Ooh la la! City Hall Strips Down

Santa Monica City Hall is baring more of its "skin" these days.

The blue awning that used to mask a sizable section of its facade was taken down, and will remain permanently removed after the lawn in front of the building is re-landscaped, said Julie Silliman, a staffer in the city's community and cultural services division.

"If you look at other city halls/municipal buildings from this same era/style, you don’t see awnings or contemporary add-ons," she said.

Now revealed are original ceramic tiles from Gladding, McBean Tile Co. that frame the west entrance to Santa Monica City Hall, a Public Works Administration building dedicated in 1939.

"It's been years since the front of City Hall could be seen as one entered through Main Street entrance," the city posted on its blog, smcivicparks.com.
"This morning the old awning was removed revealing the beautiful entryway facade to our historic City Hall."

The tile company crafted terra cotta ornamentation and wall tiles that were installed in famous buildings across the country throughout the early 20th century, including the Wrigley Building in Chicago, Carnegie Hall in New York City, Union Station and Los Angeles City Hall, according to a Guide to Historic Santa Monica City Hall.

SEE ALSO: City Hall Roses Gone, But Not Forgotten

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