Pasadena City Hall

In 1923, after years without a formal city hall building, Pasadena's citizens funded construction of a visionary new city hall envisioned by the City Council as an official building of imposing beauty, massive yet graceful, and suited to a land of flowers and sunshine. After four years of planning and construction, a stunning monumental building rose in Pasadena's emerging civic center area at a total cost of $1.3 million. The architectural firm of Bakewell and Brown drew on the style of celebrated 16th century Italian architect Andrea Palladio, whose influence is reflected in three famous European domed structures to which Pasadena City Hall is related without being a direct imitation. The architects also drew inspiration from the California Mission style, producing a classic building with rich detail and ornamentation. Since its completion on December 27, 1927, City Hall has remained one of the most distinctive public buildings in the United States. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places, it is an excellent example of the California Mediterranean style and epitomizes the 1920s City Beautiful movement that helped shape Pasadena, remaining the iconic building of the Pasadena Civic Center.

Pasadena, California · United States