Kingston City Hall

• Location: Kingston, Ontario, Canada

• Architect: George Browne

• Style: Neo-classical

• Completed in: 1844

Kingston City Hall is situated in Kingston's downtown area, overlooking Lake Ontario.

In the wake of a devastating fire in 1840 that ravaged a significant portion of Kingston's downtown, there arose a need for the construction of a new municipal building.

Constructed in 1844, it was designed to reflect the city's prominent position as the capital of the United Province of (Upper and Lower) Canada during that era.

"View of City Hall from Kingston Harbour"

Back in the 19th century, the City Hall must have been seen even more as a significantly dominant building even far from the shore. The silo looking structure in front of the City Hall is "Shoal Tower" a defense tower which was built in 1840's to protect Kingston's harbour and the Rideau Canal.

"Rusticated ground level"

"4 Tuscan columns supporting the pediment"

As Kingston is known as the "limestone city", the City Hall built with limestone is a neo-classical architecture, with the rusticated ground level and smooth-textured upper storeys. At the central bay, the pediment is supported by four Tuscan columns (i.e. un-fluted Doric column).

"Market wing at present time"

One of the unique features about this specific city hall is its t-shape plan where the wing extends toward northwest which serves as a "market wing".

"Clock Tower"

The dome originally did not have a clock, instead, the market wing had the clock tower. The market wing including the clock tower was destroyed by the fire in 1865. When the dome was also destroyed by the fire in 1908, the clock was added to the dome when rebuilt after the fire.

"Council Chamber"

The Council Chamber is located at the south-west end of the building, where the mayor and 12 elected city councilors meet regularly within the strong-mayor power system of mayor-councilor government. The mayor's chair can be seen at the centre backed by the city's coat of arms.

"Unique globe-shaped globe-shaped chandelier dates back to 1973"

"Bright but classical interior"

References:

Canadian History 101 at Kingston City Hall, One Trip At A Time, (n.d.) Retrieved 2023-11-02, from https://www.onetripatatime.com/canadian-history-101-at-kingstons-city-hall

Historic City Hall. (n.d.) Retrieved 2023-11-02, from https://www.cityofkingston.ca/explore/culture-history/history/city-hall 

Kingston City Hall. (n.d.) Retrieved 2023-11-02, from https://www.destinationontario.com/en-ca/attractions/kingston-city-hall 

Kingston City Hall National Historic Site of Canada. (n.d.) Retrieved 2023-11-02, from https://www.pc.gc.ca/apps/dfhd/page_nhs_eng.aspx?id=397&i=46019 

Kingston City Hall (Ontario), Wikipedia, (n.d.) Retrieved 2023-11-02, from

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingston_City_Hall_(Ontario)