Douglas Ellington designed Asheville City Hall, the Art Deco brick-and-stone seat of city government on Court Plaza in Asheville, North Carolina, built from 1926 to 1928. It serves as the seat of the government of the City of Asheville and is part of the Downtown Asheville Historic District. Its unique shape and colorful exterior have made it an iconic Asheville landmark; its silhouette even appears in the city's seal.
Designed by Douglas Ellington — whose other works in the city include Asheville High School and the First Baptist Church of Asheville — the building was constructed from 1926 to 1928. Intended to be a twin to the new Buncombe County Courthouse, City Hall never became identical: the adjacent courthouse was built in a more conservative, classical style and stands much taller. A connecting wing between the two was planned but never built.
In 1976 the city hall was added to the National Register of Historic Places, a recognition that suits this Art Deco masterpiece. Today the building still serves the City of Asheville while the courthouse has undergone many renovations and expansions. Beside it, notice how the taller, more classical Buncombe County Courthouse tells a very different architectural story.