Mobile Government Plaza is a
high-rise in the
U.S.
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country Continental United States, primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., ...
city of
Mobile,
Alabama
(We dare defend our rights)
, anthem = "Alabama (state song), Alabama"
, image_map = Alabama in United States.svg
, seat = Montgomery, Alabama, Montgomery
, LargestCity = Huntsville, Alabama, Huntsville
, LargestCounty = Baldwin County, Al ...
. The building is owned by Mobile County Commission and has several tenants including the City of Mobile and local courts
Completed in 1994 at a cost of US$73 million, the building rises and 12 stories at its highest point.
The roof of the building is the site of two twin architectural spires that are included in the tower's overall structural height.
Government Plaza is tied with the Mobile Marriott as the
4th-tallest building in Mobile and the
10th-tallest in Alabama. It also stands as the tallest government building in the state.
Design
Government Plaza was designed by Harry Goleman and Mario Bolullo of
Houston
Houston (; ) is the most populous city in Texas, the most populous city in the Southern United States, the fourth-most populous city in the United States, and the sixth-most populous city in North America, with a population of 2,304,580 in ...
, in cooperation with Mobile architect Frederick C. Woods. Their design was selected from among 195 entries in a national competition sponsored by the
American Institute of Architects
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) is a professional organization for architects in the United States. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the AIA offers education, government advocacy, community redevelopment, and public outreach to su ...
. The facility comprises a 12-story administration tower and a 9-story judicial tower, connected by a massive glass-enclosed atrium.
It was the first government structure in the United States to combine county and municipal governments and the court system in one space.
Designed to evoke a nautical feel appropriate to Mobile's status as a seaport, the building is an example of
postmodernist style architecture.
In August 2015, the Mobile County Commission proposed a series of renovations to the building, including improvements to the exterior, auditorium, atrium, and 10th floor.
Atrium repairs
The atrium roof's initial 1994 design and construction, especially the
skylight
A skylight (sometimes called a rooflight) is a light-permitting structure or window, usually made of transparent or translucent glass, that forms all or part of the roof space of a building for daylighting and ventilation purposes.
History
Open ...
, led to leaks during heavy rain. A fix was attempted in 2004 but failed.
In August 2013, after worsening leaks, a $3.2 million contract was awarded to replace the roof;
these repairs made to the atrium – completed in 2014 – made the roof "leak free", according to the Mobile County Commission.
However, in December 2016, an architect was hired to fix another series of leaks.
Renaming resolution
On October 29, 2013, the Mobile City Council voted unanimously to pass a resolution renaming the building the Samuel L. Jones Government Plaza in honor of the outgoing mayor. This resolution was passed during the last City Council meeting over which
Mayor Sam Jones presided.
However, renaming the building required approval from the Mobile County Commission, which never happened. Mobile County government continues to refer to the building as "Mobile Government Plaza" or "Government Plaza."
See also
*
List of tallest buildings in Mobile
*
List of tallest buildings in Alabama
References
External links
*
{{Mobile, Alabama
County government buildings in Alabama
Skyscraper office buildings in Mobile, Alabama
Office buildings completed in 1994
1994 establishments in Alabama