The Dunedin Town Hall, the Glenroy Auditorium and the Municipal Chambers are undergoing a major renovation.
Problems with soil contamination (coal tar) uncovered during excavation delayed construction by about two weeks in April this year.
The $300,000 clean-up cost was covered by a contingency fund in the original budget and the project's timeframe has about three months' leeway built in.
Dunedin City Council city property manager Robert Clark said there had been a few last-minute design alterations but that was to be expected in any older building.
The redeveloped complex will feature a glassed-in entrance on Harrop St, two additional conference facilities and a public green-space area.
Glass-walled stairs will connect the building from top to bottom and elevators will stop at each floor. There will be access from every level of the Municipal Chambers to the Glenroy building and the town hall.
Mr Clark said options for the main entrance on Moray Pl were still being considered.
A few surprises had been uncovered, including a previously hidden large, rose-tinted glass window.
That would be preserved and would be a feature of the function room and balcony area on the West Terrace of the town hall, he said.
Detailing in the original ceiling of the old town hall supper room had also been uncovered.
Mr Clark said it would be covered but moulds had been made of the detailing.
Most of the original features would be preserved including the ceiling in the Glenroy Auditorium. It was important acoustically "to keep it the same".
Seats in the town hall will be replaced. The seats would be covered with a similar vinyl material to the existing seats to preserve the acoustics.
"We are renovating it because a number of composers believe it is one of the better recital [concert] theatres."
Most of the excavation and strengthening work had been done so there should not be any more big surprises, Mr Clark said.
Most of the remaining work involved installing wiring throughout the building, telecommunications and conferencing equipment, and decorating.
