Edina City Hall
Since the time it was used for pasture more than 100 years ago, the triangular
piece of property bounded by West 50th Street, Eden Avenue and Grange
Road has been a gateway to the community and the site of civic operations.
In the winter of 1872, a one-room schoolhouse was moved to the property to serve
the growing population near the Edina Mills community near Minnehaha Creek. In 1887,
a larger yellow brick schoolhouse was erected on the site.
Minnehaha Grange No. 398, originally on the southeast corner of today’s 50th
and Wooddale Avenue, was Edina’s first Village Hall. The tiny hall remained the
headquarters of the village for 54 years, until the first official Village Hall
was erected on 50th across from the Edina Country Club – today’s site
of City Hall. The land was deeded to the Village in 1938 by the school district
for $1,000.
In the early 1950s, Village departments were expanding to keep up with the former
sleepy, mostly rural community’s development into a metropolitan suburb. A new Village
Hall was built on the property, east of the old building. The building, which opened
in the spring of 1954 provided offices for all of the Village’s departments – engineering,
building inspections, plumbing inspection, utilities and property assessment – plus
a large drafting room, walk-in vault, auditorium and police and fire stations.
In 2002, the Edina City Council made the decision to proceed with the construction
of a new building after it became evident that a much-needed renovation of the old
City Hall would be too costly. In addition, problems with the old building could
not be corrected with a major renovation. A groundbreaking ceremony for the new
building, which also houses the Police Department, was held later that year.
Construction of the building ended in late 2003. The impressive two-story building
exterior is made up of lannon stone, glass and copper. Lannon stone was chosen as
the primary exterior building material because of its strength and durability. In
addition, the stone represents Edina well, as it is used extensively in the nearby
Country Club Neighborhood and in many other areas of the community.
The main lobby of City Hall features stamped concrete, wood and lannon stone.
Office areas are traditional, highlighted by a clerestory to take advantage of daylight.
A time capsule was dedicated behind the date stone of the new building in the
summer of 2003. Items in the time capsule represent life in Edina at the time of
the building’s construction.
Employees moved into the new building at 4801 W. 50th St. the last week of January
2004. The new City Hall officially opened for business Feb. 2, 2004. The building
was dedicated at a special ceremony 2:30 p.m. July 4, 2004.
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