ST. GEORGE — As the new city hall is built in the heart of the historic downtown area across from the Town Square Park, city officials want to hear from the public about the type of events and art installations they’d like to see there once the new complex opens near the end of summer next year.

The city of St. George is holding an open house on March 6 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. in the Dixie Academy Ballroom (third floor) where the public can see new interior renderings of the City Hall at Town Square, learn more about the project and give input on parts of its use.

“It’s a great opportunity for the public to learn about the new city hall complex,” Marc Mortensen, the city’s operations director, said Tuesday as construction on the new city hall took place nearby.

The new complex includes the 69,500-square-foot city hall, an outdoor plaza and a neighboring parking structure. Around 12,000 square feet of space within the new city hall is set to be used for civic and city-sponsored events, public art installations and informative exhibits.

“At this open house, we want your feedback about the types of events you would like to see in the civic space, and what type of art installations we should include in the atrium,” St. George Mayor Michele Randall said in a press release.

The current city hall, located at 175 E. 200 North, was built in 1980 and is around 34,000 square feet. At the time, St. George’s population was around 11,300 people and general city services could comfortably fit in the building.

Now, 44 years later, the city’s population stands at over 100,000, and every corner of the old building has been filled to accommodate the growth in city services.

Some departments have had to relocate to new buildings or satellite locations due to the lack of space. This was the need for a new city hall, which broke ground in September 2023 on Main Street, right across the street from the Town Square Park.

Along with input on what type of events and art could be held and installed in the new city hall, city officials are also looking for a name for the accompanying plaza.

“It will be a great place for small concerts and award ceremonies,” Mortensen said, adding that a stage for events and performing arts will be a part of the incoming plaza. It will also feature infrastructure providing power and abundant outdoor lighting.

In addition to input surrounding the use of the City Hall’s public space, the public will also be asked what items they think should be included in a time capsule that will be buried under the new complex.

“We feel a lot of pressure to make sure that (the new city hall) is something that ties into the historic downtown and that’s not only a benefit to the city, but to the downtown area, to the people who live downtown, and the people that work downtown and those who frequent city hall to get public services,” Mortensen said.

Everyone is invited to the free open house, which includes a variety of exhibits and information about the following aspects of City Hall at Town Square:

• Community art
• The Plaza and Town Square
• Public spaces in City Hall
• City Hall services and Parking Garage
• City Hall construction
• Build your own City Hall with Legos
• Police Department Expansion into the current City Hall

“City Hall belongs to the people, so with that in mind the facility will have an open, clean, well-lit, safe and friendly environment that the community will easily identify as welcoming and open to all,” Randall added. “We are excited to share information on this much-needed project.”

Construction on the new city hall is anticipated to be completed near the end of August 2025. Once city government and services have transferred to the new complex, the St. George Police Department is slated to expand into the old building on 200 East.

Event details

• What: City Hall Open House.
• Where: Dixie Academy Ballroom (third floor about the St. George Children’s Museum) at 86 S. Main St.
• When: Wednesday, March 6, from 4:30-6:30 p.m.

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