That structure eventually was razed to make way for Gateway Park, which continues to occupy part of the old City Hall site.

The design is based upon Henry Hobson Richardson's Allegheny County Courthouse in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Washington School, the first schoolhouse in Minneapolis west of the Mississippi River, was demolished to make way for the new building.

Cost was about $3,554,000, which works out to 28¢ per cubic foot ($10/m3).When constructed, the building claimed to have the world's largest four-faced chiming clock.

A 15-bell chime in the tower is played regularly, with noontime concerts provided to the public on holidays and on Fridays and certain Sundays during the warm months.

Public pedestrian tunnels connect the building to the Hennepin County Government Center under 5th Street, and to the U.S.

There are also restricted tunnels for use by the sheriff connecting under 4th Avenue to the Hennepin County Jail and to the Government Center.

The METRO Blue and Green light rail lines have a stop on the south side of the building: the Government Plaza station.