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New City Offices
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Project Update - June 22, 2020
There is a lot of coordinated activity on the new city offices job site including concrete work, sidewalk installation and continued steel erection. Vertical construction is tracking well.
The week of June 29, the crane will be moved on the north side of the building and crews will take steps to reopen the Rio Grande Parking Garage to full capacity before the July 4 weekend. On Thursday, July 2, it is anticipated that the northwest parking garage access and garage stair will reopen for use.
View Rio Grande Parking Garage and Site Area Map. >>
Crane Operations
Construction crews have mobilized the crane for vertical construction to lift and place girders and other structural building elements. The crane is anticipated to be on-site through August.
Rio Grande Parking Garage
Beginning May 19 through mid-June, the northwest stairs of the Rio Grande Parking Garage will be closed. For alternate access, use the east stairs, elevator, or Jail Trail. Both entrances to the parking garage are open.
City Offices Construction and COVID-19 Site Safety Measures
Crews continue to make progress on critical path construction activities including work on the foundational and structural elements of the new building. The job site is open with limited contractors and minimal crew members.
The Aspen City Offices team is dedicated to public safety and the safety of construction crews and will continue to adhere to state and local COVID-19 operational recommendations and regulations as the situation evolves.
Staircase Closure through summer 2021
The blue staircase connecting Rio Grande Place and the plaza (staircase east of the parking garage/plaza) is closed through summer 2021. For alternate access, use Jail Trail or the parking garage elevator.
About New City Offices
The City of Aspen is constructing new administrative offices to improve the efficiency and availability of local government to the Aspen community. The site for the new City office building is located between Rio Grande Place and Galena Plaza. The new building will add to a civic common that consists of Pitkin County government buildings, Pitkin County Library, and the Aspen Police Department. The city office complex will enhance the corridor connecting the downtown core to Rio Grande Park and the John Denver Sanctuary.
The three-story, approximately 39,000 sq. ft. building designed by local architect Charles Cunniffe integrates bold structural elements and a featured glass rotunda welcoming community use. City offices can be accessed from two entries with enhanced green spaces around the physical building. Other features include, elevator and grand staircase, integrated use of natural materials for exterior finishes and community meeting space for public use. Current design standards call for a “LEED gold project”, with a Council decision still pending for the pursuit of a net zero carbon emissions facility.
Building of the new offices signifies the culmination of over six-years of planning for new City facilities that will meet the service needs of Aspen’s residents, customers, and visitors as well as provide appropriate work space for City employees. Currently, the City has multiple leases for offices scattered within the City core and beyond. The construction of this new facility will allow the City to reduce its externally leased spaces, reduce taxpayers’ expenses by building on land it owns, consolidate services in downtown Aspen, and improve existing facilities. The result will allow for better public service, business processes, and will address accessibility issues.
In November 2018 City of Aspen voters elected to locate new city offices at 425 Rio Grande Place.
Shaw Construction is the general contractor and the building is anticipated to be complete by summer of 2021.
The History
The City of Aspen completed a Facilities Master Plan in 2015 that developed an accurate inventory of City of Aspen spaces and set out to define future space needs and long term planning.
Monthly Report Links
Construction Update - April 25, 2019
Construction Update - April 1, 2019
Project Construction
The work began on the Rio Grande site in February 2019. The City’s partners for the project are: Shaw Construction, Charles Cunniffe Architects, PR Studio, and Concept One Group.
Construction activities will take place between the hours of 7:30am and 5:30pm Monday through Friday and on Saturday as needed from 9am to 5pm.
Project Construction Schedule
Phase 1 – Site Preparation and Demolition of ACRA building [Complete]
Phase 2 – Right of Way Utility Work [Complete]
Phase 3 – Excavation and Foundation Work: Summer 2019 – Spring 2020
Phase 4 – Vertical Construction: March 2020 – Spring 2021
Phase 5 – Landscaping, Punch List, Move-In: Summer 2021
Budget
Budget and Committed Resources
Financing
- Memo and Resolution #149 on Reimbursable Expenses from Future Debt Proceeds - December 10, 2018
- Memos on Financing New City Offices - March 11 and 19, 2019
- Ordinance #7 on Authorizing Financing for New City Offices - March 11 and 19, 2019
- Official Statement (OS) for Certificates of Participation Borrowing
- Summary Statement of Borrowing
Galena Plaza
With the seat of Aspen City government moving to the new City offices building, the City is underway on an engagement and outreach process to investigate enhancements to Galena Plaza.
Thank you to all who attended the open house sessions in January and shared your insights regarding the revised conceptual design for Galena Plaza.
Click here to view the informational boards including the revised conceptual design. >>
Stay Informed
Get up-to-date information on the project:
Call the 24-hour City of Aspen hotline at 970-429-1789
Sign up for ‘New City Offices’ newsletter
Email questions and concerns newcityoffices@cityofaspen.com