Village Hall

Village Hall, the center of Winnetka’s local government, is a stately Georgian Revival design by local architect Edwin Clark.

The impetus for the construction of Winnetka’s Village Hall was a direct result of the 1921 Plan of Winnetka. This plan outlined the goals for the community and how the built environment would enable the Village to achieve those goals. It encouraged the community to focus on preserving its small-town feel by rewriting zoning laws, lowering the railroad tracks, and creating a village center that included a new village hall. The Plan creators determined that the best location for this building would be across from the Elm Street train station, a central area that could continue to develop into the Village’s business hub.

By 1925, the Village Council was ready to begin construction of Village Hall in the space suggested by the 1921 Plan. To find an architect, the Village Council held an open competition for Winnetka-based architects. They settled on this Georgian Revival design by Edwin H. Clark.

Clark began practicing architecture in 1903 in the office of William Otis, a well-known Winnetka architect. By the time he was hired by the Winnetka Village Council in 1925, Clark was leading his own architectural firm. He became well-known for designing the administration building and primate house at the Lincoln Park Zoo, the Chicago Zoological Park (now known as Brookfield Zoo), and many private residences on the North Shore and throughout the Chicago region.

Clark’s design for Village Hall incorporates several typical Georgian Revival elements. The rigid symmetry of the building is typical of the style, which can be seen in several places. For example, the roof features symmetrical chimneys flanking a central clock tower, and the placement of the windows on the north and south wings mirror each other. The east and west faces also show symmetry in the location of the doors and windows. The pediment with carvings and columns surrounding the main door are decorative elements also commonly found in Georgian Revival style buildings.

The completion of Village Hall was a huge feat for the Village, but interestingly, it was not difficult to pay for. In fact, the $240,000 cost of the building was fully paid for through savings and revenue generated by the Village’s ownership of local water and electric utilities.

Today, Village Hall continues to serve as the local government hub, and the building is now a Local Landmark.