Huntsville City Hall a more than two-year construction project

HUNTSVILLE – The new Huntsville City Hall had its genesis a decade ago or longer when the city was the fourth largest in the state.

It’s now the largest and, Tuesday, a crowd gathered in the downtown square to celebrate the grand opening of what Mayor Tommy Battle said was fitting for the city’s celebrated growth.

Current and former administrators and representatives were on hand to celebrate the moment along with the organizations behind the state-of-the-art structure — architects Goodwyn Mills Cawood and Turner Construction.

Also, Battle made sure to recognize local city employees and administrators including City Administrator John Hamilton, who the mayor called “super smart, methodical, and very creative. Just the wingman you want to have when you’re doing a project like this” and General Services Director Ricky Wilkinson, who Battle said “knows construction inside and out and there’s no one better to lead a project. He’s unflappable.”

Before an open house following a ribbon-cutting, Battle said those involved in the project were “an agreeing team to work with and I know that you’re gonna share our pride in the result of 10 years of planning and five years of hard work.”

Construction took two years. The project formally began with a groundbreaking ceremony April 11, 2022, when Battle announced the old Municipal Complex at 308 Fountain Circle would be razed and that land added to Big Spring Park.

The new City Hall, across the street from the old one, enhances efficiency by consolidating city departments that had been working in seven different locations throughout the city.

City Hall by the numbers:

• 169,781 square feet
• 21,300 cubic yards of concrete
• 1,976 tons of reinforced steel
• 500 craft/trade workers employed
• 332 collaborative employee workstations
• 184 seats in City Council Chambers
• 2 public entrances
• 568 spaces (some public) in adjoining seven-floor garage

“Goodwyn Mills Cawood worked with the City of Huntsville for years designing the new City Hall, and to have now arrived at the grand opening is truly a momentous occasion,” Goodwyn Mills Cawood CEO Jeffrey Brewer said. “It’s an exciting day to see the long-range vision for the new City Hall become a part of the Huntsville skyline.

“This facility is worthy of the dynamic city that is Huntsville, and we’re excited to celebrate this event with the City of Huntsville, Turner Construction and the community as a whole.”

Turner Construction was the general contractor for the building and the adjacent seven-level city parking facility.

“Turner Construction is proud of its storied legacy in Huntsville and is honored to have worked as the general contractor on the new City Hall,” said Brendan McCormick, Turner Construction vice president and general manager. “It’s an iconic structure that will serve Huntsville into the 22nd century. We are proud of our outstanding partnership with the City of Huntsville and Goodwyn Mills Cawood that has produced a spectacular result, and we are eager to open the doors to the citizens of Huntsville.”