I doubt it'll be a copy of Austin's city hall, but incase you're wondering what our's looks like, go to the link below:
http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=...-austin-tx-usa
From the Austin American-Statesman
http://www.statesman.com/news/conten...3cityhall.html
A city hall like Austin's, but in Round Rock
Instead of building a massive, all-encompassing city hall, Round Rock is looking at a concept more like Austin's, with a plaza near hike-and-bike trails.
By Andrea Lorenz
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Thursday, May 03, 2007
ROUND ROCK — A city hall should be more than a place to house workers, city officials say. It should also give the community a spot to gather and entice development, they say.
That philosophy spurred discussion at a City Council workshop last week about revising plans to build a new city hall.
Originally, the city planned to use the $11.8 million that voters approved in 2001 to build a city hall with about 60,000 square feet. But with increased construction costs, that same building would cost almost $20 million today.
So city staff members came up with a two-part plan.
•For an estimated $4 million, the city would keep some departments in the current two-decade-old city hall, which is about 24,000 square feet, at 221 E. Main St. The city would also buy the building next door, which has 20,000 square feet. The city could buy the 30,000-square-foot Williamson County Annex Building at 211 Commerce Cove when it becomes vacant in the future, but the $4 million figure does not include money for that.
•For about $7.8 million, the city would build a city hall southwest of downtown on McNeil Road that would be 25,000 square feet and include a plaza for community events.
The new building would be near the town's hike-and-bike trail and would house only upper-level offices where policy decisions are made and council chambers for public meetings. Such a space, the city hopes, would draw more businesses to the area.
Other cities have implemented similar concepts — and seen offshoot developments.
Round Rock staff members visited Austin City Hall for ideas. The building, which is along the Town Lake hike-and-bike trail, has a plaza that functions as a community gathering place.
Development has followed: The Second Street District has grown around the area, bringing high-end shops and restaurants.
Round Rock officials want to replicate that kind of economic growth southwest of downtown.
Staff members also looked at the city hall in Scottsdale, Ariz., which is surrounded by a park. Arts and civic centers and an upscale hotel are nearby.
Round Rock Mayor Nyle Maxwell said the potential for development is an important consideration.
"That intrigues me," he said at the workshop.
But Mayor Pro Tem Alan McGraw expressed reservations about a new building and wanted more information before forming an opinion.
"The question to me was more, what would be the purpose of that policy-style building? And is it necessary? And does it satisfy the things we need it to satisfy?" McGraw asked.
However, he said making the city hall a magnet for economic development is worthwhile.
"That's probably the most persuasive argument I've heard," he said.
City staff members will come back with more details about the project in coming weeks so the council can make a decision.
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