City Hall Renovation Project: Construction Update

Over the past several months, crews have been hard at work behind the fencing at 301 King Street preparing the site for the next major phase of construction. Here's what's happened so far, and what Alexandrians can expect to see starting in September.

What's Happened Over the Last Six Months

Since the project's pre-construction kickoff community meeting earlier this year, Grunley Construction Company mobilized on site in late February and their work has focused on three critical, behind-the-scenes phases:

• Environmental abatement. Crews have been carefully identifying, containing, and removing hazardous materials, including asbestos, from the 1960s-era addition to City Hall, in full compliance with federal, state, and local environmental regulations. Unexpected areas containing asbestos were discovered in the 1960s south façade and east and west interior courtyards. These unforeseen conditions extended the abatement work and the project timeline by 10 weeks. The anticipated completion date is Fall 2028.
• Interior demolition prep. Non-structural elements of the 1960s infill section have been prepared for removal ahead of the building's deconstruction.
• Support of Excavation (SOE) installation. A temporary pile system designed to stabilize the perimeter of the underground Market Square garage is being installed ahead of the garage's deconstruction. This work will continue through early Fall 2026.

This careful, methodical work was a necessary first step. Older buildings, including the 1960s addition to City Hall, often contain asbestos and other materials that were standard construction practice decades ago but require specialized handling today. Our contractor followed strict containment and removal protocols throughout this phase to protect the health and safety of workers, City staff, and the public.

What's Next: 1960s Infill Deconstruction Begins in September

With abatement and hazardous material removal now complete, the site is ready for the next visible milestone: deconstruction of the 1960s infill portion of City Hall, beginning in September.

This is the addition built onto the historic 1871 City Hall building in the 1960s. Removing it clears the way for the new construction that will modernize City Hall while preserving and restoring the historic 1871 structure.

A note on safety: All hazardous materials in the area to be deconstructed have already been abated and removed. The demolition work beginning in September involves standard construction debris, not hazardous materials.

What Residents Might Notice

As with any construction milestone of this scale, nearby residents, businesses, and visitors may notice:

• A high reach demolition excavator on the Plaza as it deconstructs the building one chunk at a time
• Increased truck traffic for debris removal along the approved haul route
• Additional noise during permitted construction hours, in accordance with the City's noise ordinance
• Continued fencing and pedestrian detours around the 301 King Street site

The City and our construction manager, Grunley Construction, remain committed to minimizing disruption to the surrounding community throughout this phase.

Watch It Happen

Curious what's going on behind the fence? Check out the live construction webcam, which updates every 10 minutes, on the project website.

Stay Informed

• Project website: alexandriava.gov/CityHall - timelapse footage, FAQs, regulatory and community engagement meeting recordings, and more
• Parking information: alexandriava.gov/parking/parking-in-old-town-alexandria
• Questions? Contact Alex311 at 703.746.4311

Thank you for staying engaged in the future of your City Hall.