City Hall Architecture
The future of Downtown Auburn will include numerous
improvements with new homes and modern amenities. At the same time, there will
be projects that honor our history, such as the design of the new City
Municipal Complex (City Hall).
The new home to city business offices, Court Services, Mayor & Council chambers, and the Police Department will look like the Perry-Rainey Institute’s administrative building did over 100 years ago.
Photo
courtesy of the Auburn Public Library Rendering courtesy
Carter-Watkins Associates
The college was founded in 1892 by the Mulberry Baptist Association, at the suggestion of Rev. R.F. Sloan. The original 10-acre property was donated by the Hawthorne and Wages families. The school was named for Rev. Hiram R. Rainey and businessman William T. Perry, and was in operation until 1915 when it became Southeastern Christian College until 1924. In 1928, Barrow County purchased the property, and the administrative building became Auburn-Consolidated School. It was torn down in 1958. Just down the road, the former girl’s dormitory building is now the Perry-Rainey
Center, a newly renovated event space.
Perry-Rainey Band, 1901
Photo courtesy of the Gwinnett Historical Society
The new City Hall will be about 33,000 SF to accommodate
city operations and future growth. Special care has been taken to design the
building as a community hub, attractive from multiple angles, since it will be
surrounded by gathering space, trails and residences. After October, 2020
groundbreaking, completion is estimated in early 2022.
Perry Rainey Main Building