The building was commissioned to replace the Old Council House, Bristol.
The new building was designed by Vincent Harris in a concrete frame, clad with very wide, thin bricks, with Portland stone dressings and a leaded hipped roof in a pastiche Neo-Georgian style.
The steep and high roof with gilded unicorns to the corners of the end blocks.

The foundation stone for the Council House was laid in 1938 and, although completed in 1952, the building was only opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 17 April 1956.
The ceremonial entrance overlooks the moat and leads into the reception hall which is lined with local Doulting stone and paved with black and white Italian marble.
It also features a blue and gold wall clock, encircled by the signs of the zodiac and equipped with its own wind indicator.
The Conference Hall is the largest room in the building.
The names of all Mayors and Lord Mayors of Bristol since 1216 are cut into the stone walls.
The walls of the Lord Mayor's Reception Room are panelled in English Walnut and there is a colourful frieze displaying the heraldry of the Bristol trade guilds, and, in gold leaf, the names of famous Bristolians.

The building was formerly known as the Council House, but was renamed by George Ferguson, CBE, the Mayor of Bristol, on his first day in office to City Hall, on 19 November 2012.
The building was commissioned to replace the Old Council House, Bristol. The new building was designed by Vincent Harris in a concrete frame, clad with very wide, thin bricks, with Portland stone dressings and a leaded hipped roof in a pastiche Neo-Georgian style. The steep and high roof with gilded unicorns to the corners of the end blocks.
The foundation stone for the Council House was laid in 1938 and, although completed in 1952, the building was only opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 17 April 1956. The ceremonial entrance overlooks the moat and leads into the reception hall which is lined with local Doulting stone and paved with black and white Italian marble. It also features a blue and gold wall clock, encircled by the signs of the zodiac and equipped with its own wind indicator. The Conference Hall is the largest room in the building. The names of all Mayors and Lord Mayors of Bristol since 1216 are cut into the stone walls. The walls of the Lord Mayor's Reception Room are panelled in English Walnut and there is a colourful frieze displaying the heraldry of the Bristol trade guilds, and, in gold leaf, the names of famous Bristolians.
The building was formerly known as the Council House, but was renamed by George Ferguson, CBE, the Mayor of Bristol, on his first day in office to City Hall, on 19 November 2012.
City Hall, Bristol