-
View of front facade from SW corner of Dufferin & Wellington (marble, granite, glazed brick, glass) -
Building from Reg Cooper Sqare plaza with projecting council chamber mass and original glazed brick planters (removed last year and replaced with recycled grey plastic of similar scale) -
NE (rear) corner of building -
East-side ground floor stairwell from exterior rear -
View of rear facade -
Red glazed brick wall, rear centre block, ground floor -
Yellow glazed brick wall, ground floor -
Main foyer wall clock (marble wall panels) -
Ground floor stairwell (glazed brick, plate glass, terrazzo flooring) -
Signage leading to council chamber -
Council chamber sound baffles (maple) - these are a signature design detail of Johnson's
London City Hall
London City Hall was one a series of town halls constructed in Ontario in the post-war era, notably in Ottawa, Hamilton, Windsor, Toronto and Brantford. The building and its designed landscape reflect themes of urbanization and the assertion of a modern civic identity.
Within the Forest City, the City Hall is situated opposite Victoria Park and forms part of a complex of three buildings (including Centennial Hall and Centennial Apartments) centered on a public urban plaza, Reginald Cooper Square.
The 12-storey building has a lozenge plan and is clad in white marble. A two-storey volume, clad in black granite, cantilevers over the entrance to the south and accommodates the mayor’s office. A matching two-storey volume, also finished in black granite, projects over the plaza to the north and accommodates the council chamber. Brightly coloured glazed bricks provide a colourful contrast to the white and black building stones.
The transparency of the ground floor communicates an open and democratic city government. The interiors feature a dramatic open stair, along with fine materials and craftsmanship. The building also features a public roof-top gallery, offering views over Victoria Park and adjacent institutional buildings in the city centre.
London City Hall is the final work of architect Philip Carter Johnson, a Massey medal winner. The building has been in continuous use as the seat of the city government and its administration since London City Hall opened in 1971. It has been the location of many important community events and is an integral part of the civic center of the city of London.