Sunderland City Council commissioned City Hall to replace the old civic centre, which had been home to the council since 1970. In response, we created a democratic and collaborative space for locals to engage with their community. City Hall celebrates the city’s industrial heritage as well as its vision for a sustainable future. It has an efficient, compact form and its internal finishes are minimal but robust. There are no turnstiles or barriers. Instead, visitors are greeted by an open and airy atrium which houses a distinctive steel staircase – the centrepiece of the building.