Kitchener City Hall, Kitchener

Kitchener City Hall opened in September 1993 as the city’s main government building and a public gathering space. It replaced a 1924 city hall demolished in 1973. From 1973 to 1993, city offices operated out of the Oxlea Tower at Market Square. The current building was planned as a civic centre combining public services and community events.

The complex includes the Council Chamber, the Civic Rotunda, and the Administrative Office Tower. The rotunda is used for public events and exhibits, and council meets in a circular chamber with visitor seating. The building is clad in Agra Red Sandstone from India. The 12-storey Berlin Tower has a weather beacon that changes colour to show forecasts. The 1924 clock tower was rebuilt in Victoria Park in 1995.

The open space in front of the building was known as Civic Square for its first two decades and was officially renamed Carl Zehr Square in 2014. A fountain operates in warm months and converts into a skating rink in winter. The square also hosts concerts, markets, festivals, and public gatherings throughout the year.