Lorain’s New City Hall Rendering – Sept. 1971

Back in July, I posted a July 1971 Journal article that included a sketch of what Lorain’s new City Hall was going to look like. It was a little on the cartoony side, and might not have convinced the public that the finished building would justify the $5 million dollar price tag.

Well, by September, the Journal had its hands on a proper architectural rendering and featured it on the top of the front page of its September 25, 1971 edition.

For the residents who were used to City Hall being a musty old mansion, it must have been quite an eye-opening revelation, signaling that Lorain had finally arrived. The ten-story version of the design (compared to the shorter one that was built) was quite impressive.

I’ve been admittedly pretty rough on this building, mentioning more than once that I wouldn’t feel too bad if it met the same fate as so many other buildings in town that were deemed an eyesore or nuisance. But I’ll bet that I could come to like it if it was remodeled somewhat. 

My suggestion? Eliminate the curves at the base of the vertical support structures and paint them white or light grey. Then swap out the windows throughout with dark glass for contrast. In other words, make it look more like the black and white architectural rendering – sleek and modern. Also, covering up the stained fascia of the police station with a modern material would improve it as well. 

Looking at the whole complex from West Erie Avenue,  I’ve often wondered why the Lorain Police Department building is cocked like that compared to City Hall. But a look at the aerial view explains why – it’s placed on the property like that to be aligned with Broadway.