| Gateshead Civic Centre | |
|---|---|
 Gateshead Civic Centre | |
| Location | Regent Street,Gateshead |
| Coordinates | 54°57′34″N1°36′13″W / 54.9594°N 1.6035°W /54.9594; -1.6035 |
| Built | 1987 |
| Architect | D W Robson |
  Shown in Tyne and Wear | |
Gateshead Civic Centre is a municipal building in the Regent Street,Gateshead, England.
The civic centre was commissioned to replace the aging 19th centurytown hall in West Street.[1] AfterTyne and Wear County Council was abolished in April 1986, Gateshead Council took on significant extra responsibilities from the county council and the old town hall was considered inadequate for the expanded role.[2] The new building, which was designed by the borough's Director of Architecture, D W Robson, was completed in 1987.[3] The design of the building involved a three-storey central square block, containing the council chamber and committee rooms, with four quadrilateral blocks at each corner of the central block, each containing offices for council officers and their departments.[1] The council chamber features four stained glass panels, a piece of art entitled "the Gateshead Story" which commemorates the lives of famous people from Gateshead.[1]
Queen Elizabeth II, accompanied by theDuke of Edinburgh, visited the new civic centre on 1 December 1990[4] and signed the visitors' book before departing forBlaydon to conduct the official opening of the newBlaydon Bridge across theRiver Tyne.[5] In 1991 three large stone figures individually depicting infancy, maturity and old age and collectively known as "The Family", which had been carved from large blocks ofcrystallineCumbrianlimestone by the sculptor, Gordon Young, were erected outside the civic centre.[6][7][8]
A refurbishment of the building, involving new desks and chairs for over 1,500 employees and a new public restaurant, was completed in 2012.[9] In February 2017Prince Harry arrived at the civic centre to meet volunteers involved with the charityWalking With The Wounded as well as ex-servicemen who have benefited from the charity's projects.[10][11][12] The ceremony rooms, where weddings and receptions take place, were renovated with improved lighting and a new "flower wall" in June 2018.[13]