#munipoli Matters SIDEPLATE: A word on City Hall buildings from 'The Rock'
Welcome to another SIDEPLATE edition of #munipoli Matters. I'm currently vacationing on the East Coast so I should pick up on more updates upon my return.
Sometimes I take pictures of city or town hall buildings in various municipalities I visit, even more so if they happen to be outside my home province.
In my recent visit to Newfoundland and Labrador, I saw a stark contrast between the city hall in the capital city of St. John’s and the one in the province’s third largest city, Corner Brook.
Here is the City Hall of St. John’s, located on New Gower Street in the middle of Downtown.
It’s a rather bland, unassuming building that doesn't even look like the place of municipal government. If this sign wasn’t out front off to the side you might not even know.
The spot is a tourist destination of sorts as it marks the beginning of the Trans Canada Highway (TCH) running from St. John’s all the way west to BC in Vancouver and Victoria.
But other than the TCH marker, the city hall looks almost like it’s just a pile of debris in the middle of the street.
The Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador looks more impressive.
In contrast, over a stop for a night in Corner Brook (population around 20,000) on the western side of the province, the city hall actually looks like a City Hall.
There is large, clear signage of both City Hall and the Public Library as well as a spacious public square for hanging out and outdoor ceremonies.
You actually get a sense that this is space designed for civic life and interaction with a welcoming vibe for all, local or otherwise.
So there you are, just a few random thoughts about municipal government building design from my perspective.
Please subscribe to get more #munipoli news sent to you directly.