Conrad Jackson, Contributor

Gordon House is a two-storey contemporary building with a distinguished symmetrical appearance. The building was retrofitted in 1960 to facilitate the weekly meeting of parliamentarians as they discussed and implemented many laws that govern our country today.

The building was named in honour of one of our National Heroes, George William Gordon, who was himself an elected member of the House of Assembly in the 1850s. Since the doors to Gordon House were opened on Wednesday, October 26, 1960, it has been the official meeting place for Governmental officials to this day.

There has been talk between parliamentarians, as well as the Prime Minister, that Gordon House has outgrown its use and as such, it is time to erect a new structure that would better facilitate their current needs.

What is a Parliament building? It is a civic structure that is held in high regard. The people of any country view this iconic structure as a place where the laws of the country are implemented through the votes of Governmental officials. The pomp and pageantry that such a structure requires should express the qualities of authority, as well as commanding sense of dominance within its contextual environment.

This parliamentary building will express pride, dignity and equal right of the Jamaican people. The aesthetic qualities and the finishes should be carefully fitted to our Jamaican culture and craft, using only the finest artisans of the region.

Appropriate location

But where exactly is the appropriate location for such a building? Many have thawed with the idea of National Heroes Circle being the ideal place. That may very well be so, but a site could also be located in downtown Kingston, encompassing the old Murtle Bank site. The contextual environment in which the parliamentary building would be found makes the site even more appropriate to be next to other very important civic buildings, like the Jamaica Conference Centre, the Bank of Jamaica and the Bank of Nova Scotia. The cluster of these four buildings will create a strong visual, as well as axial communication, among one another. It is envision that the mere presence of a civic building of this nature in the downtown Kingston area would be highly influential in reassuring confidence in the redevelopment of the waterfront, but also contributing to the sustainability, security and viability of its environs.

Conrad A. Jackson is a graduate of the University of Technology with a master's degree in architecture.Send us your views: editor@gleanerjm.com