Editing John McArthur Jr (section)

== Construction Challenges ==

City Hall's construction began in 1871 and continued until 1901, the protracted schedule resulting from the building's complexity, funding challenges, and political circumstances. McArthur supervised construction until his death in 1890, never seeing his design completed. The building rose in stages, with different sections reaching completion at different times. Political scandals, economic depressions, and changing administrations all affected progress. The extended construction allowed refinement of details but also meant that the building was stylistically outdated before completion.<ref name="tatum"/>

The construction employed thousands of workers and required development of new technologies. The building's granite and marble facades, elaborate sculpture, and complex mechanical systems pushed contemporary building practice to new limits. Alexander Milne Calder created over 250 sculptures for the building, including the 37-foot bronze William Penn statue that tops the tower. The coordination of architectural design with sculptural program, structural engineering, and mechanical systems demonstrated project management of remarkable sophistication.<ref name="gallery"/>