Germantown Municipal Center

I was covering a meeting of the Germantown Mayor & Board of Aldermen last week for my day job and thought the Germantown Municipal Center would be blog-worthy.  I've always liked the building.  It's almost church-like.  In fact, I understand the architecture firm that designed it has done many churches.  Apparently, one of the principals was also a well-respected city leader in G'town.  The building was completed in 1978.  Cool features include a circular conference room which sits in "people street" - the atrium area.  Ficus trees used to be planted in this area as well.. But were recently replaced with lighted discs on the floor.

Beale Street Landing

Once known by some critics as the Beale Street "Boondoggle" because of cost and schedule overruns, the first phase of the Beale Street Landing  project is nearing completion.  I thought the progress was worth sharing given the interesting design of the structure.  It stands at the foot of Beale just north of Tom Lee Park.  There is a sloping grass-covered roof above what will be a glass-enclosed restaurant and ticket office.  Both a daily excursion steamboat and the American Queen will use the docking facility.  The latter is the largest paddle-wheel steamboat ever built.  Its parent company is now headquartered in Memphis as well.