After years of planning, design, and construction, the City of Amarillo is ready to introduce its brand-new City Hall to the public. The highly anticipated grand opening will take place on Tuesday, February 25, at 623 South Johnson Street, marking a new chapter in the city’s governance.
The day’s events will begin with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m., officially opening the doors to the modernized municipal center. Following the ceremony, residents will have the opportunity to take guided tours of the facility until 1 p.m., getting an inside look at the new City Hall’s expanded amenities and improved accessibility. The celebration will culminate with the first official Amarillo City Council meeting in the new chambers at 3 p.m.
A Much-Needed Upgrade: Replacing a Failing Facility
The decision to relocate City Hall stemmed from the numerous structural issues plaguing the previous facility, which was built in 1966. Over the years, the old building suffered from foundation problems, water infiltration, and failing cast-iron pipes—issues that led to sewage accumulation in the basement. City officials determined that continuing to operate in the outdated facility was no longer feasible.
Rather than constructing a brand-new building from the ground up, the city opted to renovate the historic Amarillo Hardware building—a nearly 100-year-old structure—at a cost of $35 million. This approach preserved a significant part of Amarillo’s architectural history while modernizing it to serve as the city’s government headquarters.
While some were initially skeptical of the plan, Facilities Director Jerry Danforth saw the building’s potential.
“This building truly sits dead center of old and new,” Danforth explained. “As you stand outside, you see the railroads that brought industry to the area, and as the city develops, this building plays a key part in that transformation.”
A City Hall Designed for the Future
The new City Hall spans 140,000 square feet, more than double the size of the previous facility. Of that space, 80,000 square feet is already developed, while an additional 60,000 square feet remains available for future expansion, ensuring the building can accommodate Amarillo’s growth.
City officials prioritized efficiency and accessibility in the design of the new facility. One of the most significant improvements is a streamlined experience for residents.
“Now, a citizen coming into the new City Hall, over 95% of their engagement happens on the first floor,” Danforth said. “They don’t have to wander around the building—everything they need is right there, available and accessible.”
For the remaining 5% of public interactions, residents may visit the third floor, where the city council chambers and city manager’s office are located.
A High-Tech, Accessible Council Chamber
The new city council chamber has undergone a major transformation, featuring:
Double the seating capacity of the old chamber
Two digital podiums for public speakers and presentations
Three high-quality digital cameras to enhance live broadcasts of city council meetings
Improved sound and visual technology for hearing- and visually-impaired residents
The new facility also prioritizes ADA accessibility, with:
Four exterior ramps for easy entry
Two elevators for vertical access
Accessible restrooms on every floor
“You only had one accessible ramp to get into old City Hall,” Danforth explained. “This building actually has four accessible ramps on the exterior. We didn’t have but one accessible restroom in old City Hall, whereas this building has them on every floor.”
Additionally, the first floor is now equipped with streaming capabilities for various public meetings beyond city council sessions, allowing more residents to stay engaged with local government.
Preserving Amarillo’s History While Embracing Innovation
Though modernized, the new City Hall preserves many of the historic elements from its original use as a hardware distribution center. Visitors will see:
Exposed brick and concrete walls reflecting the building’s industrial past
A vault door in the lobby from its days as a hardware storage facility
An original industrial scale once used to weigh shipments
Historical photographs documenting the building’s construction and early operations
By blending history with innovation, Amarillo’s city leaders have ensured that the new City Hall respects the city’s past while preparing for its future.
A Vision for the Future
City officials see the new City Hall as an investment in Amarillo’s long-term growth.
“When they designed this building, it was so that we could grow into the future,” Assistant City Manager Donny Hooper said. “We hope Amarillo reaches 250,000 to 300,000 residents at some point. Whether I’m here for that or not, we wanted to make sure that we had a City Hall that could withstand that growth.”
According to Danforth, city planners worked with each department to anticipate the needs of a city with 200,000 to 300,000 residents and designed the building accordingly.
“We wanted to be able to build that growth and be able to accommodate that space as we go—whether that’s through technology, departments, or just expanding as we grow in the future,” Hooper added.
What’s Next for the Old City Hall?
The old City Hall building will remain standing for several months before undergoing demolition. City officials plan to repurpose the site as a green space as part of a larger revitalization effort near the Civic Center.
“There’s still a lot of things that have to happen before we can do that,” Hooper noted. “We need to address budgetary concerns and salvage any usable equipment from the old building before reaching that point.”
Grand Opening Details
The City of Amarillo invites all residents to celebrate this historic milestone:
📅 Tuesday, February 25
📍 623 South Johnson Street
🎀 Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony: 10 a.m.
🏛️ Guided Tours: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
🏛️ First City Council Meeting: 3 p.m.
