The Red Town Hall derives its name from the façade design which is made up of red bricks. Built between 1861 and 1869 according to plans by Hermann Waesemann, the first sitting of the magistrate in the new town hall was held as early as four years after the foundation stone was laid. The neo-renaissance building was designed as a multi-winged complex in round-arch style featuring three inner courtyards and a 74 meters high tower.

Heavily damaged in World War II, the Red Town Hall was reconstructed in the postwar years. As a result of the division of Berlin the East Berlin magistrate held its sessions in the Red Town Hall and the West Berlin senate in Schöneberg town hall. In 1991 the Red Town Hall became again seat of government of the now reunified Berlin. The Red Town Hall consists of several significant rooms. The armorial hall used to be the meeting place of the city council assembly. The name of the hall derives from the windows which represent all the emblems of Berlin and the emblems of all the districts of the city. Today the armorial hall is used as a reception room for guests of state.

Originally built as a room for festivities, the great ceremonial hall served as the assembly hall for the East Berlin city council assembly until 1990. It is the largest room in the town hall and is used today for events such as receptions and ceremonies. The column hall, nine meters high and considered the most beautiful hall of the building, used to accommodate the library. Today the column hall hosts exhibitions and events.