While Summer is winding down, we are going up.
While summer activities are winding down and folks are putting away their white shoes (it is after Labor Day!), our project teams are building up. It was a busy summer on the construction site of the new Capitol Complex. The excavation for Congress Avenue was completed, and all three new buildings are now visibly above grade.
If you haven’t been onsite in the last few months, we want to invite you to see the photo galleries on our project webpage.
Package 3 – Central Utility Plant
An important addition to the Complex is the new Central Utility Plant (CUP). The CUP will provide chilled water for our new office buildings and major updates to the power systems for the Complex. An important milestone of this portion of the project is planned for the Thanksgiving holiday when major renovations to the electrical power system in the Stephen F. Austin building will be completed. The substantial completion of the CUP is scheduled for the summer of 2021. (Contractor: JE Dunn)
Package 4 – George H.W. Bush State Office Building, 1801 Congress Ave.
This building will be the flagship of the Capitol Complex. The underground garage has been completed (or topped out). The contractors are working on the 6th level of the building and the architect is finishing the exterior design. A sample of the “skin of the building” or exterior facade is on display at the corner of MLK Blvd. and San Jacinto. The interiors architect is also finalizing the interior layout and office configurations in the building. (Contractor: Flintco)
Package 5 – 1601 Congress Ave.
This building will be the new home to the Capitol Complex Child Care Center, a conference center and tenant offices. The contractor is currently pouring the 4th level of the building and the footings of the new childcare center. (Contractor: White Construction)
Package 6 – Texas Capitol Mall and Underground Parking Garages
Major changes are happening in front of the Bullock Museum, as the first levels of the underground parking structure beneath the Texas Capitol Mall have been poured. Later this month, construction cranes will be installed and easily seen over the construction fences. To facilitate the delivery of construction material for this portion of the project, the east bound lane of MLK Blvd. in front of the Bullock Museum to mid-block has been designated as a loading zone and is closed to traffic. Pedestrians should cross MLK Blvd. at Colorado or Brazos streets and avoid the crosswalk at Congress Ave. Watch out for construction vehicles entering and exiting the construction lane. (Contractor: White Construction)
Note: To track all of our construction activities, check out our Construction Activity ‘Look-Ahead’ map on our website. It is updated every Monday and forecasts construction activities for the upcoming week.