Glendale leaders get progress update on downtown campus; substantial completion targeted April 2026

City staff told the Glendale City Council at its Aug. 26 workshop that construction of the downtown campus reinvestment project is more than halfway complete and remains on a path toward a substantial-completion target of April 14, 2026.

The update, presented by Mister Garcia, focused on interior progress, the amphitheater superstructure, site grading and schedules for long‑lead items such as elevators and mechanical start‑up. "We are now past the 50% completion point," Mister Garcia said. He later estimated the team is closer to 58% or 60% complete in recent months.

The council heard that contractors have installed portions of the amphitheater canopy and that glazing and shade‑fin work are underway. Staff said a hard‑hat tour for council and city leadership took place Aug. 18 and another tour will be scheduled in September. Garcia said the contractor team includes Oakland Construction, Holly Street Studio and Lightbox, and that permanent power has been energised on site, allowing mechanical equipment to be started and conditioned finishes to be installed.

Why it matters: the campus includes the tower, chambers, parking garage and an amphitheater that staff said has been a schedule risk because of heavy site work. Staff linked progress on the Murphy Park design and the fourth guaranteed maximum price (GMP) to the broader cadence for phase completion and occupancy.

Staff described near‑term schedule steps and procurement. An updated GMP cost estimate for Murphy Park pricing was expected in September, and staff said they planned a workshop presentation in the second half of September with the goal of presenting a proposed GMP for council action in October. "We're hoping by September, which is around Sept. 11, that we'd have a cost estimate to review," Garcia said. He told the council the team was working to align completion of Murphy Park to the campus GMP‑3 phase and that phase‑move planning would follow substantial completion.

Contract and site impacts: Garcia warned of scope additions tied mainly to code upgrades in the parking garage and called out potential soft‑cost pressure on furniture, AV and technology items because of tariffs and global supply‑chain issues. He told the council that elevators will be installed in multiple sequences and that the first two elevators are expected to be activated by about November, with the remaining passenger/service elevators staggered afterward. Staff said HVAC start‑up would follow power activation and that conditioned interiors would help preserve finishes.

Public access and safety: staff said the phase‑two fence line around the campus will move to encompass curb edges and the parallel parking on Glendale Avenue and 50th (50 Eighth) Avenue for safety and to allow sidewalk reconstruction. Garcia said the library main entrance will remain accessible with a 15–20‑foot egress corridor and a rolling gate to secure the access after hours; temporary lighting and outreach banners will notify the public during construction. He also said the GUS bus stop near Lehi Drive was relocated to the civic center and that staff aimed to begin the fence move the next day.

Murphy Park artifacts: staff reported the project team successfully removed bronze plaques embedded in existing sidewalks and said the plaques could be cleaned and reinstalled close to their original locations. "We believe that we can keep them intact, get them cleaned up, and put them back in," Garcia said.

Cost and budget: Garcia said the tracker currently showed green on budget at about 60% construction complete and that staff were carefully managing changes. He reiterated that the project team had buy‑outs and planned purchase orders for furniture and AV items and that council approvals would be required for contract extensions.

What’s next: staff expect to complete substantial construction work in the first quarter of 2026, follow with phased move‑ins and aim for a ribbon cutting tentatively before Memorial Day 2026. Council members asked detailed questions about fence locations, ADA parking impacts, timing of GMP decisions and plaque disposition.

No formal council action was taken at the workshop because the session was a work study and council did not vote on project changes.