New London City Hall

The City Hall is a relatively new building, erected on the back of the money brought into the town in the 30's. Designed by local architect Bennetio LeVelle, it was built to be open, light, friendly and welcoming, just like the government it was going to be a home to. The corridors are wide and flowing, the rooms lit by large windows and the centre holds its own courtyard, where employees and citizens can relax and enjoy nature.

Successive financial troubles have, of course, taken their toll, not to mention the modernisation that seems to be needed every few years. M. LeVelle, for example, never thought to design a room to hold the building's computer server or make the ceilings ready to receive the florescent strip lights that no public building seems to be able to survive without. The weather, too, has also made its presence felt, staining and wearing away the outside of the building.

But all things considered, the place has weathered time and tide rather well - it still feels open, almost warm to visitors (or at least those not 2 hours into an unknown wait to see a government official), the large windows cleaned regularly and the courtyard garden well maintained. The hall itself was recently treated to a redecoration by the local school and is now decked out in the bright colours that children seem to love so much, scenes from the town's history mixed up among painting of the local wildlife and landmarks. Many of the rooms have, by necessity, taken on the sterile feel that all offices have, plasterboard and ceiling tiles covering original fixtures and computer screens glowing soulessly throughout the day and night, but a few would still be almost recognisable to M. LeVelle. It might be the inflated ego of the administration that keeps the building so well maintained, spending money on it that might be better spent elsewhere, but a town that doesn't have to be ashamed when it has official visitors is a town that can be proud of itself.