the 3.4-meter tall Rathausmann; an iron standard bearer. It was designed by Alexander Nehr, and donated by master locksmith and factory owner Ludwig Wilhelm. The statue was attached to the spire on 21 October 1932. 1st Floor The ballroom can be found on the first floor at the front of the hall, with views of the ring road, Burgtheater, and inner city. The 1st floor ballroom is 71 meters long and spans a width of 20 meters. The ballroom runs adjacent to the banqueting hall, also adjoining with the north buffet and armorial hall. The Municipal Council Meeting Room and Municipal Senate Meeting Room are both also part of the first floor. Ground Floor There are numerous entry points into the Vienna City Hall via the ground floor. There are entrances to the north, south, and west. The Volkshalle, or "People's Hall", is located on the ground floor, right below the first floor ballroom. The Volkshalle is used nowadays to host events. Additionally, since 1927, the town hall guard, a special unit of the Viennese professional fire brigade, has resided in the ground floor of the town hall for security. Their duties include standard fire response duties and disaster control. 1st Basement The first basement, also called the Vienna City Hall cellar, was first opened on 12 February 1899. The artistic design was overseen by Josef Urban, and the historical murals by Heinrich Lefler. The first basement contains numerous rooms including the Knights' Hall, the Green Hall, and the Grinzinger Keller. There were extensive renovations performed in 1925, 1952, and 2005, where historical murals and woodwork were fully refurbished. Renovation work On September 27, 2012 renovation work started on what is expected to be a 35 million euro project to renovate the building by the year 2023 when the work – expected to take place in 11 stages and affecting 40,000 m2 – will be complete. Recently finished renovations (2000) include the grand re-opening of the neo-baroque Salon Ziehrer and the redesigned Lanner-Lehar Hall with wall and ceiling murals by German Trompe-l'œil artist Rainer Maria Latzke. Gallery References External links Official Homepage of the Vienna City Hall Das Wiener Rathaus – Der Neubau 1868 Bundesdenkmalamt – Rathaus Wien The Vienna parks – Rathauspark Website of the Viennese city government Rathaus Rathaus City and town halls in Austria Government buildings completed in 1883 1883 establishments in Austria