Plymouth City Hall

Location: Plymouth, MN
Total Square Footage: 69,000 sq ft
Construction Cost: $10 Million
Completion Date: 2006

Responding to the City of Plymouth’s need to provide additional area for the public safety department and an enclosed garage for police vehicles, we took a step back and master planned the entire municipal site. The incorporation of these programmatic elements with the existing city hall unifies the complex and supports the natural setting. The secured squad garage is built under, and into, the natural “bowl” reserving additional city park area as well as providing a necessary security separation of police and staff vehicles. The landscape articulates and supports this gesture through native plantings and low stone walls.

The main entrance to both city buildings is unified by a singular new entrance and lobby. This transparent, sunlit, conservatory-like, lobby space reinforces the connection to the park via its axial relationship as well as its layered transparency. The visual connection is augmented by the pulling through of planted materials from the park beyond and into and surrounding the new entrance. The new visual and physical promenade as well as the incorporation into the land of the parking structure provides a tangible statement about Plymouth’s dedication and commitment to the integration of the built and natural environment.