ST. GEORGE — St. George is turning 164 and everyone is invited to celebrate — at a new city building designed with the public in mind.
Everyone is invited to the City Hall Grand Opening and Heritage Day Celebration on January 17 at the new City Hall building located at 61 S. Main. The ribbon-cutting program is at 11 a.m. Afterward, enjoy traditional Heritage Day root beer floats from noon to 2 p.m. — inside the new City Hall building.
“City Hall belongs to the community,” said St. George City Manager John Willis. “As our population has grown, so has the need for spaces that are open, efficient and welcoming. This building is designed to make it easier to get things done — from paying a bill to speaking at a public meeting.”
In addition to the free root beer floats, the Heritage Day portion of the event includes free rides on the St. George Carousel, Thunder Junction train and SunTran bus, and free admission to the St. George Recreation Center, Sand Hollow Aquatic Center and the St. George Museum of Art.
The new City Hall is built for service, access and community. The features include:
- Larger Council Chambers: Seating doubles from 150 to 300, with flexible conversion to a community room, training center and space for public forums.
- Civic Room: A ground‑level, 4,350‑square‑foot civic hall designed for exhibitions, art installations and city‑hosted events.
- Connected Atrium: A covered walkway linking the new parking structure with easy access to Historic Town Square, the St. George Tabernacle, the Dixie Academy building and nearby businesses.
- Easier Parking: A new structure with 290 stalls — roughly triple the spaces at the current City Hall — open seven days a week.
- Public mural: A mosaic mural, featuring the contributions of hundreds of residents.
- Outdoor Plaza on 100 South: An extension of Town Square for events or a sunny spot to pause between errands. The plaza is expected to be completed in March 2026.
“The design intentionally ties City Hall to Historic Town Square, strengthening St. George’s cultural heart,” said Marc Mortensen, Operations Director for the City of St. George. “High efficiency, transparency and usability guided every decision. From natural light to intuitive wayfinding, the goal is a clean, safe and friendly environment where residents feel invited.”
The St. George Police Department will repurpose the old City Hall building for training and office space, augmenting their headquarters at 265 North 200 East. This improves public safety capacity without constructing a separate facility.
Project timeline and cost
- Groundbreaking: September 2023
- Completion: December 2025 (Plaza in March 2026)
- Total project cost: $51.5 million
More information
About the City of St. George
St. George is the largest city in Washington County and the fifth-largest city in Utah with more than 100,000 residents. In recent years, people from across the United States have been attracted to St. George’s world class healthcare, active lifestyle, access to university education and proximity to unrivaled recreation. Scenic beauty abounds throughout the city and region including Snow Canyon State Park, Quail Creek and Sand Hollow Reservoirs and Zion National Park. With an average of about 300 days of sunshine per year, the community welcomes all to live, work, play and eat and experience the ‘Brighter Side’ in St. George, Utah.
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