The rotunda in the building has been the site of numerous weddings, rallies, protests, and galas. The body of U.S. Representative Louis Stokes lay in state in the rotunda for the public to pay their respects after his death in 2015.[4]
Construction
The original design had been finalized by 1907 and features Neoclassical elements, but it would take nearly 10 more years before that design would be realized.[1] By the time of its construction, Dyer had undertaken several important building commissions in the Cleveland area and was known for his ornate but refined style of architecture. The building cost $3 million in 1916 (equivalent to $84 million in 2023) and took nearly five years to complete with construction commencing in 1912.[5] The building is located on the bluff that overlooks the North Coast Harbor district that abuts Lake Erie and the Port of Cleveland.
The Cleveland City Council Chambers underwent major renovations in 1951 and 1977.[1] However, the outside of the building has remained largely unchanged since 1916, save for normal repairs, refittings and the usual upkeep of the superstructure. City Hall stands next to Willard Park and The Mall and is across the street from Public Hall.
The city of Cleveland has numerous other agencies and departments spread throughout downtown buildings, these include, Carl B. Stokes Public Works Building which is headquarters to Cleveland Division of Water, the Tower at Erieview, Cleveland Public Powerhouse and Public Hall, among others. As with other major U.S. cities as the city expanded and diversified, the City Hall building could no longer house all of the needed departments.
