Bothell’s new city hall opened for business Oct. 26 with city officials planning the imposing 133,350 square foot structure, including a parking garage, with the future in mind.

Inside the general lobby are desks for nearly all the city’s services other than the police and fire departments. A section of wall lined with live vegetation rises to the second floor, filled with regional plants. The new city council chamber is more than two times larger than the old chambers, and staff offices are lined on one side with floor to ceiling windows.

Planning for the new city hall began in 2006 to replace the old city hall which was constructed in 1938 . The new building consolidates six former buildings into one, providing residents with a single destination for most government interaction, a feature City Manager Bob Stowe said was an important consideration.

“Now they don’t have to go to multiple buildings to get service,” he said.

The building also houses an underground parking garage which will be available for public use from around 6 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. weekdays, and opening at 6:30 a.m. weekends.

With city officials saying that Bothell is projected to continue growing through regional development and annexation the building has space for around 200 employees even though only around 120 employees work there currently. It is anticipated to serve as city hall well into the future.

“We view this building as something that will be around for at least the next 75 years,” Stowe said.

In total, the project was anticipated to cost $46.7 million and city officials said they are around $1.5 million under budget.

The new city hall will have a grand opening on Nov. 7 from 10 a.m. to noon and is located at 18415 101st Avenue Northeast.