1918 – Public Utilities Building / Old City Hall, London, Ontario, Canada
Later extended in a similar style, and a fourth floor added, this building was the city hall for London, Ontario from 1928 until 1971. Today it is a residential building with ground-floor retail.
“In designing the structure due provision was made to add another storey should this be required. For this reason the fourth floor slab was laid and the roof built on top of this, so that at any time the commission should decide to build another storey, work can be gone on with without disturbing any of the occupants of the building. The top portion of the coping and cornice is also so arranged to be removable in case a fourth storey is added.
From the street the main office and showroom presents a decidedly attractive appearance. Entrance is through tiled vestibules into a spacious interior, richly finished in marble. The dado is composed of Laurentian base, rail and stile with Italian jjavanazzo panels, the apron and cap of the dado being in Vermont marble, Mullen gray. This latter material is also used for the door and sidelight trim, while the counter for the water and light offices carries out the general treatment of the surrounding walls. The top of the counter, however, is partly wood, to enable cflerks to use the counter for their ordinary duties. In the public space a mosaic floor is used; while above the dado tlie walls are stucco with pilaster caps and a. simple ceiling enrichment.”
Construction, July 1918
Published March 7, 2026
