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Iron Gates In Original Design For City Hall To Be Added

By Marcy Norton

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Philadelphia City Hall was built well over a century ago, but an original design element of the historic building was never completed, until now.

City Hall is one of Philadelphia's most visited buildings, by tourists and locals alike, and it's the largest municipal building in the country. But many visitors disliked the cyclone fences installed after 9-11, at the portals to the building's courtyard.

"A small group, led by Commissioner Collins Greenwalk, knew the time was right, to plan for the removal of an element of the building that frequently received negative comments." said Mayor Nutter.

 

 

So with the help of his staff, Mayor Nutter made it a priority to ditch the ugly fencing, and appropriate 1 and a half million dollars for the fabrication and installation of the ornate, iron gates that were always supposed to be there.

"There is only one, known illustration of the gates by McArthur, and this illustration never resulted in the design, fabrication or installation of gates on City Hall until today."

They were part of the original, 1870s building design by architect John McArthur. Mayor Nutter helped unveil the West portal gate on Wednesday. The rest of the gates will be installed by the end of the year.

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