The results are in and Boca Raton’s old town hall has been deemed the “top civic building” in Florida.
The designation came in April after an online poll of the state’s top 100 architectural buildings in the “Florida Architecture: 100 Years, 100 Places” competition sponsored by the American Institute of Architects of Florida.
“We are really pleased, “ said Mary Czar, executive director of the Boca Raton Historical Society, which is headquartered in the building.
“It was a fun thing for AIA to do and it’s bringing a lot of attention to a wonderful building. I just feel privileged to work here.”
Designated as the overall No. 1 building in the state was the Fontainebleau in Miami Beach. Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach was No. 5, and The Breakers Resort was No. 7.
But after choosing the top 10 buildings, AIA also recognized buildings in various categories, ranging from performing arts to museums — and civic buildings, of course.
To see all of the results, go to www.aiafltop100.org/Current-Standings.cfm.
About Old Town Hall:
Palm Beach architect Addison Mizner designed the original version of a city hall for Boca Raton in 1926. His Mediterranean Revival design was scaled down to one story; yet it too proved too costly for the newly incorporated municipality.
Delray architect William Alsmeyer replaced Mizner as architect in 1927. He created a Mission Style structure incorporating the foundations for Mizner’s design, and the Mizner Industries produced ironwork, tiles, pecky cypress ceilings and doors and other architectural features already ordered for the structure.
Town Hall, first opened for business in the spring of 1927, features a gold dome, arched doorways and windows, and ironwork characteristic of the Mediterranean Revival style popular in Florida during the 1920s land boom.
Town Hall served as a municipal structure until the 1980s and was restored through a communitywide effort led by the Boca Raton Historical Society in 1984.
— Staff report
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