Siting:
Although a bit hesitant as a town-planning scheme, it has excellent plaza areas, providing good pedestrian access and well lighted basement areas. The Jury commended the handling of these entronce areas for their interest and variety.
Internal Planning:
The main floor is one of the best plans for organization of spoces and movement to them. The location, form and approach to the Council Chamber in the court is not as effective; there is little indication os to where it is. The Council Chamber might have been given a more prominent expression at the north end, or on the roof, rother thon being squeezed into its present "puny" locotion. The Court is too small; impractical as a collector of snow and dirt; it would be better if glazed over.
Exteriors:
There is little to distinguish this building from on ordinory office building; the addition of tower and flog poles is not enough to give it symbolic significonce os a city hall. The great amount of glass on all facades is questioned for sun control. The great projection of the columns along the east and west focades is not justified by the inside structure or by the classic monumentality of effect. The north and south facade treatment is even less successful. The over-all proportions ond the human scale of the plazo level are weil handled; the upper portion, however, lacks the beautiful simplicity and character of the lower floors. The
combination of aluminum, bronze and marble on the exterior would oppeor to lock unity.
Interiors:
The Council Chamber is well planned; the Health and Welfare Departments are treated with dignity; but generally the interiors need more careful detailing and greater refinement in the use of materials.
Structure:
Adequate, straight forward, reasonable, economical.
Over-all Concept:
Although it is one of the best solutions in terms of its terraced entrance treatment and the planning of the lower floors, it falls short in its handling of the public reception and the approach to the Council Chamber. Furthermore, it lacks significant character as a city hall and has placed "just another office building" on a very distinguished and successful platform.
(From jury report)
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