Inside Milton’s surprisingly stylish and modern new city hall

Incorporated as a sovereign Fulton County city north of Alpharetta in 2006, Milton is known more for expansive houses and equine-friendly pastures than progressive office design that echoes Ponce City Market.

But by the looks of the new Milton City Hall, that could change.

Unveiled on Friday as a “workplace of the future,” the municipal facility brims with reclaimed-looking wood accents, bold pendants, lofty ceilings, barn doors, sleek glass walls, and an exterior that looks less staid, granite-heavy city hall of yore and more gargantuan urban farmhouse.

Designed by noted Atlanta firm Cooper Carry, the 33,500-square-foot building intends to blend Milton’s rural heritage with cutting-edge design and functionality, with an emphasis on collaboration, as with other millennial-friendly designs in Atlanta’s core.

Standing at 2006 Heritage Walk in Milton’s historic Crabapple district, the complex also includes a detached, single-story building and greenspace for festivals and other public events.

“It’s a very modern, high-tech building that speaks to the history of this area, and addresses a determined approach to connect to the community,” Sean McLendon, principal in COOPER CARRY’s Corporate and Government studios, said in a press release.

Highlights include dozens of flat-panel displays dotted throughout the facility (plus several interactive kiosks) that spotlight key milestones for the city’s police and fire departments, community happenings, and more.

Elsewhere, spaces for “teaming tables” are designed to “foster impromptu meetings and brainstorming sessions for workers stationed at nearby desks” while an “innovation hub” area near the mayor’s office will accommodate presentations with companies considering relocation to Milton, officials said.

“The layout is a complete inverse from what previously existed, and positions the city at the forefront of evolving business trends and the new way of working,” said Kim Rousseau, principal in Cooper Cary’s Interior Design studio. “This is a workplace of the future that will attract and retain staff, and conveys a message that Milton’s brand is unique and collaborative.”

• Photos: Touring Grant Park’s spooky Atlanta Stockade before redevelopment [Curbed]
• Photos: Inside Atlanta’s first new office tower in ages [Curbed]