Vaughan Celebrates Official Opening of New City Hall
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Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua and Members of Council were joined today by local dignitaries, residents and City staff to celebrate the official opening of Vaughan’s new City Hall.
The occasion was marked by a commemorative plaque unveiling, ribbon cutting and cake-cutting ceremony. The building has been dedicated to the memory of Lorna Jackson, Vaughan Mayor from 1982 – 2002, in honour of her commitment to public service. Guests also had the opportunity to tour the new City Hall and learn about the sustainable design and architectural features showcased throughout the building.
“Today we celebrate a new beginning for the City of Vaughan with the official opening of our new City Hall,” said Mayor Bevilacqua. “This building is one of the greatest symbols of change for our City and marks the beginning of a new era for Vaughan. As the centrepiece of our growing community, it represents transparency and accessibility and sets the standard for sustainability and architectural design.”
Vaughan City Hall incorporates state-of-the-art technology with a whole-building approach to sustainability. Award-winning Canadian architectural firm Kuwabara Payne McKenna and Blumberg (KPMB) designed Vaughan City Hall to achieve a Gold certification for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). It will be one of the largest public buildings in Canada to be recognized for its eco-friendly features, including energy-efficient heating and cooling systems, maximum use of natural light, and water-efficient landscaping.
“The City of Vaughan is leading by example and the new City Hall reflects the City’s commitment to innovation, service excellence and environmental stewardship,” said City Manager, Clayton Harris. “Staff from other locations are now under one roof, increasing efficiency and making doing business with the City easier for residents. Vaughan City Hall will be a source of civic pride for many years to come.”
The multi-level 280,000-square-foot building is Phase 1 of a proposed three-phase Civic Centre campus which will include a public resource library, civic square, reflecting pool/skating rink, gardens and parkland.
The old Vaughan Civic Centre was last renovated in 1982 when Vaughan’s population was 36,815. Today, Vaughan’s population is over 300,000 and is expected to increase to more than 400,000 by 2031.
Duocom Canada generously donated a 40” SHARP AQUOS series LED LCD TV which was entered into a draw held during the Official Opening event. The ceremonial cake for the event was donated by Fabulous Cakes and Confections.
Mayor Bevilacqua, Members of Council and other dignitaries cut a ribbon to mark the official opening of Vaughan's new City Hall.