The building housing the KL City Gallery was originally constructed in 1899 during the British colonial administration to serve as the Government Printing Office. It was designed by A.C. Norman, the same architect behind the Sultan Abdul Samad Building, which sits just across the square.
Today, the gallery serves as a storytelling center for the city. Its most famous exhibit is the Kuala Lumpur City Model, a massive 40 x 60 foot scale model that uses a light-and-sound show to demonstrate the city's past, present, and ambitious future. Managed by ARCH, the gallery also showcases traditional wood-veneer craftsmanship and provides visitors with comprehensive maps and information to explore the surrounding heritage sites.