A view of the City Hall/Civic Center from the municipal parking area

October 22, 1996, was a proud day for Carbondale residents as the City dedicated its new City Hall and Civic Center. Over 600 citizens attended the dedication and celebration for the new complex. "This facility is an integral part of the planned redevelopment of Downtown Carbondale," said Mayor Neil Dillard, First Vice President of the Illinois Municipal League. "In all past planning, one of the key elements was to locate the government center in the downtown. We are now in position to solicit further development and redevelopment in the downtown area," he said.

After 22 years of temporary quarters in a former dormitory complex, City Hall is now located at 200 South Illinois Avenue. Seventy employees have relocated into the new City Hall. Offices in the new facility include the Mayor and City Council, City Manager, City Clerk, City Attorney, Finance Department, Accounting, Data Processing, Purchasing and Administration, Human Resources, Development Services, Public Works Administration and Engineering, Fire Chief and Emergency Management Services, Civic Center Events Coordinator and the Jackson County Circuit Courtroom Annex including Judge's office and Circuit Clerk office. The Carbondale Police Department will remain at 609 East College Street.

Architectural planning of the City Hall/Civic Center complex began in 1991 with the preparation of a facility program and master plan. Ground breaking ceremonies in April 1995 marked the completion of that phase and began the construction phase.

The building exterior was designed to fit into the urban context of the town square. The proportions, scale and materials found in the two-and three-story buildings around the town square provided the architectural design standards which were incorporated into the final design.

Details of the new building's exterior are inspired by many of the buildings in the downtown. Red brick with contrasting stone trim similar to many downtown buildings was used for the walls of the new complex. Traditional shapes and spacings were used for the new building's windows. Colors which contrast with the building walls were used to enrich the building's appearance and to relate to the architectural detailing of the older, neighboring buildings.

Construction on the 51,000 square foot building began in April 1995 and was completed, ahead of schedule, in September 1996.

The new City Hall/Civic Center is being financed through a $7.1 million bond issue that covers the costs of design, land acquisition, construction, furnishings and bond costs. The annual debt service will be paid from general revenues of the City and from revenues generated by the property tax levy currently used to pay the debt service for the new Carbondale Public Library building, which will be retired in 1997. The Civic Center comprises almost 20,000 square feet of the complex. It is a multifunctional facility that will accommodate public meetings, banquets, receptions, dances, conferences, trade shows and other types of gatherings. It can seat up to 700 persons and serve 525 for banquets through the commercial grade catering kitchen.

The new Carbondale City Hall/Civic Center complex

Parking for the complex is provided through 140 spaces on site and over 700 public spaces within two blocks of the facility.

"The City Hall/Civic Center provides an anchor for Downtown redevelopment, a source of community pride and a landmark building in our community," said City Manager Jeff Doherty. "It will serve Carbondale well into the 21st Century." •

November 1996 / Illinois Municipal Review / Page 9