New Alabama Statehouse expected to be complete by 2026 despite construction delays

The new Alabama Statehouse is on track to hold its first legislative session in early 2027 despite delays.

David Bronner, CEO of the Retirement Systems of Alabama, said at a meeting of the Employees’ Retirement System Board of Control Tuesday that complications with the bidding process had delayed completion of the building by six months. But Bronner said the new building should be completed by mid-2026.

Initially intended as a single comprehensive contract, RSA had to start the re-bidding process after limited interest from contractors for one comprehensive project, Bronner said. The work has since been divided into multiple packages to attract more bidders, which added months to the timeline.

“I had a very aggressive schedule. It’s ahead of everybody else’s schedule, but not the personal one of old-David … it’s probably going to run into ‘26 the first couple months. It really depends on how these next bids come in,” Bronner said after the meeting.

Despite the setback, Bronner said progress is being made and said the budget remains under control.

“I was just going to do the office building, which is about $325 (million), but I have it below it at this stage,” he said. Still, he added uncertainties such as rising material costs and potential economic shifts.

The timeline also includes the completion of a new parking deck, to be completed by the end of 2025, but the full building, however, will likely not open until mid-2026.

The state will repay RSA the cost of construction, along with 8% interest.

Barring any unexpected disruption, such as severe weather or supply chain challenges, Bronner said he expected construction to stay on time.

“Only something totally outside,” he said. “Hurricane hits Mobile, wipes out Mobile and comes up here and wipes out what we built … not having that ridiculous one-in-a-billion probability, although I have seen it happen before.”

The new building will replace the existing Statehouse, the former Highway Department building, which has been the meeting place of the Alabama Legislature since 1986.

The current building faces numerous structural problems, including mold, flooding and an estimated $100 million in deferred maintenance. It also lacks a central gallery, and its hallways are often overcrowded.

As per the approved designs, the new Senate chamber will be 10% larger than the one in the current statehouse, while the House floor will gain approximately 800 square feet of space.

The new statehouse is slated to be operational by January 2027, just in time for that year’s legislative session. Upon completion, it will become the first new statehouse in the U.S. since Florida finished constructing its Capitol Complex in 1977. The current Statehouse will be demolished and turned into a green space.