THE GOAL OF THE NEW CITY HALL IS NOT ONLY TO UNITE CITY GOVERNMENT IN ONE CENTRAL LOCATION, BUT ALSO TO HIGHLITE SAN JOSE'S ROLE AS THE "CAPITAL" OF SILICON VALLEY AND REVITALIZE THE DOWNTOWN ECONOMY. WITH THE RECENT COMPLETION OF THIS IMPORTANT NEW CIVIC DESTINATION, SAN JOSE'S CITY HALL IS NOW LOCATED DOWNTOWN FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FIFTY YEARS. THE OVERALL MASSING OF THE COMPLEX CREATES A TRANSITION IN SCALE BETWEEN THE HIGH-RISE OFFICE BUILDINGS TO THE WEST AND THE RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS TO THE EAST.

THE 530,000-SQUARE-FOOT BUILDING IS DESIGNED TO BE THE CENTERPIECE OF A SEVEN BLOCK REDEVELOPMENT DISTRICT OF NEW AND EXISTING BUILDINGS UNIFIED THROUGH STREETS, WALKWAYS, PLAZAS, COURTYARDS, AND FOUNTAINS. THE COMPLEX INCLUDES FIVE ACRES OF BELOW-GRADE PARKING, AN EIGHTEEN-STORY TOWER, A THREE-STORY COUNCIL WING, AND A GLASS DOMED ROTUNDA, ALL LINKED TOGETHER BY A BATTERED STONE WALL WALKWAY/GALERY.

THE MAIN ENTRANCE IS ON EAST SANTA CLARA STREET THROUGH THE PUBLIC PLAZA. THE PLAZA, WITH SEATING AND WATER FEATURES, IS DESIGNEDTO BECOME AN IMPORTANT DOWNTOWN GATHERING PLACE ACCOMMODATING UP TO 2,000 PEOPLE. THE PUBLIC OUTDOOR PLAZA ALSO FEATURES LANDSCAPING HONORING THE SIGNIFICANT ROLE AGRICULTURE HAS PLAYED IN THE REGION.

ARCHITECT: RICHARD MEIER & PARTNERS, LLP
ASSOCIATE ARCHITECT: STEINBERG ARCHITECTS
CONTRACTOR: DEVCON-TURNER JOINT VENTURE
CLIENT: CITY OF SAN JOSE, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS

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