CITY AND TOWN HALLS

-THE MAIN ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING OF A CITY.

-A CITY HALL OR TOWN HALL IS THE HEADQUARTERS OF A CITY OR TOWN'S
ADMINISTRATION AND USUALLY HOUSES THE CITY OR TOWN COUNCIL, ITS
ASSOCIATED DEPARTMENTS AND THEIR EMPLOYEES. IT IS ALSO USUALLY THE BASE OF
THE CITY, TOWN, BOROUGH OR COUNTY MAYOR.

STEPS TO BE TAKEN IN PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTING A CITY HALL ARE:

1. DETERMINING NEED
2. DETERMINING SPACE REQUIREMENTS
3. SELECTING AN ARCHITECT
4. ACQUIRING A SITE
5. APPROVING LAYOUT, DESIGN, AND ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES, AND
6. DEVELOPING A FINANCIAL PLAN.

THESE STEPS ARE NOT A ONE-TWO-THREE PROCESS; FREQUENTLY THEY MUST BE DONE
SIMULTANEOUSLY. IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT IS WANTED BEFORE
SELECTING AN ARCHITECT. IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT THE CITY HALL
SHOULD LAST 60 YEARS OR MORE. THE FOLLOWING "DOS AND DON'TS" PROVIDE A
GUIDE TO OFFICIALS ENGAGED IN PLANNING A NEW CITY HALL.

DO:
-LOCATE THE CITY HALL WHERE IT WILL BE MOST CONVENIENT AND, IF POSSIBLE,
WHERE LAND VALUES ARE REASONABLE.
-BE CLEAR ON DEPARTMENTS TO BE HOUSED, THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES, TYPES OF
FURNISHINGS AND EQUIPMENT, AND SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS SUCH AS VAULT AND
STORAGE SPACE.
-PROVIDE AMPLE OFF-STREET PARKING SPACE FOR BOTH EMPLOYEES AND THE PUBLIC.
-PUT MOST OR ALL CITY DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS IN THE CITY HALL. PROVIDE
FOR STRUCTURAL EXPANSION AND FLEXIBILITY IN OFFICE LAYOUT.
-PLAN THE CITY HALL FROM THE INSIDE OUT WITH EMPHASIS ON WORK FLOW,
CONVENIENCE TO THE PUBLIC, AND CONVENIENCE FOR EMPLOYEES.
-PROVIDE FOR THE COMFORT AND EFFICIENCY OF EMPLOYEES WITH CONTROLLED
VENTILATION AND ADEQUATE LIGHTING. PROVIDE FOR EMPLOYEE LOUNGES AND REST
ROOMS.
-USE MATERIALS, CONSTRUCTION, AND FURNISHINGS WHICH MAKE THE CITY HALL
EASY TO MAINTAIN. PROVIDE OPEN, UNOBSTRUCTED COUNTERS FOR TRANSACTIONS
WITH THE PUBLIC.

DON'T:
-DON'T LOCATE IN AN AREA OF DECLINING PROPERTY VALUES EXCEPT WHEN PART OF
A PROGRAM.
-DON'T TRY TO REMODEL AN OLD POST OFFICE, SCHOOL BUILDING, CONVENTION HALL,
OR OTHER BUILDING DESIGNED FOR SOME OTHER SPECIAL USE.
-DON'T FORGET THAT THE CITY HALL IS AN OFFICE BUILDING, NOT A MONUMENT OR
AN ORNAMENT.
-DON'T UNDERESTIMATE SPACE NEEDS. .
-DON'T TIE UP VALUABLE SPACE WITH INDOOR PISTOL RANGES, DRIVE THROUGH
GARAGES, PRIVATE EXITS, WIDE CORRIDORS, AND OTHER GADGETS.
-DON'T CUT UP THE CITY HALL INTO CUBBYHOLES FOR MINOR OFFICIALS.
-DON'T BUILD THE CITY HALL OVER TWO STORIES IN HEIGHT IF AT ALL POSSIBLE.
-DON'T LET THE PUBLIC COME IN CONTACT WITH POLICE OR CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES.
-DON'T PROVIDE IN THE MAIN LOBBY ANY FACILITIES THAT ENCOURAGE LOITERING.

DETERMINING NEED
THE NEED FOR A NEW CITY HALL MAY SEEM OBVIOUS TO THOSE WHO SPEND THEIR
WORKING HOURS AT THE CITY HALL. CEILINGS ARE HIGH; HEATING COSTS ARE TWICE
WHAT THEY SHOULD BE; SPACE ORIGINALLY MEANT FOR STORAGE HAS BEEN
CONVERTED TO OFFICES; ELECTRICAL WIRING VIOLATES CODE PROVISIONS; AND THE
PRESENT FACILITY IS JUST OLD.
GENERAL BUILDING LAYOUT
BUILDING ARRANGEMENT IS THE NEXT STEP IN PLANNING A CITY HALL. IT IS HELPFUL
AS A STARTING POINT TO USE THE FOLLOWING CHECKLIST OF DEPARTMENTS, OFFICES,
SPECIAL-PURPOSE ROOMS, AND SERVICE AREAS IN ANALYZING INTERIOR BUILDING
REQUIREMENTS:
1. DEPARTMENTS REQUIRING CONSTANT CONTACT WITH THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND
THE COLLECTION OR PAYMENT OF MONEY-FOR EXAMPLE, THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT
AND TAX COLLECTOR;
2. DEPARTMENTS REQUIRING CONTACT WITH SPECIAL CLASSES OF THE PUBLIC-FOR
EXAMPLE, CITY-OWNED UTILITIES, BUILDING PERMITS, PERSONNEL, CITY PLANNING,
AND CITY CLERK;
3. OTHER DEPARTMENTS INCLUDING PUBLIC WORKS, RECREATION, POLICE, FIRE, ETC.;
4. CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER AND OFFICE SPACE FOR USE BY THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL
MEMBERS;
5. OFFICES FOR THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR;
6. COURTROOMS;
7. STORAGE VAULTS AND RECORD ROOMS;
8. LOCKER ROOMS, REST ROOMS, JANITOR CLOSETS, PUBLIC TELEPHONES, AND SPACE
FOR HEATING, VENTILATING, PLUMBING, AND ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT;
9. "CIRCULATING AREAS" FOR LOBBIES, CORRIDORS, ELEVATORS, AND STAIRWAYS.

THE RELATIONSHIP OF ONE ROOM OR FUNCTIONAL AREA TO ANOTHER IS IMPORTANT.

NO ROOM EXISTS BY ITSELF, AND MANY OF THE PROBLEMS OF LIVING IN BUILDING
ARISE FROM THE NEGLECT OF THIS FACT. DEPARTMENTS RELATED IN FUNCTION
SHOULD BE LOCATED NEAR ONE ANOTHER AND CONSECUTIVE OPERATIONS PLANNED
IN PRODUCTION LINE STYLE. EXCESSIVE LOBBIES AND HALL SPACE ADD TO THE COST
OF CONSTRUCTION WITHOUT ADDING USABLE SPACE.

THE HEIGHT OF THE BUILDING WILL DEPEND UPON THE AMOUNT OF GROUND
AVAILABLE AND THE AMOUNT OF OFFICE SPACE NEEDED. LAND GENERALLY IS
CHEAPER THAN ADDITIONAL HEIGHT. TALLER BUILDINGS ARE MORE DIFFICULT TO
MAINTAIN AND REQUIRE MORE PLANNING OF THE INTERIOR TO GET RELATED
FUNCTIONS ON ADJACENT FLOORS.

DEPARTMENT LAYOUT
DEPARTMENT LAYOUT WILL DEPEND ON THE ACTIVITIES CARRIED ON BY THE
DEPARTMENT AND THE TOOLS OR SPECIAL EQUIPMENT USED. FOR EXAMPLE, A
FINANCE DEPARTMENT LAYOUT MAY REQUIRE AN OPEN AREA FOR ACCOUNTING
CLERKS AND COLLECTORS WITH ONE OR TWO PRIVATE OFFICES, A MACHINE ROOM,
AND A VAULT.

PRIVATE OFFICES
A MAJOR FACTOR IN THE DETERMINATION OF SPACE NEEDS IS THE QUESTION OF WHO
SHOULD GET PRIVATE OFFICES AND UNDER WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES. MORE SPACE IS
REQUIRED FOR PRVATE OFFICES; SPACE UTILIZATION IS RESTRICTED THROUGH
SEGREGATION OF AREAS PRIVATE OFFICES; AND CONSIDERABLE EXPENSE IS INVOLVED
IN REARRANGING AND RE-ERECTING PARTITIONS.

CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR’S OFFICE

THE LOCATION OF THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR’S OFFICE IS IMPORTANT TO GOOD
PUBLIC RELATIONS. IT SHOULD BE LOCATED SO AS TO GIVE THE IMPRESSION OF BEING
EASILY REACHED AND OPEN TO ANY CALLER, BUT IT SHOULD NOT TOO PROMINENT.

COUNCIL CHAMBER
THE COUNCIL MEETING ROOM SHOULD BE CAREFULLY PLANNED IF FULL USE IS TO BE
MADE OF IT.

FINANCE ACTIVITIES
THE COLLECTION ACIVITIES OF THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT HAVE MORE CONTACT
WITH THE PUBLIC THAN ANY OTHER MUNICIPAL ACTIVITY WITH THE POSSIBLE
EXCEPTION OF THE POLICE AND BUILDING DEPARTMENTS.

CLASSIFICATION OF USE OF A CITY HALL

Table VII.1. Schedule of Principal, Accessory and Conditional Use/Occupancy of Building/Structure

GROUP C – EDUCATION AND RECREATION

Classification of Principal Accessory Conditional Zoning
Use/Character of
Occupancy of Classification
Building/Structure
1. Educational institutions like
Division C-1 schools,
colleges, universities, vocational,
institutions, seminaries, convents,
including school auditoriums,
gymnasia,
reviewing stands, little theaters,
concert
halls, opera houses.
2. Seminar/workshop facilities
3. Training centers/facilities
4. Libraries, museums, exhibition
halls and art galleries
5. Civic centers, clubhouses, lodges,
community centers.
6. Churches, mosque, temples.
shrines,
chapels and similar places of
worship
7. Civic or government centers
8. Other types of government
buildings

Table VII.1. Allowable Maximum Total Gross Floor Area (TGFA) Based on the Allowed Percentage of Site
Occupancy (PSO) of the Total Lot Area (TLA)

Allowable Maximum
Character Type of Total Gross Floor Area (TGFA)*
of Use/ Building/ by Type/ Location of Lot
Occupancy Structure *Note: Building Height Limit (BHL) multiplied by the Allowable
Maximum
Building Footprint (AMBF) expressed as a percentage (%) of the Total
Lot
Area or TLA (with or without firewall). Figure subject to reduction to
comply
with the floor area component of the Allowable Maximum Volume of
Building
(AMVB). Refer to Table VII.1. to arrive at the percentage (%) of TLA.
 Interior Inside Corner Through Corner- Corner Lot
(or Rear) (or Regular) Lot Lot Through Abutting 3
Lot Lot (see (see Fig. Lot or More
and (see Fig. Fig. VIII.11. of (see Fig. Streets, etc.
End Lot VIII.9. of VIII.10. Rule VIII) VIII.12. of Rivers, Etc.
(see Fig. Rule VIII) of Rule Rule VIII) (see Fig.
VIII.8. and VIII) VIII.13. of
VIII.5.14. Rule VIII)
of Rule
VIII)
Commercial Commer-cial 5 x 80% 5 x 75% 5x 5 x 80% 5 x 90% 5 x 90%
GROUPS 1 80%
B, C, E, H, (Com-1)
I
Commer-cial 5 x 85% 5 x 85% 5 x 90% 5 x 90% 5 x 95% 5 x 95%
1
(Com-1) with
Sprinkler
System &
Firewalls

Table VII.2. Building Height Limit (BHL) by Type of Use or Occupancy

Table VII.G.1. Reference Table of Floor to Lot Area Ratio (FLAR) Designations/Rights

Table VIII.1. Reference Table of Maximum Allowable PSO, Maximum Allowable ISA, the MACA, the Minimum
USA and the TOSL by Type of Land Use Zoning per Lot

Building/ % of Total Lot Area (TLA)

Structure Use Duly-Approved Maximum Maximum Minimum USA TOSL d
or Zoning b Allowable Allowable (Unpaved (ISA +
Occupancy PSO c,d ISAc Open Spaces) USA)
(or Land Use)a (Paved Open
Spaces)
Commercial Commercial 1 70 e 20 10 30
(Com-1) 80 f 10 10 20
Commercial 2 75 20 5 25
(Com-2) 85 10 5 15
Commercial 3 80 15 5 20
(Com-3) 90 5 5 10
Notes:
a) per duly-approved City/ Municipal Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP)
b) per duly-approved City/Municipal Zoning Ordinance (ZO) and its IRR
c) PSO + ISA = MACA (Maximum Allowable Construction Area)
d) PSO + TOSL = TLA (Total Lot Area).
e) without firewall
f) with firewall

Table VIII.3. Setbacks for Commercial*, Industrial, Institutional and Recreational Buildings

ALHAMBRA, CALIFORNIA, CITY HALL

TUGUEGARAO CITY HALL