San Jose City Hall Inaugural Opening

The new San Jose City Hall designed by Richard Meier & Partners Architects LLP was officially inaugurated on Saturday, October 15, 2005.

The City Hall is located in the center of downtown San Jose, a return to the heart of the city for this major public building.

The 530,000sf project is comprised of a three story Council Chamber building, a rotunda facing a new civic plaza and an eighteen story tower which houses municipal offices.

The main entrance faces Santa Clara Street through a sweeping public plaza.

The focal point of the plaza is the transparent domed rotunda serving as a visible symbol of the city government.

The glass rotunda is reminiscent of traditional domes of important public buildings, despite its contemporary form and materials.

The rotunda can accommodate large public events as it stands 108 feet high with a diameter of 100 feet.

'The building is transparent, it's open, it is the way government should be.

The new plaza will become a gathering place, where people will convene for weddings, book fairs and even protests.'

The rotunda is complemented to the east by the office tower, which houses city departments and the plaza level permit center.

The tower is the tallest in San Jose with its 70 width allows for the maximum penetration of sunlight to the