Glendale staff updates council on downtown campus construction progress

City staff briefed the Glendale City Council at its April 22 workshop on construction progress at the downtown campus reinvestment project, including City Hall Tower, the council-chambers expansion and the planned amphitheater.

The update, led by Eddie Garcia of the city engineering/architecture team, said the east facade masonry is largely finished and mass climbers used during construction have been removed. Mechanical equipment placements are complete and crews are working on roof waterproofing. Garcia said crews replaced deteriorated roof sheathing and insulation rather than patching old substrate and are installing a new metal roofing system.

Garcia showed aerial and virtual-design-and-construction (VDC) views to illustrate coordination between mechanical, piping and structural systems. He described ongoing foundation work at the amphitheater and the poured extension to the garden-level lobby that will connect to the expanded council chamber and a future bridge link. The presentation noted base plates and reinforced footings were installed to accept future steel, and that steel deliveries for the council-chambers expansion had already begun; steel for the amphitheater was expected to begin arriving in early May, with columns possibly set before the end of May or during June.

Staff described site infrastructure completed to date, including a stormwater lift station (force main) connecting to Lehi Drive and a concrete topping pour for the driveway between the parking garage and City Hall. Interior work cited includes electric rooms being fitted floor by floor, and the arrival of long‑lead equipment (referred to as the SES) that will provide temporary power and conditioning while finishes proceed. Garcia said the SES, originally a roughly 52‑week lead item, arrived about two months earlier than expected and will be energized in phases this summer.

Construction sequencing and access were discussed: crews will bring down the south-side material lift as the interior north stair is completed and begin using the new internal stair to move workers and materials, freeing exterior lifts to finish facades. Garcia described the north stair as a “premier showcase” intended to deliver daylight from the fourth floor.

No formal action was taken — the workshop was informational only and there was time for council questions about finish details, ceilings and schedule. Garcia said the project schedule remains cautious (he described the status as “yellow”) and staff expects to provide a more predictable schedule at the council’s August meeting.

What council heard: the city emphasized masonry completion, roof repairs including full sheathing replacement, VDC coordination across trades, progressing footings for the amphitheater and council-chambers expansion, and delivery of long‑lead electrical equipment ahead of the summer finish schedule.