When it comes to buildings of governance, there are a few things that must be often checked off the list: over-the-top columns and adornments, grand entrances and landscaped gardens with gurgling fountains up front. The Beverly Hills City Hall sits in very nicely with this expectation and far exceeds it as an icon at the heart of Beverly Hills. Conceptualized by architects William Gage and Harry Koene, it is Beverly Hills’ ode to the Spanish Renaissance and the elegance of architecture of the times. It was the symbol of civic governance and had a reputation to upkeep since its founding in the 1930s. This accounts for the aquamarine blue tiles inlaid with gilding that form the cupola and dome as well as the extravagant interior of shining marble polished to a mirrored finish. Though it might no longer be the seat of authority, few can argue that it doesn’t retain the grandeur of its past within its walls.