[CanadianNational]

Kitchener finally reopened the square in front of city hall after a long renovation. Here are some pics:

Meanwhile, renovation continues around the back:

 

[emphurent]

The new fountain is now operational, it replaced the previous five larger pump. Really depends on taste but I kindof miss the larger pump style fountains even if this is more 'interactive'.

And just to crosspost a few other photos here of the reno, my review basically is: not too much of an upgrade, and in some cases a downgrade. Furniture has yet to arrive.

 

[CanadianNational]

I really like Kitchener City Hall. Living downtown Kitchener now, I walk by it and have been in it quite a number of times. It's exceedingly comfortable feeling. It's got a rich and well-employed palette of materials employed and the proportions inside are wonderfully fit. It feels lofty but not diminishing, finely restrained but never arid or harsh. Even the utility payment room is warmly lit, relaxing and a pleasure to visit - and how often can you say that about a billing and payment room? (grin)
It's very much a product of the 90's. I feel echoes of Mississauga City Hall going on here, along with Barton and Meyer's now-subsumed AGO addition. It's aging well enough though, unlike a lot of po-mo works. It's not overly fanciful, extravagant or odd - things that can be a byword when designing a public building at the center of taxpaying and governance - but with what it's got, it works really well.

Rotunda Interior:

Renovation still going on at the back of the building.

Exterior -

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

I really like Kitchener City Hall. Living downtown Kitchener now, I walk by it and have been in it quite a number of times. It's exceedingly comfortable feeling. It's got a rich and well-employed palette of materials employed and the proportions inside are wonderfully fit. It feels lofty but not diminishing, finely restrained but never arid or harsh. Even the utility payment room is warmly lit, relaxing and a pleasure to visit - and how often can you say that about a billing and payment room? (grin)
It's very much a product of the 90's. I feel echoes of Mississauga City Hall going on here, along with Barton and Meyer's now-subsumed AGO addition. It's aging well enough though, unlike a lot of po-mo works. It's not overly fanciful, extravagant or odd - things that can be a byword when designing a public building at the center of taxpaying and governance - but with what it's got, it works really well.

It's definitely one of the projects that put KPMB on the map - and they went on to two at least two more City Halls - Richmond and Vaughan along somewhat similar lines. It's really cozy and didn't succumb to the urge to overly grandeur (or otherwise be too self-conscious).

AoD

 

[smably]

It has aged incredibly well. I'd say it's one of the nicest public buildings in the province.

 

[CanadianNational]

KCH and its skating rink last night, looking frosty - cold enough to drive even ice-skaters indoors.

 

[Paclo]

Anyone have a recent photo of the square?

 

[emphurent]

Chriskindl market this weekend!

 

[amh]

I’ve always liked the design of city hall and the way it frames a very unapologetically urbane public square. It’s also one building that I recall taking note of even as a child - something about it felt weighty and meaningful and that it had civic aspirations. (As much as a kid can perceive such things.) I guess that is to say, being there felt like an event and I knew the design meant something.

The Seagram Museum (related to early KPMB itself) and the Clay and Glass Gallery are the only other two examples I can think of that gave me a feeling similar to it. Perhaps the public health building on Regina to some degree as well.