and preserve City Hall.”

A public notice posted last week confirmed that the commission would hold a formal hearing on the resolution on Tuesday, July 1 at 9 am at City Hall. According to the notice, the city is seeking approval under Section 1-104 of the Zoning Code, which exempts city-owned facilities from standard zoning rules. The project is described as one that would “replace the windows with new units that replicate the existing ones in type, configuration, and operation,” to preserve the building’s architectural integrity.

But preservation advocates say replication is not enough when original materials can be restored.

Carbonell also noted support from Spanish architect Eduardo Martínez Moya, who led the restoration of Seville’s famed La Giralda. “Moya was asked about City Hall windows,” she said, “and he was adamant: wood needs to be replaced with wood.” Moya presented his work in Coral Gables in June at the Coral Gables Museum.

As of June 30, the city had not released a formal cost comparison between the Hope’s Windows proposal and a wood restoration alternative.