Mississauga Civic Centre facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mississauga Civic Centre |
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View of Mississauga City Centre from the southeast. The architecture is based on a "futuristic farm" (the clock tower is the windmill, the main section containing the offices on the top-right corner is the farmhouse, the cylindrical council chamber is the silo, and the pentagonal wing on the bottom left is the barn)
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| General information | |
| Address | 300 City Centre Drive |
| Town or city | Mississauga, Ontario |
| Country | Canada |
| Opened | 1987 |
| Owner | City of Mississauga |
| Height | 92 metres (302 ft) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architecture firm | Jones and Kirkland |
The Mississauga Civic Centre is a very important building in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. It's like the main office for the city's government. This huge building, finished in 1987, is 92 metres (302 feet) tall. It was designed by architects Jones and Kirkland.
The building's unique look was inspired by old farm buildings that used to be common in Mississauga. It even has a tall clock tower, like a windmill on a farm! The design was chosen from 246 different ideas in a big competition. The Civic Centre is located near Square One Shopping Centre. It is where the Mississauga City Council meets to make decisions for the city.
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History of Mississauga's City Hall
The Mississauga Civic Centre is the second main building for the city's government. Before this one, the city offices were in different places.
One of the first places was the Cooksville Town Hall, built around 1870. It started as a schoolhouse. Later, in 1953, a new building called the Township of Toronto Municipal Building was built nearby.
In 1971, the city offices moved to 1 City Centre Drive. This building was originally an office building. It became the official City Hall in 1974 and stayed that way until 1984. This old City Hall was later taken down in 1988.
Choosing the New Design
The design for the current Mississauga Civic Centre was chosen in September 1982. There was a big competition where 246 architects from across Canada submitted their ideas. A famous architect named James Stirling was one of the judges who helped pick the winning design by Jones and Kirkland.
Opening of the New City Hall
The new Civic Centre officially opened in July 1987. The Duke and Duchess of York from the United Kingdom were there for the opening ceremony. The Duke said the building was "quite remarkable."
Some people in the media and local residents had different opinions about the building's look. For example, Don Cherry, a well-known Canadian hockey personality, joked that it looked more like a prison than a City Hall. There was also some discussion because bricks from a U.S. company were used, instead of bricks from a local Canadian company in Brampton.
Despite these early comments, the new City Hall quickly became a popular spot. Many couples now use the beautiful grounds for their wedding photos.
Architecture and Features
The Mississauga Civic Centre complex has many important areas:
- The Mississauga City Council chambers are in the round part of the building. This is where city leaders meet.
- The Art Gallery of Mississauga is on the ground floor. You can see cool art exhibits there.
- There's a wedding chapel on the second floor.
- The C Cafe restaurant is on the ground floor for food and drinks.
- The Great Hall is a huge open space with marble walls and a glass ceiling.
- The Mayor and Council offices are located here.
- There are offices for city staff.
- A fitness centre is on the fourth floor.
- The Great Stairs connect the Great Hall to the main part of the building.
The building's design lets natural light shine into the Great Hall through a pyramid-shaped glass roof. The architects wanted the building to remind people of the area's farming past. They also added a clock tower, which is a classic feature of old city centres. This mix makes the building look both modern and connected to history.
Outside the Civic Centre, there is a large public space called Celebration Square. It's a popular spot for events and activities. It has a wading pool that turns into an ice rink in winter. To the west, there's a beautiful floral garden, often used for wedding pictures. Just south of the complex is the five-storey Mississauga Central Library, one of the biggest libraries in the Greater Toronto Area.
