City Hall History
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Calgary’s civic government is located in three
inter-connected buildings in downtown Calgary, at Macleod Trail and
7 Avenue S.E.
Stunning sandstone brings life to the oldest of our municipal
trio. The City Hall building is a designated historic site,
featuring a 32.7 metre (100 ft.) clock tower, chiming beautifully
every half hour. The building, a vision of architect William M.
Dodd, was officially opened for business by Prime Minister Sir
Robert L. Borden in June 1911.
On Oct. 18, 1978 the provincial Department of Culture designated
the sandstone City Hall building a Provincial Historic Resource.
The Federal Historic Sites and Monuments Board recognized it as a
heritage site in 1987. And in that same year, the exterior of the
building received a major face-lift, re-opening as a designated
Municipal Historic Resource on April 17, 1990.
In 1960, City Council approved the construction of a City office
building. The Administration Building joins City Hall through a
series of connecting corridors and stairs on several levels.
Completed in 1962, this building was designed by Rule, Wynn and
Rule - architects.
Calgarians laid the foundation for a new local government
building in 1980 when they voted to own the space for a new civic
administration building. Calgary architect Christopher Ballyn
brought his unique triangular, mirrored glass building to life by
winning a province-wide design competition. The Calgary Municipal
Building has been home to a variety of City business units since
1985.