Washington Square

Group Six, Excursion One

Off to Washington Square!

Court Skabelund

AJ Anderson

Morgan Stinson

Janna Elwell

Sadie Magnifico

Cassie Adams

Our Tuesday afternoon walkabout started with a Trax ride that brought us to the Library Stop at 200 E. 400 S. Directly across the street and west of the Library lies Washington Square, home of the City of Salt Lake offices and County Building.

Upon first impression, we saw a variety of ancient shade trees covering a lush lawn surrounding a majestic building, which we later found was built in the Romanesque Revival tradition of architecture. This stately and well landscaped city block lies squarely amid the hustle and bustle of the Business District of the city. While the actual building lies around a hundred feet back from the street side, our group first noticed the clusters of people resting or making their way through the surrounding lawn

A circular drive on the eastern side of the

building allows for direct access of car and foot traffic for people doing business in the building. One of these businessmen was Don Winder, a lawyer representing the taxi service, Yellow Cab. He offered many personal insights on the building and its history. He told us that the Washington Square structure was built using locally quarried rock from the Cottonwoods. Also, he told us of the complex underground suspension system, protecting the massive building from earthquakes. Mr. Winder, along with many of the others we encountered was happy to offer information to our group.

We also met Ringo, a Vietnam veteran currently without a home. His view of Washington Square differed greatly from Mr. Winder's perspective. Ringo saw the benches and grass as a soothing spot to spend his afternoon, a respite from carrying the entirety of his belongings. When he found out we attended the U, he commented on our football team and noted that he himself played football as youth growing up in North Dakota. Throughout our encounter he remained suspicious of our intentions in questioning him, only making more dramatic the clash of affluence of the citizens sharing this public space.

The entrance tothe building was towering and ornate: representative of the collective nature of the structure. We walked through giant wooden doors into a dark, but equally detailed entryway, with a grand staircase leading up to the main floor of the building. Even the railings of the staircase were beautiful. Wide hallways, high, lofted ceilings, ornate tiling, and ancient portraits were key features of the building. Many architectural surprises were also evident after closer examination. Pillars, and borders of onyx stone made the building even grander.

Housed in the City and County Building are the offices of the Mayor, Commissioner, and various city departments. We stepped for a moment into the office of The Workplace Division of Sustainability. Instantly, the aura changed from grandeur to the freshness of a modern, well lit workplace with cubicles, yet the high, lofted ceilings remained a theme throughout. We chatted for a moment with Viki Bennett, who said her office worked with issues such as sustainability, air quality, recycling, and community outreach. The Division of Sustainability also puts enormous effort into the promotion and growth of the city's bike transportation program.

We climbed the stairs to the second floor (considered the main floor) and met a friendly security guard. He offered even more information on the fascinating building surrounding us. He told us the City and County Building offers extensive historical tours during the summer through August and even printed off a few informative pamphlets to assist us on our adventure.

On the third floor we discovered a rich layout full of culture. The flag of the Winter Olympic Games is proudly displayed along with gifts from foreign nations like a set of traditional Chinese armor. Also, portraits of all former mayors line the hall adding to the extravagance that this building exudes.

As we exited thinking our exploring was over, our group was once again surprised by the landscape on the opposite side of the building. The majestic shade trees were still present but less dense. This side of the building was full of flowering gardens, fountains, and winding, relaxing pathways. Also, atop the building was a shining statue of Columbia, the symbol of America before the statue of Liberty.

Overall, Washington Square is an overwhelmingly beautiful block. Because the building sits back behind thick foliage and landscaping, many people passing by could potentially miss the breathtaking experience the building presents. Colorful, fragrant, gardens, meandering paths, enormous trees, and the assortment of people outside, paired with long large hallways, high ceilings, historic decorations, and the architectural detailing found around every corner inside, Washington Square proved to be an exciting, informative, beautiful, and interesting place to spend our afternoon.