Austin Chronicle |
Best Place to See Local Art: Austin City Hall
(Readers Poll, Arts & Entertainment, 2008)
"The city could have gone the safe, boring route of lumpen political portraits, but through the People’s Gallery program, it opened itself up to works from the representational to the surreal, somber, playful, and even fuzzy, all from local artists."
Best Indoor Public Space: City Hall
(Readers Poll, Architecture & Lodging, 2007)
"Its outdoor plaza has been the setting for live music, swanky parties, and even a few barking Klansmen. But within City Hall's limestone walls and among the shimmer of her 66,000 square feet of copper, you'll find a great indoor space, including the People's Gallery, which showcases visual art. There you'll find virtually no Klansmen. Perhaps they don't care for artsy types."
Best Outdoor Public Space: City Hall
(Readers Poll, Architecture & Lodging, 2007)
"Unveiled in 2004, our city's fifth City Hall is four stories of sleek limestone and copper with more than 70% recycled materials used in its construction. A waterfall fountain greets an ascent of underground stairs rising above street-level to an outdoor amphitheatre."
Best Indoor Public Space: Austin City Hall
(Readers Poll, Architecture & Lodging, 2006)
"An architectural delight overlooking Town Lake, City Hall continues to be the best new addition to downtown Austin. Clad in copper and limestone, the four-story contemporary structure designed by Antoine Predock offers plaza, mezzanine, and amphitheatre areas, and a media room which may be reserved by the general public. Under certain circumstances, the council chamber, board and commission rooms, atrium, and certain balcony areas may be available, making this truly a public space ... and one to be proud of."
Best City Beautification: TIE: City Hall, 2nd Street District
(Readers Poll, Architecture & Lodging, 2005)
"Both of these winners have turned formerly overlooked areas into creative showcases of urban potential. The limestone, copper-clad Austin City Hall is designed for public gatherings like the popular lunchtime live music shows. The civic center offers free public parking after-hours and anchors one end of the new shopping district, which features furniture, home goods, men's and women's clothing and accessories, as well as new coffee shops and restaurants. Both define the revitalization of downtown ... and look good, too."
Best New Building (Past Five Years): Austin City Hall
(Readers Poll, Architecture & Lodging, 2005)
"It waters its own plants with the condensation from air conditioners; it powers itself with a fabulously futuristic awning over an outdoor amphitheatre; it’s fully wired with free public Wi-Fi; and not only that, it looks cool. Dang right it’s the best new building, indoors and out. A civic prototype for the new millennium, our new City Hall is Austin's gracious new invitation to all citizens to come in and participate with plasma screen TVs providing live feeds of the city's proceedings and electronic kiosks in the lobby where folks can make comments to the electorate. Oh! And all the plants and trees on the grounds are native to Texas; it's covered in copper that will change into various stages of gorgeous patina over the next 30 years; and it has a stinger! Beat that, skyline!"
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