Huddersfield Civic Centre Phase I

The Civic Centre was part of a much larger jigsaw of development in Huddersfield town centre in the 1960s. The Corporation were sponsoring the Murrayfield scheme that included financing the new (marvellous) market hall. The area west of Murrayfield was made up of two further sites, one for a new mixed-use development of shops and flats and the second for the civic centre, built in two phases. This existing Corporation offices first phase had to were on the Murrayfield site, so this had to be finished before the new shops and market could commence construction. Overseen by Borough Architect Sidney Richmond, the main block, running approximately north-south, housed the architect’s, treasurer’s, education and medical officer’s departments [1]. A two storey block addresses High Street, it’s most outstanding features are a series of gold mosaic spandrel panels. The Centre straddles a rising site and beneath the main building, raised on columns, is a car park. The building has seen a lot of mediocre maintenance and was nothing beyond ordinary when it was new. It continues to fulfil it’s function.

[1] Percy A.L., 'Huddersfield – A Large County Borough', Journal of the Institution of Highway Engineers, July 1969.