We're still celebrating National Historic Preservation Month! Today we are wondering if Brutalism be appreciated? The...
Posted by Fort Wayne Neighborhoods on Tuesday, May 20, 2025Tuesday, May 20, 2025 post by Fort Wayne Neighborhoods on Facebook:
We're still celebrating National Historic Preservation Month! Today we are wondering if Brutalism be appreciated?
The Rousseau Center (historically the City-County Building) was finished in 1970. The complex was designed by the local firm of Strauss Associates. It is an outstanding example of an architectural style that has become known as Brutalism.
While some view this style as a brutal assault on the eyes, “Brutalism” is an extension of the Modern architectural movement. The name is from the French words "bréton brut" or “raw concrete.” Unfinished concrete was often exposed, and massive angular shapes were prominent. Government buildings were often raised on a plaza with the first floor recessed.
Learn more about Fort Wayne's Urban Renewal programs during the Mid-Twentieth Century on Engage: Celebrating Mid-Century Modern in Fort Wayne
- 34 city-county photographs before and during construction in the History Center Digital Collection on the mDON mastodon Digital Object Network.
A 40-year-old landmark in downtown Fort Wayne officially starts an important new mission with a new name. The City-County Building served as the home for the administrative offices of City and County governments for the past 40 years. Edwin J. Rousseau spent 40 years in Allen County and Fort Wayne politics, including terms on the Fort Wayne City Council, Allen County Council and the County Board of Commissioners. He passed away in 2009 at the age of 76. After many of those offices moved to Citizens Square last year, the building was renovated to serve as headquarters for City and County police and the City fire department. Several County government offices will remain in the Rousseau Centre — including the assessor, auditor, recorder, treasurer and veterans services.
Paraphrased from City-County Building Officially Becomes Rousseau Centre created April 23, 2012 on Allen County Government.- City-County Building Renamed “Rousseau Centre” April 24, 2012 from The Journal Gazette newspaper on The Fort Wayne Downtown Insider Blog.
- 1966 to 1970: Creation of City-County Building in downtown Fort Wayne Corey McMaken February 23, 2023 The Journal Gazette newspaper
It's Hofer and Davis, Inc. "WALL OF FAME" WEDNESDAY!!!! Stuff collected while Putting Northeast Indiana "On the Map"...
Posted by Hofer and Davis,Inc. LAND SURVEYORS on Wednesday, February 11, 2015February 11, 2015 post by Hofer and Davis, Inc. Land Surveyors on Facebook:
It's Hofer and Davis, Inc. "WALL OF FAME" WEDNESDAY!!!! Stuff collected while Putting Northeast Indiana "On the Map" since 1915. Hey, that's 100 years! Here we have a commemorative City County Building ashtray we received. Hofer and Davis, Inc. prepared a boundary and topographic survey as directed by The Board of Public Works in 1966 for the use of Mr. Herman Strauss of STRAUSS ASSOCIATES,INC. , the lead architect for the design of this government building, now renamed the Rousell Building.
By Randy Harter in the Fort Wayne Reader 2017-05-23
Fort Wayne’s original “City Building” is the sandstone Richardsonian Romanesque structure designed by the local architects Wing & Mahurin completed in 1893 at the southeast corner of Barr and Berry and now occupied by the History Center. In July of 1965 then Mayor Harold S. Zeis working in conjunction with the Allen County Commissioners, announced that as part of downtown renewal, a new jointly operated “City-County Building” complex would be constructed at 1 East Main Street between Calhoun and Clinton Streets. Designed by the local firm of Strauss Associates, Inc. with Hagerman Construction as the general contractor, ground was broken in the fall of 1968 for the nearly two block square project, and the cornerstone then laid in 1969. At 217,000 square feet with 10 stories above ground, the precast-concrete building was completed in September 1971.
Moving forward 33 years to 2004, Mayor Graham Richard proposed moving the now cramped City of Fort Wayne offices — which were by then in several locations (in addition to the City-County Building) — into the old Wolf & Dessauer/Renaissance Square building that had been constructed in 1959 on the block bounded by Clinton, Wayne, Barr and Berry. It would be Mayor Tom Henry that would later revive the idea and relocate city government the two blocks to that location. Henry had directed the city to purchase the building for $7.3M in 2009, which after a $10M extensive remodeling project and naming contest that received national attention due to a playful and winning “Harry Baals” fan base despite of which it opened instead as Citizens Square in June of 2011, 40 years after having first occupied the then new City-County Building in 1971. The City-County Building on Main Street was then renamed the Edwin J. Rousseau Centre in 2012 in memory of longtime city and county council office holder Ed Rousseau. (Image courtesy ACPL)
Randy Harter is a Fort Wayne historian, author, and tour guide for Fort Wayne Food Tours.
Designed by Alvin M. Strauss. Ca. 1975 discussed May 26, 2017 by Randy Harter, Fort Wayne historian and authoron You are positively from Fort Wayne, if you remember... Archived group only visible to existing members on Facebook.
For "Throwback Thursday" we share this picture of the Northeast corner of Calhoun and Main Streets, the Riegel's Pipe...
Posted by Hofer and Davis,Inc. LAND SURVEYORS on Thursday, February 21, 2019February 21, 2019 post by Hofer and Davis, Inc. Land Surveyors on Facebook:
For "Throwback Thursday" we share this picture of the Northeast corner of Calhoun and Main Streets, the Riegel's Pipe and Tobacco Shop before it became the City County Building, now known as the Rousseau Centre. BTW...Hofer and Davis prepared the Boundary and Topographical for the Board of Public Works in 1966.
Shared February 21, 2023 on True Fort Wayne Indiana History on Facebook:
Newspaper articles and pictures are from the scrapbooks my grandfather and father made about surveys they had prepared.
This photo is from a book in the company library, not sure which book.
Several photos were posted February 26, 2023 on True Fort Wayne Indiana History on Facebook, one mentioned the address as 631 Main Street at Calhoun Street, with the status:
Demolition of Riegel's 1967. Mayor Zies was there with my Grandfather [Frank Bougher] as they prepared to remove the East side of S. Calhoun Street for urban renewal making way for the new City County Building. The project eventually leveled all the buildings bordered between Columbia and Main street down to the Lafayette street Fire station.
For "Throwback Thursday" we share this picture of The City County Building (Now known as The Rousseau Centre) under...
Posted by Hofer and Davis,Inc. LAND SURVEYORS on Thursday, July 18, 2019July 18, 2019 post by Hofer and Davis, Inc. Land Surveyors on Facebook:
For "Throwback Thursday" we share this picture of The City County Building (Now known as The Rousseau Centre) under construction. BTW...Hofer and Davis, Inc. did boundary and topographical surveys for The Board of Public Works in 1966.
#FlashbackFriday! The Journal Gazette shared these photos in yesterday's newspaper of the City-County Building project...
Posted by Hagerman on Friday, February 24, 2023February 24, 2023 post by Hagerman on Facebook:
#FlashbackFriday! The Journal Gazette shared these photos in yesterday's newspaper of the City-County Building project from 1968 and 1969 in Fort Wayne. Then Hagerman president Ted Hagerman is seen in the second photo. We're proud to say this building, now called the Rousseau Centre, stands today and continues to serve the community. #BuildingABetterFuture
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1966 to 1970: Creation of City-County Building in downtown Fort Wayne
Journal Gazette file photo