Huntsville, Alabama
Huntsville City Hall
176,000 Square Feet
Located at 305 Fountain Circle, Huntsville’s new center of municipal government will bring departments that frequently interact with the public under one roof to provide efficient services for residents and businesspeople who previously had to visit multiple locations to conduct business with the city.
With GMC’s attention to detail and responsible project management, the firm has delivered a stunning new municipal building that will serve our community for the next century. – Tommy Battle, Huntsville Mayor
The new City Hall is truly being designed for the citizens of Huntsville. Designers worked with the City to gather feedback about the project from members of the community through public input sessions, in addition to discussing it at several City Council and Planning Commission meetings to ensure the community had opportunities to provide input.
The seven-story building and parking garage is being built on a 1.8-acre site across the street from the present City Hall. The new City Hall is hailed to be designed to last 100 years and be more accommodating than its predecessor. The new facility will provide 175,000 square feet of administrative space to be occupied by about 370 employees. However, it will also accommodate future growth.
Prior to this facility, Huntsville governmental departments were spread out throughout the city. Now, all departments will be housed under one roof with more open concept to promote efficiency and collaboration. Additionally, this creates ease for Huntsville citizens who now can visit one building for all of their needs.
The building was designed to be architecturally sensitive to the existing downtown structures and landscape. The exterior is a precast veneer engineered to look like limestone but will be less expensive and more durable over time. The overall look of the building has been influenced by adjacent architecture. It incorporates a lot of glass to allow natural light to flow in, as well as features two entrances that make accessing City Hall easier and more convenient for staff and the public.
Through a collaboration with ArtsHuntsville, nine pieces of public art are displayed throughout the seven-floor building to enhance the community’s cultural experience. Each piece, through the artist’s interpretation, tells Huntsville’s story and spotlights characteristics that make the city unique.
