This new city hall, which combines municipal office functions with community spaces inside and out, seeks to create a civic core and community destination in the tradition of the rural Iowa town square for a city seeking to create an identity.    
Both the building and the site support community growth and expansion with flexibility to accommodate evolving needs.  Spaces such as the large “front porch” of the city hall can host various types and sizes of events and is surrounded by site amenities such as a splash pad, a skating rink, a bicycle pump track, and large open green spaces.  The building becomes a backdrop for a site that acts as a front yard for the community, serving as a forum, plaza, amphitheater, market and events space to welcome and support its community.

The buildings’ cross-axial layout features a central lobby that connects interior community spaces such as the council chambers, training room, and conference rooms to the municipal offices, both open and private. 

Materials inside and out reflect the city hall’s purpose, while also representing the community and site specifically. Limestone, wood, and metal on the exterior imbue civic permanence while emphasizing the building’s warmth and openness. This same palette carries through to the interior to clarify the building’s organization and reinforce the interior/exterior connection. Walnut, oak, and ash trees cleared from the site were used to construct the reception desk, council dais, lobby walls, workstations, and interior signage.