Edmonton City Hall

Location: Edmonton, AB
Year: 1992
Status: Completed
Size: 15,000 m² / 161,000 ft²
Awards:
• Edmonton Urban Design Review Panel | Award of Excellence - Architecture (2000)
• Edmonton Urban Design Review Panel | Award of Excellence for Outstanding Contribution to Urban Design (1994)
• American Concrete Institute | Award of Excellence for Design and Construction (1993)
• Canadian Institute of Steel Construction | Award for Most Effective Use of Structural Steel (1993)

The Edmonton City Hall was completed in 1992 and consists of 150,000 sq.ft. above grade and 100,000 sq.ft. below. It includes a council chamber, offices for the mayor and councillors, committee rooms and several key city departments. Parking and connections to the light rail transit are located below grade. The entire building is centred around a large City Room and Council Chamber which are naturally lit by glass pyramid enclosures.

The City Room has proved to be highly successful. Care was taken with the design details of this Indoor Living Room; for example, the laser-cut perforations in the maple walls allow the insulation behind to absorb sound and improve the acoustics of the space.

The inventive use of multi-levels provides a variety of performance and viewing situations. It now accommodates events daily and has successfully hosted as many as 3,000 people.

The outdoor plaza has similar flexibility. It readily converts from a wading pool with fountains in the summer, to a skating rink in the winter. It also serves as an outdoor restaurant and a public plaza for special events. The formal entry on the North of the City Hall receives vehicular movement.