Carlton City Hall

The new Carlton Civic Building combines community center, city office, and police department functions into one new building a block from the small city’s downtown core. The design’s organization, form, materials, and features create a fitting presence for City functions tailored to Carlton’s history, character, and industries.

Holst’s involvement with the project began in 2019 while helping guide George Fox University design students to develop a program and concept for a new City Hall as part of a final student project. These student concepts were presented to city council to help initiate interest and community engagement for a proposed new City Hall. While the basis for the project evolved due to practical considerations, the student concept helped set the groundwork for the program and for an intentional, defining gesture in the final design.

Holst’s design divides the building into two primary wings – a community and public service wing to the east, and a secure public safety wing to the west – both flanking the inviting community oriented lobby that bisects the building into its two primary wings. This central circulation space also doubles as a pre-function space for the new ground floor community room.

The local wine industry inspired the building’s overall design concept and color palette, including wine-tinged color variations in the classic reddish-brown brick and the interior’s clay, and earth tones of the local terroir. Intentional use of exposed wood framing and wood cladding evoke a sense of place related to the agricultural, logging, and viticulture history of the area.

The City hall and community services program includes such functions as general reception and billing; visitors information center, and a large community room with supporting kitchen that also functions as council chambers, Municipal court, and will be functional as an Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in the event of a natural disaster.