Vancouver City Hall is home to Vancouver City Council in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Located at 453 West 12th Avenue, the building was ordered by the Vancouver Civic Building Committee, designed by architect Fred Townley and Matheson, and built by Carter, Halls, Aldinger and Company. The building has a 12-storey tower (the point is 98 metres [322 ft] above sea level) with a clock on the top.
Between 1897 and 1929, the Vancouver City Hall was located on Main Street, just south of the Carnegie Library; that building had previously served as a public market and an auditorium. In 1929, City Hall moved into the Holden Building (built 1911), while the Main Street building became an extension of the Carnegie Library.[2]
After being elected mayor in 1934, Gerry McGeer appointed a three-man committee to select the location for a new city hall; choices included the former Central School site at Victory Square, and Strathcona Park at the corner of Cambie Street and West 12th Avenue (no relation to the current park in the Strathcona neighbourhood). The panel recommended the Strathcona Park site, and City Council approved the selection in 1935, making Vancouver the first major Canadian city to locate its city hall outside its downtown.[3]
City Hall a month before opening
Construction of the new City Hall began in 1936 (Vancouver's Golden Jubilee) on January 3, and the first cornerstone was laid by McGeer on July 2. A 2.4-metre (8 ft) statue of Capt. George Vancouver, by Charles Marega, was placed at the front of the building. It was unveiled on August 20 by the visiting Lord Mayor of London, Percy Vincent. Vincent also presented several gifts to the city, including a civic mace, and a sprig "...from a tree in the orchard where a falling apple gave Isaac Newton the idea that led to his theory of gravity". The mace and the statue still reside at city hall.
A statue of George Vancouver in front of City Hall
Construction cost $1 million[1] and was completed on December 1, 1936, allowing the building to be opened in the same year as construction began. Each lock plate on the outer doors displays the Vancouver Coat of Arms, and each door knob bears the monogram of the building. The ceiling on the second floor of the rotunda was made of gold leaf from several British Columbia mines.
After winning the civic election on December 9, 1936, George Clark Miller became the first mayor of Vancouver to occupy the then-new city hall, on January 2, 1937.
Construction on a four-storey east wing was begun in 1968[4] (completed in 1970) and in 2012, city staff gradually started moving out when a study found it would not withstand an earthquake.[5] In 1969, a coat of arms was added, and the original building was declared a Schedule A heritage building in March 1976.[6]
^"1929 – The History of Metropolitan Vancouver". Retrieved 2022-10-05.
^Berelowitz, Lance (2010). Dream City: Vancouver and the Global Imagination. Douglas & McIntyre. pp. 63–64. ISBN978-1-55365-170-3.
^"1968 – The History of Metropolitan Vancouver". Retrieved 2022-10-05.
^"Vancouver City Hall's East Wing will come down gradually - NEWS 1130". NEWS 1130. 2016-08-18. Retrieved 2017-11-30.
^"1976 – The History of Metropolitan Vancouver". Retrieved 2022-10-05.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Vancouver City Hall.
City of Vancouver - Architecture of City Hall
History of Metropolitan Vancouver
My Vancouver: City Hall
CityMayors feature
The Lovers II - Sculpture by Gerhard Juchum at City Hall
February 16, 2024
vancouver, city, hall, home, vancouver, city, council, vancouver, british, columbia, canada, located, west, 12th, avenue, building, ordered, vancouver, civic, building, committee, designed, architect, fred, townley, matheson, built, carter, halls, aldinger, co. Vancouver City Hall is home to Vancouver City Council in Vancouver British Columbia Canada Located at 453 West 12th Avenue the building was ordered by the Vancouver Civic Building Committee designed by architect Fred Townley and Matheson and built by Carter Halls Aldinger and Company The building has a 12 storey tower the point is 98 metres 322 ft above sea level with a clock on the top Vancouver City HallVancouver City HallGeneral informationTypeCity hallArchitectural styleArt DecoAddress453 West 12th AvenueVancouver British ColumbiaV5Y 1V4Coordinates49 15 39 N 123 6 50 W 49 26083 N 123 11389 W 49 26083 123 11389Construction started1935Completed1936InauguratedDecember 2 1936Cost 1 million 1 OwnerCity of VancouverHeight98 metres 322 ft Technical detailsFloor count12Design and constructionArchitecture firmTownley amp MathesonMain contractorCarter Halls Aldinger CompanyOther informationPublic transit accessBroadway City Hall stationThe building is served by Broadway City Hall station on the SkyTrain s Canada Line Contents 1 History 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksHistory editBetween 1897 and 1929 the Vancouver City Hall was located on Main Street just south of the Carnegie Library that building had previously served as a public market and an auditorium In 1929 City Hall moved into the Holden Building built 1911 while the Main Street building became an extension of the Carnegie Library 2 After being elected mayor in 1934 Gerry McGeer appointed a three man committee to select the location for a new city hall choices included the former Central School site at Victory Square and Strathcona Park at the corner of Cambie Street and West 12th Avenue no relation to the current park in the Strathcona neighbourhood The panel recommended the Strathcona Park site and City Council approved the selection in 1935 making Vancouver the first major Canadian city to locate its city hall outside its downtown 3 nbsp City Hall a month before openingConstruction of the new City Hall began in 1936 Vancouver s Golden Jubilee on January 3 and the first cornerstone was laid by McGeer on July 2 A 2 4 metre 8 ft statue of Capt George Vancouver by Charles Marega was placed at the front of the building It was unveiled on August 20 by the visiting Lord Mayor of London Percy Vincent Vincent also presented several gifts to the city including a civic mace and a sprig from a tree in the orchard where a falling apple gave Isaac Newton the idea that led to his theory of gravity The mace and the statue still reside at city hall nbsp A statue of George Vancouver in front of City HallConstruction cost 1 million 1 and was completed on December 1 1936 allowing the building to be opened in the same year as construction began Each lock plate on the outer doors displays the Vancouver Coat of Arms and each door knob bears the monogram of the building The ceiling on the second floor of the rotunda was made of gold leaf from several British Columbia mines After winning the civic election on December 9 1936 George Clark Miller became the first mayor of Vancouver to occupy the then new city hall on January 2 1937 Construction on a four storey east wing was begun in 1968 4 completed in 1970 and in 2012 city staff gradually started moving out when a study found it would not withstand an earthquake 5 In 1969 a coat of arms was added and the original building was declared a Schedule A heritage building in March 1976 6 See also editList of old Canadian buildings List of heritage buildings in Vancouver Vancouver City CouncilReferences edit a b Learn about Vancouver City Hall 1929 The History of Metropolitan Vancouver Retrieved 2022 10 05 Berelowitz Lance 2010 Dream City Vancouver and the Global Imagination Douglas amp McIntyre pp 63 64 ISBN 978 1 55365 170 3 1968 The History of Metropolitan Vancouver Retrieved 2022 10 05 Vancouver City Hall s East Wing will come down gradually NEWS 1130 NEWS 1130 2016 08 18 Retrieved 2017 11 30 1976 The History of Metropolitan Vancouver Retrieved 2022 10 05 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Vancouver City Hall City of Vancouver Architecture of City Hall History of Metropolitan Vancouver My Vancouver City Hall CityMayors feature The Lovers II Sculpture by Gerhard Juchum at City Hall Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Vancouver City Hall amp oldid 1168901484, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
