Richmond City Hall

The design team for this project was charged with creating a new City Hall to embody Richmond City Council’s vision for a landmark building that would take the first steps towards redefining the municipality’s image as a growing urban centre and reflect more clearly its west coast identity.

Commanding a busy downtown intersection, the carefully composed ensemble of administrative tower, which houses all of the departmental offices, circular council chamber, and meeting house defines a highly accessible and clearly identifiable civic precinct. The meeting house, a two-storey, light filled pavilion, extends west from the tower and council chamber, along a generously scaled galleria that serves as the main organizing element linking the various program components, outdoor plazas and gardens. These three building components enclose a new civic square that serves as the central gathering place for City Hall, creating an urban oasis in the suburban downtown context.

The City Hall is an important demonstration of the City of Richmond’s commitment to sustainable design. The project team, through the building’s form and orientation, developed a holistic approach to sustainability that provides a healthy and effective workplace – one that incorporates a variety of energy and ecological conservation strategies.