PHOTOS BY SHANNON RICHARDSON

Built in 1966, Amarillo’s current City Hall is hard to miss. This three-story concrete rectangle on Buchanan was built in an architectural style called Brutalism, known for its blocky geometry, unfinished materials, and a stark, utilitarian feel. Its narrow windows tell the story of function over beauty—a popular mid-century approach to university and government buildings.

But this government building is falling apart. Lengthy municipal discussions over the past few years told the story of failing concrete, patched foundation, settling slabs, boiler failures, flooding basements, sinkholes and even raw sewage bubbling up beneath IT servers. That was life in a nearly 60-year-old building.

“You can only put so many patches on a tire, then you’ve got to replace the tire,” Jerry Danforth once said in a city-produced video documenting City Hall’s trouble spots. He’s the city’s director of facilities and capital improvements, and had spent the last decade worrying not just about cracks in the concrete, but about potential catastrophic failure. 

What if the HVAC failed during the heat of summer? What if a severe flood hit City Hall? If the building had to be closed for repairs—for days or even weeks—how would the City continue to serve the public? 

That’s why city leaders decided to take a bold step toward the future, taking the historic Amarillo Hardware warehouse across the street and transforming it into a spacious, modernized headquarters for the city government. Building within an existing warehouse shell saved at least $10 million and around six months of construction time.

Designed by Sims + Architects and built by Western Builders, the renovation project includes the interior and exterior of the 150,000-square-foot building and should be finished and ready for move-in by early 2025. Almost 90 percent of the work on the building has been local.

The result will be a municipal headquarters unlike any other in Texas. City offices will be housed in a historic structure—the Amarillo Hardware building was erected almost a century ago—but with an absolutely modern approach to style and functionality. City halls around the state are typically housed in cramped, turn-of-the-century courthouses or contemporary steel-and-glass buildings. Danforth is proud Amarillo found a way not only to preserve an iconic structure, but to give it new life.

“There’s nothing in Texas where [a city] took over a historic building and did this,” he says. “Nobody else has this.”

Danforth and other city employees offered Brick & Elm an exclusive tour of the new City Hall during its final weeks of renovation.

Sims + Architects designed what they describe as a “monumental public entrance” to the building, inspired by the Art Deco architectural style, which was popular in the 1920s when Amarillo Hardware built the original warehouse. “The big grand entrance is all-new,” Danforth says. “It wasn’t here before.” The streamlined Art Deco design concept will be carried throughout the building, from period-appropriate subway tile in the bathrooms to sleek gold and black light fixtures.
Sims + Architects designed what they describe as a “monumental public entrance” to the building, inspired by the Art Deco architectural style, which was popular in the 1920s when Amarillo Hardware built the original warehouse. “The big grand entrance is all-new,” Danforth says. “It wasn’t here before.” The streamlined Art Deco design concept will be carried throughout the building, from period-appropriate subway tile in the bathrooms to sleek gold and black light fixtures.
Other than the structural concrete pillars, one of the few interior elements remaining from the original building is this industrial slide from the top floor. “When Amarillo Hardware was in business, if you ordered a box of bolts, rather than using an elevator they just threw it on the slide,” Danforth says. “It’s a historical piece we wanted to keep.” The slide will be fenced off, however. Don’t expect employees or boxes of paperwork to slide down it.
Other than the structural concrete pillars, one of the few interior elements remaining from the original building is this industrial slide from the top floor. “When Amarillo Hardware was in business, if you ordered a box of bolts, rather than using an elevator they just threw it on the slide,” Danforth says. “It’s a historical piece we wanted to keep.” The slide will be fenced off, however. Don’t expect employees or boxes of paperwork to slide down it.
After spending years patching together a crumbling foundation, Danforth is delighted at the strength of the Amarillo Hardware structure. “Amarillo Hardware was built as a heavy-duty hardware facility,” he says. In fact, it’s overbuilt for what the City needs, and that’s one reason keeping the shell and remodeling the interior was less expensive than new construction. “We actually tested the concrete in this building,” he says. Concrete is rated by its compressive strength, measured in pounds per square inch (psi). Typical residential and commercial construction concrete is rated to a compressive force of 3,000 pounds per square inch before it cracks. “This concrete tested out at over 10,000 pounds.” These existing structural columns will remain exposed throughout the building. They taper slightly from the ground floor to the top, based on the amount of load they carry. “If you were in a modern building today, you’d be looking at structural steel that will not carry the weight this has,” Danforth explains.
After spending years patching together a crumbling foundation, Danforth is delighted at the strength of the Amarillo Hardware structure. “Amarillo Hardware was built as a heavy-duty hardware facility,” he says. In fact, it’s overbuilt for what the City needs, and that’s one reason keeping the shell and remodeling the interior was less expensive than new construction. “We actually tested the concrete in this building,” he says. Concrete is rated by its compressive strength, measured in pounds per square inch (psi). Typical residential and commercial construction concrete is rated to a compressive force of 3,000 pounds per square inch before it cracks. “This concrete tested out at over 10,000 pounds.” These existing structural columns will remain exposed throughout the building. They taper slightly from the ground floor to the top, based on the amount of load they carry. “If you were in a modern building today, you’d be looking at structural steel that will not carry the weight this has,” Danforth explains.
One of the unique parts of the new building will be space left unfinished once the city government moves in. Of the 140,000 square feet of usable space in the building, almost a third of the building will remain uncompleted—and that’s after Danforth and his team have built in additional space for departmental growth. The rest is designated flexible, future retail space, he says. “The City could lease this space out to another governmental entity or even a private business. It could become revenue-generating for the City.” A university could set up a satellite location. A coffee shop could build out, or a nonprofit that works closely with the city. “If they’re doing a lot of business with the city, the logical location is to be in City Hall. That makes this valuable,” Danforth adds. “We can develop these spaces to their needs.”
One of the unique parts of the new building will be space left unfinished once the city government moves in. Of the 140,000 square feet of usable space in the building, almost a third of the building will remain uncompleted—and that’s after Danforth and his team have built in additional space for departmental growth. The rest is designated flexible, future retail space, he says. “The City could lease this space out to another governmental entity or even a private business. It could become revenue-generating for the City.” A university could set up a satellite location. A coffee shop could build out, or a nonprofit that works closely with the city. “If they’re doing a lot of business with the city, the logical location is to be in City Hall. That makes this valuable,” Danforth adds. “We can develop these spaces to their needs.”
Throughout the building, fixtures reflect Art Deco details of the building’s original timeframe, including these light fixtures.
Throughout the building, fixtures reflect Art Deco details of the building’s original timeframe, including these light fixtures.
When residents exit the elevators approaching the Council Chambers, they’ll be greeted with durable, highly polished terrazzo floors embedded with the city seal. When properly maintained, terrazzo floors can last for decades and require minimal upkeep.
When residents exit the elevators approaching the Council Chambers, they’ll be greeted with durable, highly polished terrazzo floors embedded with the city seal. When properly maintained, terrazzo floors can last for decades and require minimal upkeep.
When residents exit the elevators approaching the Council Chambers, they’ll be greeted with durable, highly polished terrazzo floors embedded with the city seal. When properly maintained, terrazzo floors can last for decades and require minimal upkeep.
When residents exit the elevators approaching the Council Chambers, they’ll be greeted with durable, highly polished terrazzo floors embedded with the city seal. When properly maintained, terrazzo floors can last for decades and require minimal upkeep.
The third floor of the new City Hall includes twin patios—one facing west, over Hodgetown, and one looking east over the train tracks. The west-facing patio is public and adjacent to Council Chambers. The east patio is for staff only. In Danforth’s opinion, the view from the west patio is the best in the city. It overlooks the entirety of Hodgetown, with the sun setting behind the city skyline.
The third floor of the new City Hall includes twin patios—one facing west, over Hodgetown, and one looking east over the train tracks. The west-facing patio is public and adjacent to Council Chambers. The east patio is for staff only. In Danforth’s opinion, the view from the west patio is the best in the city. It overlooks the entirety of Hodgetown, with the sun setting behind the city skyline.
The third floor of the new City Hall includes twin patios—one facing west, over Hodgetown, and one looking east over the train tracks. The west-facing patio is public and adjacent to Council Chambers. The east patio is for staff only. In Danforth’s opinion, the view from the west patio is the best in the city. It overlooks the entirety of Hodgetown, with the sun setting behind the city skyline.
The third floor of the new City Hall includes twin patios—one facing west, over Hodgetown, and one looking east over the train tracks. The west-facing patio is public and adjacent to Council Chambers. The east patio is for staff only. In Danforth’s opinion, the view from the west patio is the best in the city. It overlooks the entirety of Hodgetown, with the sun setting behind the city skyline.
The current, wood-paneled chamber for City Council meetings has room for 72 people. The new one, located on the third floor, will have a capacity of 120 with an additional overflow space for 60 in the lobby. The high ceiling makes it feel even more spacious. The room has a dedicated press box and a dais that will accommodate up to seven council members. Amarillo’s current organization includes four Council seats (plus the Mayor), but everything in the new building has been designed to accommodate decades of future growth. “We’ve built growth into all the departments,” Danforth says. “We had the opportunity so we took advantage of it.”
The current, wood-paneled chamber for City Council meetings has room for 72 people. The new one, located on the third floor, will have a capacity of 120 with an additional overflow space for 60 in the lobby. The high ceiling makes it feel even more spacious. The room has a dedicated press box and a dais that will accommodate up to seven council members. Amarillo’s current organization includes four Council seats (plus the Mayor), but everything in the new building has been designed to accommodate decades of future growth. “We’ve built growth into all the departments,” Danforth says. “We had the opportunity so we took advantage of it.”
Throughout the building, fixtures reflect Art Deco details of the building’s original timeframe, including these light fixtures.
Throughout the building, fixtures reflect Art Deco details of the building’s original timeframe, including these light fixtures.
While the walls were in the process of being painted during Brick & Elm’s walk-through, Danforth says the public can expect a variety of rich, jewel-toned colors. The interior designers took traditional Art Deco colors from existing downtown buildings and merged those with the environmental colors familiar to Amarillo residents. Accent walls will be emerald, sapphire, black, gray, and golden yellow. Most of the walls in the old City Hall are painted canvas tan.
While the walls were in the process of being painted during Brick & Elm’s walk-through, Danforth says the public can expect a variety of rich, jewel-toned colors. The interior designers took traditional Art Deco colors from existing downtown buildings and merged those with the environmental colors familiar to Amarillo residents. Accent walls will be emerald, sapphire, black, gray, and golden yellow. Most of the walls in the old City Hall are painted canvas tan.
When not meeting in public during an executive session, the City Council currently gathers in a narrow antechamber (see inset). “It’s tight quarters,very much so,” says Danforth of the existing space. The new building offers plenty of room. “This is almost twice the size of what they currently have.” It will include two smartboards with a live feed of the actual council chambers.
When not meeting in public during an executive session, the City Council currently gathers in a narrow antechamber (see inset). “It’s tight quarters,very much so,” says Danforth of the existing space. The new building offers plenty of room. “This is almost twice the size of what they currently have.” It will include two smartboards with a live feed of the actual council chambers.
The red letter shapes are mostly original to the Amarillo Hardware Co. building rooftop signage. “It was important for us to keep those letters. We refurbished them, took them down to an actual auto-body shop and powder-coated them,” says Danforth. The originals had just been painted with a paint roller. “That auto finish on the letters now should last 15 or 20 years.”
The red letter shapes are mostly original to the Amarillo Hardware Co. building rooftop signage. “It was important for us to keep those letters. We refurbished them, took them down to an actual auto-body shop and powder-coated them,” says Danforth. The originals had just been painted with a paint roller. “That auto finish on the letters now should last 15 or 20 years.”
The red letter shapes are mostly original to the Amarillo Hardware Co. building rooftop signage. “It was important for us to keep those letters. We refurbished them, took them down to an actual auto-body shop and powder-coated them,” says Danforth. The originals had just been painted with a paint roller. “That auto finish on the letters now should last 15 or 20 years.”
The red letter shapes are mostly original to the Amarillo Hardware Co. building rooftop signage. “It was important for us to keep those letters. We refurbished them, took them down to an actual auto-body shop and powder-coated them,” says Danforth. The originals had just been painted with a paint roller. “That auto finish on the letters now should last 15 or 20 years.”
Every office placement is strategic. The first-floor utility billing is central and immediately accessible to the public—and twice the size of the department’s old space. Drive-thru bill payment windows are built in should the City decide to offer it. “Eighty percent of the stuff that the community engages with the city on is on the first floor,” Danforth says. Fireproof concrete rooms have been designated for document storage. The 311 call center, which connects to local 911 call centers, will be located in a secured area in the basement. The accounting and finance departments are near a set of stairs that immediately access the city manager’s office or the chief financial officer. He compares the current City Hall, where a developer might have to navigate lines of people paying utility bills—potentially including parents herding small children—on their way to a multimillion-dollar meeting with the mayor or city manager. Those existing conditions are addressed in the new space.
Every office placement is strategic. The first-floor utility billing is central and immediately accessible to the public—and twice the size of the department’s old space. Drive-thru bill payment windows are built in should the City decide to offer it. “Eighty percent of the stuff that the community engages with the city on is on the first floor,” Danforth says. Fireproof concrete rooms have been designated for document storage. The 311 call center, which connects to local 911 call centers, will be located in a secured area in the basement. The accounting and finance departments are near a set of stairs that immediately access the city manager’s office or the chief financial officer. He compares the current City Hall, where a developer might have to navigate lines of people paying utility bills—potentially including parents herding small children—on their way to a multimillion-dollar meeting with the mayor or city manager. Those existing conditions are addressed in the new space.
Every office placement is strategic. The first-floor utility billing is central and immediately accessible to the public—and twice the size of the department’s old space. Drive-thru bill payment windows are built in should the City decide to offer it. “Eighty percent of the stuff that the community engages with the city on is on the first floor,” Danforth says. Fireproof concrete rooms have been designated for document storage. The 311 call center, which connects to local 911 call centers, will be located in a secured area in the basement. The accounting and finance departments are near a set of stairs that immediately access the city manager’s office or the chief financial officer. He compares the current City Hall, where a developer might have to navigate lines of people paying utility bills—potentially including parents herding small children—on their way to a multimillion-dollar meeting with the mayor or city manager. Those existing conditions are addressed in the new space.
Every office placement is strategic. The first-floor utility billing is central and immediately accessible to the public—and twice the size of the department’s old space. Drive-thru bill payment windows are built in should the City decide to offer it. “Eighty percent of the stuff that the community engages with the city on is on the first floor,” Danforth says. Fireproof concrete rooms have been designated for document storage. The 311 call center, which connects to local 911 call centers, will be located in a secured area in the basement. The accounting and finance departments are near a set of stairs that immediately access the city manager’s office or the chief financial officer. He compares the current City Hall, where a developer might have to navigate lines of people paying utility bills—potentially including parents herding small children—on their way to a multimillion-dollar meeting with the mayor or city manager. Those existing conditions are addressed in the new space.

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