Demolition begins in preparation for East Civic Tower

The old Raleigh Police Department headquarters is being replaced with a new city hall called East Civic Tower, where city staff will be consolidated under one roof.

A rendering of a 17-story white civic building in Raleigh.

Los Angeles-based artist and architect Susan Narduli will work on the public art at East Civic Tower.

Rendering via City of Raleigh

Protective fences recently went up around the old Raleigh Police Department headquarters near Nash Square in preparation to demolish the building — today, bricks will start to fall.

ICYMI, a new 17-story city hall called East Civic Tower will replace the vacant building which was built in 1962. Once completed, the facility will serve as city hall with all city staff housed in one building.

Instead of using an explosion to demolish the vacant building at 110 S. McDowell St., crew members will start scraping bricks off the building today around 1:30 p.m. using a large (and noisy) machine — so if you’re working downtown, you might want to reach for those noise-cancelling headphones.

With construction slated to start this summer, the city expects to finish the $206 million project by December 2026. Stay privy to construction progress with the project’s update page.

More from RALtoday
In case you hadn’t noticed, Raleigh’s growing in a big way, and some mixed-use developments are set to transform downtown + Midtown in 2026 and beyond. Here’s what you need to know about three major developments.
If you’re looking for plans to bring in the new year, Raleigh is bustling with events. Explore each event and plan where you’ll bring in 2025.
Sponsored
Raleigh restaurants, cafes, and diners serving up all the eggs, pancakes, mimosas, and other brunch favorites you want to eat.
For the first time since 1990, you can back the Pack in the NCAA men’s soccer finals — and it’s all happening in Cary.
If you’re a fan of real trees over artificial, this list is for you. We’re highlighting 10 local spots to pick up Christmas trees in Raleigh, including home delivery options, pre-flocked trees, and NC-famous Fraser firs.
Our readers have spoken — here are the best local spots our city has to offer, from the best coffee shop to the best apartment complex to the best dentist.
Hi Raleighite. It’s that time of year again — Spotify Wrapped is out, and so is ours. Ready to see how our year stacked up?
A grassroots effort is helping central NC properties become part of a nationwide habitat network.
Bookmark this guide for a curated list of events taking place each month that we’re most looking forward to.