MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Dozens of Alabama legislators gathered Thursday on the sixth floor of the RSA Plaza building in Montgomery to mark the “topping out” ceremony for the new Alabama State House — a construction milestone that celebrates the completion of a building’s structural framework.

The new State House, under construction adjacent to the current 1963-era facility, is slated for completion by late 2026. With a $292 million estimated cost, the project stems from a 2023 agreement between state lawmakers and the Retirement Systems of Alabama (RSA), which is funding the project and will lease the building to the Legislature, securing an 8% return on its investment. The finished seven-story, 460,000-square-foot facility is designed to modernize legislative operations and provide much-needed upgrades compared to the aging current structure.

David Bronner, head of RSA, highlighted the significance of the project at the ceremony.

“The big thing is the public has got room now to come to the Legislature, to come to a meeting on education or the General Fund, they can get into the place compared to the old one,” Bronner said. “It’s a big job, but it’s so overdue.”

The existing State House, which originally housed the Alabama Department of Transportation, has been home to the Legislature since 1985. Lawmakers were initially meant to use the space temporarily while the State Capitol underwent renovations — but they stayed for decades. Today, many legislators agree the building has far exceeded its useful lifespan.

“This building was not made for what we do,” House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter, R-Rainsville, told Alabama Daily News. “The meeting rooms aren’t big enough, there aren’t enough offices, the mold is really not a good situation, so we’re happy to be at this point, to give and to get something that the people of Alabama will be proud of.”

As of mid-February, construction was reported on schedule and under budget, with roughly 90% of construction contracts already awarded — the majority going to Alabama-based firms, ensuring local economic benefits.

On the same day as the ceremony, the Alabama House passed a bill authorizing the Legislature to contract for the demolition of the current State House. The cost of demolition is not included in the $292 million budget, nor are plans for a nearby parking garage and green space envisioned for the site once the old building is torn down.

Rep. Chris Blackshear, R-Smiths Station, emphasized the importance of making the new State House accessible and welcoming to the public.

“The number one thing is it is the people’s house, and it’s a better place for the citizens of Alabama,” Blackshear told ADN. “They’re gonna actually come visit, get to know who’s here representing them, and hopefully, for the future Alabamians that want to get in the politics and take an interest in what’s going on in their state, it gives them more of an inviting place they can come be a part of the process.”

The topping out marks a symbolic turning point in the project, signaling that despite budget pressures and tight timelines, Alabama’s lawmakers are determined to deliver a State House that not only meets their operational needs but also opens the door for more public engagement and transparency in government.

Originally reported by Alabama Daily News.