College Park City Hall
{{Short description|Official seat of government of College Park, Maryland, US}}
{{Infobox building
| name = College Park City Hall
| awards = Government/Public Building MidAtlantic best projects
| image = City Hall College Park MD.jpg
| image_size = 270px
| caption =
| mapframe-frame-width = 270
| mapframe-marker = town-hall
| coordinates = {{coord|38|58|51|N|76|56|14|W|region:US-MD_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| location = 7401 Baltimore Avenue, College Park, Maryland
| architect = Design Collective
| engineer =
| construction_start_date =
| completion_date = Dec 2021
| date_demolished =
| cost =
| structural_system =
| style =
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| embedded = {{Infobox historic site
| embed = yes
}}
}}
College Park City Hall is the official seat of government of the City of College Park, Maryland. The City Hall houses the offices of the Mayor and those of the City Council of College Park as well as various city departments, agencies and boards/commissions.
The current building, the second city hall since the city's incorporation in 1945, was completed in 2021 and played a key role in the revitalization of College Park's downtown. The premises combine municipal services, University of Maryland offices, retail space and a large public plaza.
History
By the end of the 20th century, College Park residents and city officials started discussing the need to replace the old city hall. The old building, inaugurated in 1959, could not meet the increased demand for city services as College Park developed, leading to hallways and corridors being used as office and storage space and city departments being spread across several different buildings.{{Cite web |title=City Hall Project {{!}} City of College Park, Maryland |url=https://www.collegeparkmd.gov/cityhall |access-date=2023-12-23 |website=www.collegeparkmd.gov}}
In 2014 the city selected the existing site as the location to build the replacement building. Two additional properties on the same block were acquired{{Cite web |last=Arcieri |first=Katie |date=2019-01-24 |title=College Park, UMd. partnering on new City Hall, university offices |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2019/01/24/college-park-umd-partnering-on-new-city-hall.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20231223195655/https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2019/01/24/college-park-umd-partnering-on-new-city-hall.html |archive-date=2023-12-23 |website=The Business Journals}} and the land was pooled with lots owned by the University of Maryland{{Cite web |date= |title=College Park looks to rebuild City Hall, develop surrounding block of Route 1 |url=https://dbknews.com/0999/12/31/arc-lx35pmlqznhgrgoyas5746txmq/ |access-date=2023-12-24 |website=The Diamondback |language=en-US}} to redevelop the whole block.
The project broke ground in February 2020 and was completed in December 2021.{{Cite web |date=2021-12-15 |title=City of College Park, University of Maryland Dedicate New City Hall |url=https://today.umd.edu/city-of-college-park-university-of-maryland-dedicate-new-city-hall |access-date=2023-12-24 |website=Maryland Today |language=en}} It was recognized with the MidAtlantic Best Projects award of merit for a government/public building{{Cite web |date=2022-10-17 |title=Award of Merit Government/Public Building: College Park City Hall |url=https://www.enr.com/articles/55046-award-of-merit-government-public-building-college-park-city-hall |access-date=2023-12-24 |website=Engineering News-Record |language=en}} and an Honorable Mention by the AIA Baltimore Design Awards.{{Cite web |last=Haslam |first=Maggie |date=2022-10-24 |title=Maryland Takes Top Honors at 2022 AIA Baltimore Design Awards |url=https://arch.umd.edu/news-events/maryland-takes-top-honors-2022-aia-baltimore-design-awards |access-date=2023-12-24 |website=School of Architecture, Planning & Preservation}}
Facilities
The building is four stories tall and it initially dedicates 33,000 square feet for the city government offices, council chambers, an atrium and community meeting space, 45,000 square feet for the University of Maryland offices, and 7,000 square feet of retail space on the ground floor.{{Cite web |last=Farrell |first=Liam |date=2020-02-17 |title=A New Symbol of College Park Partnerships |url=https://today.umd.edu/new-symbol-college-park-partnerships-0befbb50-31f9-446b-b7fa-df09b1d1449c |access-date=2023-12-24 |website=Maryland Today |language=en}} The council chambers have a nine-foot seal that is visible from outside the building and can be lit up.{{Cite web |date=2021-09-14 |title=DAVIS X The City of College Park X University of Maryland {{!}} DAVIS Construction |url=https://www.davisconstruction.com/news-insights/davis-x-city-college-park-x-university-maryland |access-date=2023-12-25 |website=Davis Construction |language=en}}
The building is organized around a large landscaped public plaza that provides seating and tables for retail customers and the general public. This plaza holds music performances, markets, and city events throughout the year{{Cite web |date=2023-08-05 |title=College Park City Council discusses options for Knox Road pedestrian plaza |url=https://dbknews.com/2023/08/05/college-park-city-council-knox-road-pedestrian-plaza/ |access-date=2024-01-20 |website=The Diamondback |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Barnes |first=Sophia |last2=McFly |first2=Tommy |last3= |first3= |date=2023-11-30 |title=Holiday Boat Parade, markets and more things to do around DC the first weekend of December |url=https://www.nbcwashington.com/entertainment/the-scene/the-weekend-scene-holiday-boat-parade-markets-and-more-things-to-do-around-dc/3481866/ |access-date=2024-01-20 |website=NBC4 Washington |language=en-US}} that have contributed towards the revitalization of College Park's downtown.
File:College Park City Hall ribbon cutting.jpg|College Park City Hall ribbon cutting in December 2021
File:Friday Night Life City Hall College Park MD.jpg|Friday Night Life! 2023 during a musical performance
File:City hall plaza at the College Park Winter Wonderland 2023.jpg|City hall plaza facing Baltimore Avenue
City hall plaza with tree lights at the College Park Winter Wonderland 2023.jpg|City hall plaza with tree lights at the College Park Winter Wonderland 2023
File:College Park Winter Wonderland Grinch 2023.jpg|Grinch at the College Park Winter Wonderland 2023
References
{{Commonscat}}
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{{College Park, Maryland}}
Category:College Park, Maryland
Category:Buildings and structures in Prince George's County, Maryland