The Darmstadt architect Theodor Seifert was commissioned to design the ‘new town hall’. Work began on the new town hall building on 1 July 1975. The topping-out ceremony was held exactly two years later on 1 July 1977. The official opening took place with a council meeting on 7 November 1979. Essen town hall is 106 metres in height and visitors can enjoy an impressive panorama over the city and part of the Ruhr area from the 22nd floor, at a height of about 100 metres.

In the 330,000 cubic metres occupied by the building, 69,000 square metres is occupied office space, a parliament area, over 700 parking spaces in a multi-storey underground car park, a studio theatre and various equipment rooms. The town hall employs around 1,900 people. As a nod to the buildings that came before it, the sandstone figures of Essen’s patron saints Cosmas and Damian are located in its entrance area. The sculptor Heinrich Kröger created them for the old town hall.

Free tours of the town hall:

• Meeting point: foyer of the town hall information centre
• School classes by arrangement (please phone)

Paid tours of the town hall:

• for groups by arrangement (please phone)

Information/registration: +49 (0) 201 88-15304