Each year, thousands of Alabama schoolchildren visit the Capitol in Montgomery to experience government at work. For the past several years, they have also seen firsthand the building’s outdated condition and its need for modernization. Cramped committee rooms, malfunctioning elevators, and a lack of space for visitors have long challenged the building’s functionality.
Now, those issues are being addressed through the construction of a new State House designed to better serve both lawmakers and the public.
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The current Alabama State House, originally built in the 1960s, is being replaced as part of a $350 million construction project. According to WSFA, the building will be torn down after the new facility is completed, making way for a green, park-like public space intended for school groups, visitors, and the community. The open space will create a campus-style environment in downtown Montgomery, offering a more welcoming and accessible setting for civic engagement.
Alabama Secretary of the Senate Patrick Harris told the news source that the project is historically significant.
“This is really kind of the first entire state house capital building built in the U.S. since Florida did it in the early ’80s,” he said.
The new building will support modern technology, including expanded and upgraded committee rooms, legislative chambers, and offices. These improvements will allow for live-streaming of committee meetings and enhance overall government transparency. News 19 reports that limited elevator access and tight quarters in the current building have made it especially difficult for school tours, with groups of children and chaperones often having to walk up multiple floors due to broken elevators.
The Retirement Systems of Alabama (RSA) has allocated the funding for the project. RSA representative Nia Scott told News 19 that the project remains under budget and on schedule. By September 2024, 85% of the project is expected to be bid out to contractors. Two cranes are currently in use to keep construction moving efficiently.
The new State House is expected to be completed by the end of 2026. Lawmakers are scheduled to hold their first regular legislative session in the facility in 2027. Once operational, the updated facility and surrounding green space are expected to greatly enhance both legislative operations and the visitor experience at Alabama’s Capitol.
Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].
