The architects Charles Holloway James and Stephen Rowland Pierce, designed the building after Robert Atkinson had prepared a layout for the whole Civic Centre site at the request of the then Norwich Corporation (the then county borough reconstituted in 1974 as the City Council).

After the winning design was chosen the Depression and a protracted planning process delayed the start of the building, and the foundation stone was not laid until 1936.

[2] Norwich City Hall was officially opened by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth on 29 October 1938.

[6] He contributed the iconic lions passant which guard the building, and three figures of Recreation, Wisdom and Education outside the Council Chamber.

His colleague James Woodford designed the six main bronze doors, incorporating 18 roundels showing the history and industry of Norwich.