Mobile Government Plaza facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Government Plaza |
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| General information | |
| Status | Complete |
| Type | City Hall, Government, Office |
| Architectural style | Postmodern |
| Location | 205 Government Street, Mobile, Alabama |
| Coordinates | 30°41′21.65″N 88°2′32.49″W / 30.6893472°N 88.0423583°W |
| Named for | Samuel L. Jones |
| Completed | 1994 |
| Opening | 1994 |
| Renovated | 2014 |
| Cost | $73 million |
| Renovation cost | $3.5 million |
| Owner | Mobile County |
| Height | |
| Roof | 325 feet (99 m) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 12 |
| Lifts/elevators | 4 (judicial tower) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Frederick C. Woods & Associates, Golemon & Rolfe Associates |
| Developer | City of Mobile |
The Samuel L. Jones Government Plaza, often called Government Plaza, is a tall building in Mobile, Alabama. It was finished in 1994 and cost about $73 million to build. This building is 325 feet (99 m) tall and has 12 floors.
At the very top, it has two spires that add to its height. Government Plaza is one of the tallest buildings in Mobile. It is also the tallest government building in the entire state of Alabama.
Building Design and Features
Government Plaza was designed by Harry Goleman and Mario Bolullo from Houston. They worked with Mobile architect Frederick C. Woods. Their design was chosen from 195 ideas in a national contest.
The building is huge, covering 581,000-square-foot (54,000 m2). It has two main parts:
- A 12-story tower for administration (managing city and county business).
- A 9-story tower for courts and judges.
These two towers are connected by a very large glass-covered area called an atrium. This atrium is about 50,000-square-foot (4,600 m2).
Government Plaza was the first building in the United States to bring together county government, city government, and the court system all in one place. Its design looks a bit like a ship, which fits Mobile's history as a seaport. It is an example of a building style called postmodern architecture.
Atrium Roof Repairs
When the building was first built in 1994, the glass roof of the atrium, especially the skylight, would leak when it rained heavily. They tried to fix it in 2004, but it didn't work.
By 2013, the leaks were much worse. A $3.2 million project was started to replace the roof. These repairs were finished in 2014. The Mobile County Commission said the roof was "leak free" after that. However, in 2016, more leaks appeared, and another architect was hired to fix them.
Renaming the Building
On October 29, 2013, the Mobile City Council voted to change the building's name. They decided to call it the Samuel L. Jones Government Plaza. This was done to honor Mayor Sam Jones, who was leaving office. The vote happened during his last City Council meeting as mayor.
