Engineering Administration Building, Haifa

In my role as the manager of the Public Transportation Department in Netanya Municipality, I was sent to participate in a public transportation planning course organized by the Association of Engineers for Construction and Infrastructure in Israel. The course covered various aspects of planning public transportation systems and was both interesting and beneficial. It’s always good to learn new things. However, the part that brought us here to this site was the tour of Haifa’s traffic light control center, located in the Engineering Administration building – a new, prominent, and impressive structure in its form, entirely covered in glass and conveying a sense of modernity and openness.

The building, constructed near the main city hall, is connected to it by a covered bridge – a symbolic and physical connection between the old and the new. The city hall itself is an older structure, with a traditional public character, featuring architecture reminiscent of the early days of the state, and stands opposite Gan HaZikaron (Memorial Garden) – one of the most beautiful viewpoints in the city. The transition from the old city hall to the new engineering structure creates a sense of moving between two worlds – on one hand, the historical institutions of the city, and on the other, advanced urban management systems relying on up-to-date technology. This combination clearly illustrates the balance that Haifa strives for between preservation and tradition, and innovation and future planning.

During the visit, Eng. Shuaa Zoabi accompanied us on a tour and presented the center’s activities, including how the city’s traffic light system is managed. But I was interested in taking 360-degree photos from the building, because its location is high enough and its proximity to the sea offers an exceptional view of the city of Haifa and its surroundings. I asked for and received access to the building’s balconies and windows, and photographed the spectacular view from there. From the observation point, you can see the buildings of the city of Haifa spread out at our feet, with the Mediterranean Sea stretching to the horizon in the background. Directly in front stands the iconic “rocket” building of Haifa, next to the port, where ships are anchored alongside the shipyards and port infrastructure facilities. All this is surrounded by a diverse architectural landscape, with beautiful and ancient buildings (and less beautiful and outdated buildings). Andalongside the urban landscape, the wooded slopes of the Carmel rise above themDan Panorama Towers, and right next to them the sun is setting. (Twice!😆)

The panorama captures not just the view itself, but also the feeling of a vibrant city nestled between mountain and Sea. This is one of the places where one can experience Haifa’s unique beauty – a combination of nature, industry, urbanity, and history in one broad perspective.