City hall

[vaneramos]

The new Guelph City Hall hosted its grand opening today. Danny and I attended almost by accident; we crossed the street for breakfast at the farmers' market, saw posters, and he mentioned he had seen tents being set up on his way down from the bus terminal last night, so curiosity drew us. As it did for apparently hundreds of other locals.

I had not liked the hulking complex previously, but today it impressed me favourably. We heard Mayor Karen Farbridge speak, emphasizing its environment-healthy features: the green roof, reduced consumption of energy and water. During demolition of the hockey arena an old wall was discovered and conserved from the original building for the Ontario Winter Fair, which moved between here, Toronto and Woodstock during the early 1900s. It is almost as massive as the new architecture erected behind and above it. Indoors the effect is imposing but, as Danny said, "not cold". It feels hospitable.

The broad front plaza will eventually host a shallow fountain pool and skating pond that can be quickly drained to provide extra space for public functions.