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
The annual Great Backyard Bird Count attracts over a million bird lovers nationwide to help record the bird population — here’s how you can get involved in Raleigh.
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. Don’t be caught empty-handed — use our guide to classic gifts fit for your sweetheart right here in Raleigh.
Dig into Raleigh’s must-try pizza shops including NC State hangouts, high-end Detroit-style pizza, and bagel shops moonlighting as pizzerias. Whatever style you prefer, there’s pizza in Raleigh for you.
Move aside pickleball, there’s a new racket sport in town.
Get your hats and mittens — it’s finally snow season in Raleigh. While the 919 isn’t known for its wintery weather, we’re holding out hope for some history-making snowfall soon.
The Super Bowl is right around the corner, and we’ve got five local sports bars to catch the big game at with everything from raffle prizes to a soup showdown.
Plan your next snowy adventure with these 10 resorts to ski, snowboard, and tube within five hours of Oak City.
The Olympics are nearly here, and there are plenty of Olympians with local ties, from NHL players to college students.
Raleighites can get around town and the greater area through GoRaleigh and GoTriangle. Learn how to ride the bus in Raleigh for public transportation through Raleigh + the greater Triangle.
Got a hot new fling? Hoping to spice things up with your longtime partner? We’re here to help plan your next date night in the 919.