[-Harlington-]

Vote your favorite city hall, specify and add pictures if you want
ill start off with a bias vote for Halifax, lol

[PhilippeMtl]

Sherbrooke is one of my favourite

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1105/1305192037_30c6de7e69.jpg
Source: http://ntdonzoom.skynetblogs.be/archive/2009/03/14/l-hotel-de-ville-de-sherbrooke-ou-j-habite.html


Westmount is also pretty

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3049/3016890015_12af0c2f15.jpg
Source:http://www.flickr.com/photos/recount/sets/72157607602013642/

[lake of the nations]

My favorite one is Sherbrooke's.

PLEASE ADD IT TO THE POLL!

[MTLskyline]

My favourite city hall is probably Vancouver's because I really like Art Deco.

Longueuil used to have a nice one (it is now the Old Longueuil borough hall):
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ce/Mairie_arrondissement_Vieux-Longueuil.JPG/800px-Mairie_arrondissement_Vieux-Longueuil.JPG
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mairie_arrondissement_Vieux-Longueuil.JPG

Although they have since built a new, somewhat bland one out in the boonies:
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4108/5030161252_92f988cfff.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vanceva_woca/5030161252/

[PoscStudent]

Here are two pictures of St. John's City Hall.

http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af58/Poscstudent/CityHall01.jpg
photo by foundlocally

http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af58/Poscstudent/nl-sjs-cityhall-220.jpg
photo by CBC

It's pretty much a grey concrete box with an annex conected to it that is a completely different style. I believe they will be cleaning it up soon.

[Rumors]

I like Toronto's. :)

[MTLskyline]

Here is Charlottetown's
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/19/Charlottetown_City_Hall.JPG/800px-Charlottetown_City_Hall.JPG
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/19/Charlottetown_City_Hall.JPG/800px-Charlottetown_City_Hall.JPG

[-Harlington-]

I only added to largest citys so if your voting for Sherbrooke Charlottetown or another city then just vote other

i was going to do top 30 but i didnt want a huge ass list, haha

theres so many good ones in Canada though

[lake of the nations]

Both Sherbrooke city and metropolitan area are bigger than St.John's.

Sherbrooke (MA) :197,299

St.John's (MA) : 192,326

[240glt]

Edmonton city hall

http://www.dubarchitects.ca/Images/Projects/th350/12071749461.jpg
www.dubarchitects.ca

http://www.edmonton.ca/images/00010a_430.jpg
www.edmonton.ca

[Nouvellecosse]

Toronto
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2440/3605640639_f14c079297_z.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jugolic/3605640639/

Montreal
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3188/2933820133_8a4fee9934_z.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/16801915@N06/2933820133/

Vancouver
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2046/2072552350_befc29fa71_z.jpg?zz=1
http://www.flickr.com/photos/keepitsurreal/2072552350/

Calgary
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2646/3872925492_6facdbe6ce_z.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/luke-in-china/3872925492/

Edmonton
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/79/226105856_20ad267ffc_z.jpg?zz=1
http://www.flickr.com/photos/taken_by_me/226105856/

Ottawa
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/21/33789823_164f09b6c5_z.jpg?zz=1
http://www.flickr.com/photos/choruslinea1qms/33789823/

Winnipeg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3083/2834677324_40012c4e2b_z.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bryanscott/2834677324/

Quebec City
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2305/2147154285_b0620f4b75_z.jpg?zz=1
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jayincanada/2147154285/

Hamilton
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1375/4724425874_683a0d34e5_z.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/29856978@N05/4724425874/

Kitchener
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Kitchener-city-hall.jpg/768px-Kitchener-city-hall.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Kitchener-city-hall.jpg

Waterloo
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/79/Waterloo_Ontario_City_Hall_Pano.jpg/800px-Waterloo_Ontario_City_Hall_Pano.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Waterloo_Ontario_City_Hall_Pano.jpg

London
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4011/4278532823_73439a1882.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8049075@N04/4278532823/

Halifax
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3006/2932418694_bbf746d49d_z.jpg?zz=1
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wojtaszek/2932418694/

St. Catharines–Niagara
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5011/5454693073_70ddab7fd4_z.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7119320@N05/5454693073/in/photostream/

Victoria
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4120/4946153547_615277e3ee_z.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7119320@N05/5454693073/in/photostream/

Windsor
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5045/5222767788_8e3a3e12f9_z.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mark81/5222767788/

Saskatoon
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/58/190171321_922dde9695_z.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sheila_steele/190171321/

Regina
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/70/162154294_0e32b5b69b_z.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ewillett/162154294/

St. Johns
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2392/2599095186_2ed79a9da9_z.jpg?zz=1
http://www.flickr.com/photos/karafraser/2599095186/

Other

Sherbrooke
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1116/1065714053_e9dffba358_z.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11206553@N04/1065714053/

[-Harlington-]

Lake of the nations, you were correct about St. Johns and Sherbrooke

i was looking off a list of urban areas quickly that must have been inaccurate but i cant change it now unfortunately

And thanks for adding the pics Nouvellecosse i was to lazy to, lol

[Metro-One]

I really like Calgary's Victoria's and Montreal's. But I voted for Victoria due to the homer factor, hehe.

[PoscStudent]

A lot of the city halls aren't very nice.

[northbay]

montreal #1, but there's a lot of good ones here

[CCF]

Surprisingly Regina's is one of the taller ones.

[SpongeG]

I like Kingston's city hall

http://www.mrc.ca/images/projects/highres/_128_Kingston%20City%20Hall%202.jpg
www.mrc.ca

looks like they have restored the rood
http://images.travbuddy.com/4657_11929123752474.jpg
images.travbuddy.com

[MonkeyRonin]

Toronto and Montreal's equally for the exact opposite reasons. Vancouver's is pretty great though too.

[thurmas]

wow winnipeg might have the ugliest thank you komrade stalin!

[zoomer]

I like Kingston's too, but Regina's takes top prize!

[youngregina]

I may be biased. But I chose Regina's for the height, especially for the city it's in. 16 floors is quite tall for a city hall.

[O-Town Hockey]

I feel the need to explain myself. I voted for Ottawa, but I am referring to the old city hall on Green Island. I love international architecture and this building was a great example with a touch of modern flare (a controversial addition by Moshe Safdie). It was really a shame when they moved it to the more central former headquarters of the regional municipality, which is 1990's modern crap. Anyway, enjoy a couple photos of an architectural gem (IMO). It's obviously still there, but now occupied by Foreign Affairs.

photos from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/111_Sussex_Drive

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/95/111_Sussex_2.JPG/777px-111_Sussex_2.JPG

the Moshe Safdie addition:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d0/OttawaOldCityHall.JPG/800px-OttawaOldCityHall.JPG

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/88/OldOttawaCityHallTowers.JPG/800px-OldOttawaCityHallTowers.JPG

New city hall:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/39/Ottawa_City_Hall_Hotel_de_ville_d%27Ottawa.jpg/800px-Ottawa_City_Hall_Hotel_de_ville_d%27Ottawa.jpg

[BretttheRiderFan]

I voted for Toronto...I just really like the design and it's more of a focal point and stands out in the area around it more so than Montreal or Vancouver IMO

When you're in Toronto and see city hall, you know it. It's one of the famous local landmarks.

In Vancouver and MTL, city hall is kind of an off to the side attraction

In Calgary, city hall is really cool looking but doesn't stick out like Toronto's

And I also think this may be my first ever Toronto vote in a poll! :tup:

[The_Architect]

Toronto for sure. Not even being homer it's just awesome..
Built in the 60's and STILL looks futuristic!

Kingston would be my second choice..

[raggedy13]

Here is a neat pic showing the night lighting on Vancouver's City Hall:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tiascapes/4867246445/

[dsim249]

wow winnipeg might have the ugliest thank you komrade stalin!

I dunno... Saskatoon's is a piece of junk.

Not necessarily ugly... Just boring as hell.

[CCF]

The problem with Saskatoon's is that it's the most non-descript building. One would likely walk by without noticing it. Buildings such as City Hall are meant to be special buildings that have the ability to capture the attention of individuals.

[dsim249]

The problem with Saskatoon's is that it's the most non-descript building. One would likely walk by without noticing it. Buildings such as City Hall are meant to be special buildings that have the ability to capture the attention of individuals.

Yes I agree.

__________________________________

Calgary has a newer city hall, no? I thought the old one pictured in this thread is no longer in use (as city hall, anyway).

[hrisemiky]

ya there is a new one that pic is the old one

[MolsonExport]

Small city Ontario has got some real gems. Like Stratford:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/21/Stratford_City_Hall.jpg
wikipedia commons

[le calmar]

Sainte-Edwidge-de-Clifton

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~smithandyoung/Saint_Edwidge_Hotel.JPG

[MolsonExport]

^a face that only a mother could love :D

[The_Architect]

Oakville.. :yuck:

http://www.firsttorontomovers.com/images/oakville-city-hall.jpg

[The_Architect]

I actually like the concept of Mississauga's city hall..

http://www.ontarioarchitecture.com/Pomomiss.jpg

The architecture is based on a "futuristic farm" (the clock tower is the windmill, the main building on the top-right corner is the farmhouse, the cylindrical council chamber is the silo, and the pentagonal building on the bottom left is the barn)
Source. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mississauga_City_Hall)

[SteelTown]

Hamilton
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1375/4724425874_683a0d34e5_z.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/29856978@N05/4724425874/


That's Hamilton's City Hall before the $170 million renovation. The marble facade is gone. Majority of the work was done inside.

[Reesonov]

^ I actually quite like Hamilton's. Very handsome. I don't understand all of the votes for Regina, but perhaps I have no taste? Anyway, Montreal earned my vote. Toronto in second.

[SHOFEAR]

ohhh.... I really like Hamilton's...

[SteelTown]

You can see some photos of the renovated Hamilton City Hall here

http://www.gjharch.on.ca/portfolio/municipal/cityhallreno/mun_cityhallreno.asp

A lot of movie studios have used Hamilton's City Hall as the UN headquarter.

[MolsonExport]

Re: MissingSausage City Hall

The architecture is based on a "futuristic farm" (the clock tower is the windmill, the main building on the top-right corner is the farmhouse, the cylindrical council chamber is the silo, and the pentagonal building on the bottom left is the barn)

Unfortunately, the whole (gestalt) is considerably less than the sum of its parts.

[davidivivid]

Quebec City Hall - different views

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/ba/H%C3%B4tel-Ville-Qu%C3%A9bec.jpg/800px-H%C3%B4tel-Ville-Qu%C3%A9bec.jpg
http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%C3%B4tel_de_ville_de_Qu%C3%A9bec


http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WgV8eU8jIoM/TKoMK6_zPjI/AAAAAAAACjQ/prY3Zldt0og/s1600/Quebec+General+Impressions09.JPG
http://filipdemuinck-kristelpardon.blogspot.com/2010/10/general-impressions-quebec.html

In 1930

http://www.quebecurbain.qc.ca/images/2004/0116-1a.jpg
http://www.quebecurbain.qc.ca/2004/03/29/voyage-dans-le-temps-college-des-jesuites-vers-1870/

[Highinthesky]

I voted other. Of all the pictures posted I like Kingston's the best. It looks like a capital building not a city hall

[Boris2k7]

Montreal, Montreal, Montreal... and then, oh... I guess Montreal.

[CCF]

^ I actually quite like Hamilton's. Very handsome. I don't understand all of the votes for Regina, but perhaps I have no taste? Anyway, Montreal earned my vote. Toronto in second.

It's clear that you don't enjoy the architecture Regina has to offer based off of posts I've seen. Which is fine, to each their own!

[Acajack]

Toronto city hall is actually one of my favourite modernist buildings in all of Canada. It's really cool.

[Reesonov]

It's clear that you don't enjoy the architecture Regina has to offer based off of posts I've seen. Which is fine, to each their own!

That's not completely true. City Hall is a decent modernist building (though I don't think it compares well to Toronto's City Hall). Also, I absolutely love the SaskEnergy building (reminds me of the Hotel Uzbekistan!):

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3095/2829975294_b102c5554f.jpg

Credit: daryl_mitchell: http://www.flickr.com/photos/daryl_mitchell/2829975294/

But its fair to say that for the most part I find Regina architecture... underwhelming. Anyway, I'm taking this thread off topic.

[niwell]

I tend to split Cty Halls into "old" and "new" categories and would rank each separately. "New" generally being defined as constructed in the 1950s or later. Some cities retain both an old and new version, some tore down their old and some never saw a need to build a new Hall post-war (though to confuse matters this doesn't necessarily mean their City Hall is original, it may have been replaced in the 20s or 30s).

In any event I'd rank Montreal's as my favourite old city hall, and Toronto's as the best new example. Overall I guess I'd have to give the edge to Toronto, by a very slight margin. Moreso because of the iconic imagery of City Hall than pure architectual merit.

Honourable mention goes to Hamilton and Vancouver.

[roccerfeller]

Personally, its a toss between Edmonton, Quebec City, and Hamilton...And Sherbrooke!!!

But so many nice ones!!!

[MolsonExport]

London's city hall brings to mind that song "At Seventeen"

[SteelTown]

Funny Hamilton was almost about to demolish the current City Hall for a newer City Hall/YMCA/School Board mega complex.

Instead City Hall went with $170 million renovation and renovating the Lister Block for extra municipal office space.

[Kevin_foster]

Hamiltons current city hall reminds me a lot of Edmonton's old city hall...

I'd have to say Montreal's is my favorite :)

[Bigtime]

I actually like the concept of Mississauga's city hall..

http://www.ontarioarchitecture.com/Pomomiss.jpg

Source. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mississauga_City_Hall)

I barfed a little... :yuck:

Although to its credit it looks like one could easily fortify it against a zombie horde.

[whiteford]

I love Calgary’s because you get the best of both worlds, old and new. The atrium has glass elevators to boot.

[kw5150]

I like all of the major cities city halls. I really like vancouver and it got my vote.

[haligonia]

My (biased) vote went to Halifax. Our city hall may be a bit small, however it is still a downtown landmark and is quite a handsome building.

I also really, really like Montreal's city hall and Hamilton's.

[Ramako]

http://www.demodulated.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/worf%20in%20toronto.png

Toronto City Hall - so futuristic looking it stands in for alien planets on Star Trek. That makes it awesome.

[The_Architect]

I barfed a little... :yuck:

Although to its credit it looks like one could easily fortify it against a zombie horde.

Haha a lot of people say it looks like a prison.

Keep in mind I said I like the concept.

[Andy6]

Toronto when you're not up close to it or actually inside it (when it looks a bit frayed around the edges and is reportedly an impractical, annoying design from the point of view of anyone who has to work there). Old City Hall in Toronto, just across the street, is magnificent.

Hamilton's is very nice.

I've always liked Winnipeg's new City Hall. It has the calm, graceful austerity of the Winnipeg Modernist buildings in the 1960s. But it could never match the insane old gingerbread pile that would take this poll in a cakewalk if it existed today.

[Xelebes]

Winnipeg's Old City Hall, the grande one that got demolished. :(

[MTLskyline]

IMO, Montreal's city hall looked much nicer before the fire:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/02/H%C3%B4tel_de_ville_(Montr%C3%A9al).jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montreal_City_Hall

[vanman]

Richmond City Hall

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2436/3586278238_2167afdc33.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/giga_pixels/3586278238/)
Richmond City Hall (http://www.flickr.com/photos/giga_pixels/3586278238/) by Giga Pixels (http://www.flickr.com/people/giga_pixels/), on Flickr

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1041/5186732020_b38a2e8fc4_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kamlau/5186732020/)
Richmond City Hall (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kamlau/5186732020/) by [kam] (http://www.flickr.com/people/kamlau/), on Flickr

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4036/4586593272_1605a404c2.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rayvaneng/4586593272/)
West Hall from the 2nd floor, Richmond City Hall (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rayvaneng/4586593272/) by RayVanEng (http://www.flickr.com/people/rayvaneng/), on Flickr

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3089/2884536806_dbb9109510.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/10262581@N06/2884536806/)
City Hall (http://www.flickr.com/photos/10262581@N06/2884536806/) by solaris777 (http://www.flickr.com/people/10262581@N06/), on Flickr


Richmond along with Kitchener get my vote for the best modern city halls in Canada.

As for historic city halls, Montreal is the easy winner with Toronto's original city hall coming in a close second.

[Boreal]

I'm just curious as to why Mississauga put a clock over top of the rocket ship that is clearly ready for take off?

On point though, I do like what Montreal and Hamilton have going on, in terms of old and new.

[vid]

You can see some photos of the renovated Hamilton City Hall here

http://www.gjharch.on.ca/portfolio/municipal/cityhallreno/mun_cityhallreno.asp

A lot of movie studios have used Hamilton's City Hall as the UN headquarter.

It is amazing, but it really looks like something very contemporary as opposed to a 50 year old building that was renovated. It looks a lot better than "the marble was removed" led me to believe, especially the interior. I'm gonna have to vote for Hamilton.

-

I used to make fun of Thunder Bay's city hall but when they stripped it to its bones and turned it into a Post-Modernist piece of crap, I started to appreciate it for what it was: a mediocre example of 1960s modernism executed with really bad materials.

It was originally built for Fort William (the city's third city hall), so the building has been crowded since 1970. Our city government has always been scattered in dozens of buildings. This is really just the "executive office". Council chambers is on top of the left part, below that is the mayor's office and below that is the office of the city manager. The office space is occupied primarily by the upper levels of administration. It isn't really for people to go to outside of meetings; if you've got actual business with the city, you have to go to buildings specific to those departments. All they have here is an information desk.

This is what it looked like from 1964 to 2009.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3037/2665060694_8d3ed8951e_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/vidioman/2665060694/)

If the façade was a better material (it used concrete panels then and uses concrete bricks now) and that office space had a similar window treatment to Hamilton's city hall, it would be a very nice 1950s/1960s modernist building. The granite veneer on the ground floor was reused as counters throughout the building.

This is what the building looks like now, after the renovation in 2009-2010:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4081/4807260987_1547624c35_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/vidioman/4807260987/)

In the end it cost more than twice the original estimate, and looked worse than the renders, but the plaza is really nice and the interior makes good use of wood. It's a very conservative building (architecturally; it isn't daring or unique), which I guess fits in with our kind of government. I find it ironic but fitting that the windows are tinted very darkly. I'm not entirely sure what their intentions were. They're too dark for passive solar heating to really have a noticeable effect (at least in the lobby), and facing north, they're really not good for that kind of thing at all. Generally government institutions are thinking "we want to appear transparent" and choose clear windows.

I would have done things a lot differently. The main floor, especially, is really bad. They gave the masonry contract to whomever outbid the lowest bitter. :no:

This is what the second Fort William city hall looked like:

http://images.ourontario.ca/Partners/Gateway/OTB056168f.jpg (http://images.ourontario.ca/gateway/56168/image/123809)

It was built in 1903. It was replaced because years of neglect after the depression left it in dangerous condition. The original city hall was also a fire station and ironically burned down one day. It wasn't really notable or anything but you can see photos here (http://www.thunderbay.ca/City_Government/City_Records_and_Archives/Web_Exhibits/City_Halls_Exhibit.htm).

Port Arthur never had a purpose-built city hall, it usually used the Masonic Temple's meeting space until in 1914 when the guy who built this building went bankrupt and they appropriated it:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2582/3853627826_d7b12d8e21_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/vidioman/3853627826/)

It was built for James Whalen in 1913. He want bankrupt before he got to use it, so it has always been a government building. The city still owns the building, and is in the process of moving most government offices out and marketing the building to high tech start ups, and it's going pretty well. The local hydro distributor is headquartered inside and had naming rights until recently; they're calling it Whalen Building again, for the historical appeal.

[Architype]

Vid, I like the old one (having never seen it before), but it's unusually asymmetrical, probably because as you stated, it included a fire station.

[vid]

The historic one pictured in my post is the second city hall, built in 1903. The first one built in 1892 and with the fire hall was just a simple brick building, it looked like this (http://www.thunderbay.ca/City_Government/City_Records_and_Archives/Web_Exhibits/City_Halls_Exhibit/Fort_William_City_Hall/City_Hall_1893.htm). (Right click and view image if it appears small.)

The 1903 city hall (pictured above) is asymmetrical because it was multi-purpose. It had meeting rooms, a theatre, the police station, a gym, the town library, and the courthouse, all in one building. They kept the fire hall out of it though, and built this (http://www.thunderbay.ca/City_Government/City_Records_and_Archives/Web_Exhibits/Fire_Services/Fire_Chiefs/1991-01_16.htm) across the street in the same year.

[SteelTown]

It is amazing, but it really looks like something very contemporary as opposed to a 50 year old building that was renovated. It looks a lot better than "the marble was removed" led me to believe, especially the interior. I'm gonna have to vote for Hamilton.


The only issue I have with Hamilton's renovated City Hall is the facade. Council choose to go with polished cement. I'm afraid what it's going to look like in a few years.

For an extra $2 million we could have gotten limestone facade, which have been perfect for Hamilton. The City Hall steering committee recommended limestone facade but Council said they couldn't afford it (in the end we actually saved over $7 million). Limestone facade would link to Hamilton's Niagara Escarpment (made out of limestone). Back when City Hall was built they envisioned limestone facade but went with marble instead, since that was popular at the time.

[The_Architect]

By the way, here is Hamilton's old city hall.. Demolished for... NOTHING!
(Well now the city centre mall is there but originally when it was demolished nothing replaced it)

http://www.thespeczone.ca/James_Project/graphics/old_city_hall_1_mb.png

[vid]

What condition was it in? The top third of the tower on Fort William's second city hall was taken off in the 1940s because it was collapsing and the poor condition of the rest of the tower resulted in its total demolition in 1965. Winnipeg's original city hall (which was a crazy looking building) was demolished for the same reason. They didn't take care of it and it basically just fell apart. They should apply that logic to the Publicly Unsafe Building (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bryanscott/2444426992/), which is part of the civic complex that replaced the original city hall.

http://www.thunderbay.ca/Assets/Images/archives/1991-1-138m.jpg (http://www.thunderbay.ca/City_Government/City_Records_and_Archives/Web_Exhibits/City_Halls_Exhibit/Fort_William_City_Hall/1950s_Aerial_Photograph_of_Fort_William_City_Hall.htm)

Fort William City Hall without the top of its tower. It is a really awkward looking building, isn't it?

[SteelTown]

Apparently the old City Hall was in bad condition and they debated about renovating or build a new City Hall. The clock tower was reused for the old Eaton's Centre aka City Centre.

Clock Tower
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kay-sola/3222687930/

[Jets4Life]

Who on earth would vote for Winnipeg? it's the ugliest design for a city hall ever. Stalin would have been proud.

[freeweed]

Not sure if I missed a post correcting this or not, but for the record Calgary's is not what's pictured on the first page. That's the old city hall which was replaced 25 years ago or so. The current one is a fugly glass monolith.

Toronto wins this one hands down because it was featured in both a Star Trek movie AND Resident Evil. You don't get cooler than being Federation HQ and the direct target of a nuclear strike.

[flar]

Who on earth would vote for Winnipeg? it's the ugliest design for a city hall ever. Stalin would have been proud.

Brantford has a hardcore brutalist city hall as well.

[The_Architect]

Not sure if I missed a post correcting this or not, but for the record Calgary's is not what's pictured on the first page. That's the old city hall which was replaced 25 years ago or so. The current one is a fugly glass monolith.

Toronto wins this one hands down because it was featured in both a Star Trek movie AND Resident Evil. You don't get cooler than being Federation HQ and the direct target of a nuclear strike.

vEK2uIVDuKQ

:tup:

[Dwils01]

I do prefer than 1890-1930 design but Toronto's 1965 city hall design I find to be very interesting. If I was allowed to vote for Toronto's old city hall, I would pick that one.

http://www.toronto4stay.com/dtjpg/cityhall2.jpg
http://www.toronto4stay.com/downtown_top.html

Here is my Hometown of Sault Ste. Marie's city Hall.
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/m498/DWils01/Sault%20Ste%20Marie/087.jpg
photo by me.

[Bigtime]

Not sure if I missed a post correcting this or not, but for the record Calgary's is not what's pictured on the first page. That's the old city hall which was replaced 25 years ago or so. The current one is a fugly glass monolith.

I think technically the original building still is city hall, the big blue monster is the municipal building. It seems like I hear it referred to the municipal building more than city hall, despite the original city hall only housing the mayor and aldermanic offices.

[davidivivid]

This was Quebec's city hall from 1840 to 1894. It used to be the home of British Army Major General William Dunn (British officer), son of former administrator Thomas Dunn (lieutenant-governor).

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GTDjVX59lEU/TXlNzgLxDlI/AAAAAAAAAsk/xlCpdinkt08/s1600/agr.jpg

[Reesonov]

^ Very cool. I'm trying to think of an historical reason why it would be so humble/temporary? I can't think of one. Any explanation?

[davidivivid]

Well, the formal city council was established in 1833 so in 1840, the city's administration wasn't very extended, hence the space needed wasn't important. That being said, though it might look modest, this house still was pretty spacious for the time, since it was own by an important British Officer. Also, this house had the particularity of having a big personal stable, which was convenient for a public building. However, it did became cramped very fast, reason construction of a new city hall began not long after.

[rapid_business]

I have to say, I am most drawn to the international design of Hamilton's City Hall. Too bad about loosing the marble, but it appears much of the character remains in the retrofit.

Montreal's has always stuck out to me, and the art-deco design of Vancouver's is like none other in the country, but I think Hamilton gets my vote this time.

[Silent_Rob]

I voted for Calgary because I really like the old city hall. Calgary's new one sucks ass, as do so the other new city halls in the country. Toronto's is the only newer one that I could give two shits about.

Montreal's got a great city hall, so does Kingston.

[SteelTown]

Christopher Hume likes Hamilton's renovated City Hall...

http://www.thestar.com/article/1021335--hamilton-city-hall-an-exuberant-rebirth

[telyou]

Toronto Old City Hall especially when it's lit up like this

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jzakariya/318333388/sizes/l/in/photostream/

[Nouvellecosse]

1. Quebec City
2. Victoria
3. Montreal
4. Vancouver
5. Kingston
6. Stratford
7. Toronto
8. Sherbrooke
9. Halifax
10. Calgary

[Rico Rommheim]

I voted Vancouver because its a classic art deco piece but it's by no means the best one. It's too subjective. I used to like toronto's but I finally got to are it saw for real recently and it really is interesting but boy, is it ugly. Vancouver, Montreal and Quebec city have by far the best ones.

[Jamaican-Phoenix]

Montreal. It just screams classic Old-World beauty.

[Nathan]

I think Regina's looks better at night... when the top lights up:

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_xnZi4wKnMtc/TPcrC5-s4_I/AAAAAAAAEI4/xbb7jyabp48/s1600/IMG_0744Regina.jpg
source (http://reginainpictures.blogspot.com/2010/12/well-christmas-season-is-upon-us-here.html)

Although I think it's a nice city hall, I'm much more of a fan of the older architecture that Sherbrooke, Quebec City, and Montreal provide.

[Travis007]

In terms of the lesser knowns, Halifax, Charlottetown, and Victoria are quite nice.

[big T]

We have so many different styles represented it's really hard to decide one winner. Overal I went with Vancouver because I'm a total sucker for art deco. I'm a really big fan of Toronto's too, though. I wish it would get a good clean up.

[habfanman]

I love Vancouver deco, Hamilton modern, Montréal historic. Also Halifax, Sherbrooke, Kingston, QC, Toronto (old). The current Toronto City Hall looks cool from the front but it's hideous from the side or rear. Wear eye protection if you're standing at Bay and Dundas!

[yaletown_fella]

I don't know even from Bay and Dundas it looks a hell a lot better than Missy's town hall imo.

[KnoxfordGuy]

Fredericton City Hall: It is small but beautiful :) Built in 1876
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5221/5698021332_a34cea880c_b.jpg

Photo not by me!
Photo by: pixelpete2011

http://www.flickr.com/photos/plovell42/5698021332/

[habfanman]

Fredericton City Hall: It is small but beautiful :) Built in 1876


I was there in November, we we went inside looking for information. There are a ton of beautiful buildings in Fredericton and downtown is a free wi-fi zone. Cool city!

http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii68/Habfanman/Hali%202010/Road%20Trip/SSC/Fred0001.jpg

http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii68/Habfanman/Hali%202010/Road%20Trip/SSC/Fred0002.jpg

http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii68/Habfanman/Hali%202010/Road%20Trip/SSC/Fred0004.jpg

http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii68/Habfanman/Hali%202010/Road%20Trip/SSC/Fred0005.jpg

[haligonia]

Fredericton has always been my favourite NB city. Clean, beautiful and stately. :)

[waterloowarrior]

st mary's, ontario
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k28/segaert/stmarys/00097.jpg
pic by flar
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=157051

http://www.townofstmarys.com/images/Template/logos/town-of-st-marys-logo.png

[michael_d40]

Saint John, NB City Hall (The building with the 3 colors at the bottom of it)

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa178/shipley07/CityHall.jpg

Picture by RavvaCDN Flickr

[KnoxfordGuy]

Fredericton has always been my favourite NB city. Clean, beautiful and stately. :)

I agree for sure!!

[jimj_wpg]

Edmonton city hall

http://www.dubarchitects.ca/Images/Projects/th350/12071749461.jpg
www.dubarchitects.ca (http://www.dubarchitects.ca)



Uhhhh, a pyramid! It must sit on a ley line. In fact it's probably the same ley line that joins up with the Manitoba Legislature. :yes:

[Rico Rommheim]

I am shocked and appalled by the lackluster votes in quebecs defense. A glorious building. And 8 votes for Hamilton really? You find hundreds of buildings just as shitty in several Canadian office parks...

[Reesonov]

I am shocked and appalled by the lackluster votes in quebecs defense. A glorious building. And 8 votes for Hamilton really? You find hundreds of buildings just as shitty in several Canadian office parks...

You've lost your damned mind, Rico.

[DizzyEdge]

here's an older pic of the "Old City Hall" and new "Municipal Building" in Calgary. I sort of want to include both as "City Hall" since they're both as a pair still used for city government.

www.glenbow.org
http://ww2.glenbow.org/dbimages/arc11/h/na-5654-346.jpg
http://ww2.glenbow.org/dbimages/arc11/h/na-5654-346.jpg

Of course the 'old' city hall is actually Calgary's 2nd city hall, here's a photo showing the original one.
As you can see we have a long history of building replacement city halls behind the previous ones..

www.glenbow.org
http://ww2.glenbow.org/dbimages/arc5/y/na-2861-16.jpg
http://ww2.glenbow.org/dbimages/arc5/y/na-2861-16.jpg

[Rico Rommheim]

You've lost your damned mind, Rico.

That's a negative, my dear fellow.