Stauss got what he wanted: a stunning structure with a domed rotunda, sweeping staircases, pillars, and arches. So glorious is the edifice that it has been nicknamed the Taj Ma-City Hall. Stauss concedes that the building is a little, well, majestic for a town of only about 7,000. But he defends it as an aspirational symbol to the whole city. "We wanted to build something significant that would be a reminder of the flood but that would also show that the community is on the move," he says. And, indeed, there are symbols aplenty: The building is 97 feet tall -- to commemorate the year of the flood. The rotunda inside is 54 feet high -- to mark the height of the water. There are two wings to symbolize the two cities, and there are three steps for the three branches of government that helped the town rebuild.
From his corner office in the west wing, Stauss looks out over the new library, the massive Cabela's store, and the edge of bustling Restaurant Row to the river. Then he says what all of the people in this region say: "We're the luckiest city in the world. So few people get an opportunity to do something this significant in their lives. I'm proud of how it turned out."
Linda Tischler (ltischler@fastcompany.com) is a Fast Company senior writer.
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