Major Changes Coming to City Hall in Mississauga
Published July 15, 2019 at 4:34 pm
Mississauga’s City Hall is an important (and some might even argue iconic) structure in the city because it’s not just where city council meets to run the municipality–it’s also a place where people converge to appreciate art, learn more about major initiatives and even get married.
For that reason, residents should note that some renovations are in the works for Mississauga’s bustling civic centre.
The city says the first phase of renovation will raise the great hall floor for improved accessibility and allow residents and visitors of all abilities to better access the space for any occasion, such as wedding photoshoots to public events.
The great hall is currently under renovation from July until early 2020. As of July 10, the north entrance will be closed. Access to the building will be available from the southeast and southwest entrances. Customer service counters will also remain open during the construction period.
The civic centre is also being modernized to support the city’s plan for a dynamic, urban and accessible downtown. The city says these changes will keep the civic centre in good repair and improve accessibility and customer service.
While some residents love City Hall and others call for a more modern structure, the current civic centre actually has some interesting history behind it.
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The award-winning, postmodern building opened in 1987. The building, designed by Jones and Kirkland, drew on historical elements that pay tribute to Mississauga’s agricultural past.
The main building represents a farmhouse; the council chamber represents a grain silo, and the clock tower a windmill. The design was a result of an architectural design competition with 246 entries from seven Canadian provinces.
The city says the great hall architecture is a composition of geometric shapes which build on compositions of circles, triangles and squares. It connects on one side to the great stair and on the other to the cylindrical, wood-lined council chamber.
The civic centre was designed as a “building for two seasons”: the great hall in winter for public gatherings, and Celebration Square in the summer. Over the years, the great hall has become a go-to location for events and impromptu photo shoots.
What big changes can residents expect?
Great Hall In-fill: The civic centre great hall central area in-fill will allow more programs and activities to be offered in the space
Welcome & Security Desk: The welcome & security desk concept will be introduced. The city says this allows visitors to have access to customer service and security in one space, providing streamlined services
Lighting: The lighting throughout the ground floor will be upgraded to meet current standards
North Door Outside Stairs: Improvements will be made to the stairs located outside the civic centre north entrance. Visual cues will be added to ensure greater accessibility for people with vision challenges
What else would you like to see changed at City Hall in Mississauga?
Cover photo courtesy of @idris.yyz
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