Construction on new building in Frankfort's Capital Plaza ahead of schedule

Tuesday, crews put the final beam into place in the new state government building replacing Frankfort’s Capital Plaza Tower.

After crews demolished the old tower in March 2018, they’ve been hard at work constructing a new, shorter office complex in its place. The public learned today that all of that work is ahead of schedule.

Builders originally estimated that the building would be finished in November 2019, but now say it could be completed by the spring.

Today’s placing of the final beam was a symbolic gesture for construction crews, but didn’t draw nearly the crowd as the previous building’s demolition. Thousands of spectators came to bid the building farewell as crews imploded it earlier this year.

With the new building nearly completed, government officials say the speedy delivery could mean substantial savings.

“It means we can move people out of leased property quicker, and in so doing we can save the money we’re paying on those leases and consolidate and get everyone under one roof,” said Mike Burnside of the Kentucky Department of Facilities and Support Services.

The new building is expected to hold about 1,500 state workers once it’s completed, allowing them to move out of several other buildings in the area.

Builders plan on finishing the building’s walls before the winter hits, allowing them to work inside no matter what the weather is like.

Construction on an accompanying parking structure for the building is set to begin in November, and officials anticipate it will be completed by January.