The first peek inside Windsor's new City Hall building took place in a media tour of the facility.
Reporters walked the five-story, $30-million facility.
The first thing you find when you enter the main lobby is the spacious council chamber.
Windsor media getting a tour of the new City Hall, this is the council chamber.#cklw pic.twitter.com/E1fOWnE9DJ
— Peter Langille (@PLangille800) May 15, 2018
Main Lobby of Windsor's new City Hall, May 15, 2018 (by AM800's Peter Langille)
Not only is there room for a large audience along with council and staff, but a wide glass wall at the rear of the chamber can be opened so more people can watch from the lobby.
Beyond that is the main public kiosk, where residents will be directed to the services they need, and building department space is right above on the 2nd floor.
The 3rd and 4th floors are various department offices and the CAO and Mayor's offices are on the top floor.
Project Manager Wada Al Yassiri says there's been a lot of co-ordination in setting up the office spaces.
"We have IT department working diligently, we have facility working hand-in-hand with me to make sure that whenever we end up with a system they will own it so it is efficient, it is easy to maintain and is durable on the long run"
Al Yassiri says a couple of extras have been built in.
"One of them being the green roof outside, on the 3rd floor you will be able to see them, that's part of the environmental friendly initiative. The future expansion growth we managed to add about 12,000 square feet to the building, fully finished"
The mayor's office is unique in its decor, and Drew Dilkens has requested the existing furniture be brought over.
View to the Detroit River from the mayor's office at the new Windsor City Hall, May 15, 2018 (by AM800's Peter Langille)
"You see this is laminate, even though it looks like hardwood, but it's laminate wood" explains Yassiri as he shows the room. "And the colour of the walls are changed to this colour to match the laminate wood and we are between the cost for furniture and this at net zero or even maybe saved some money"
Al Yassiri says the project took just under two years and has come in slightly under budget.
The big move-in takes place over the coming long Victoria Day weekend.
After that, the demolition of the old city hall will take place.