The city of Grimes will build a new public administration building that will combine staff who work at the current city hall and the Grimes Community Complex.

The city council approved plans for the new building at its meeting last week. Construction on the new public administration building will begin in spring 2026 and the building will open in 2027.

In a news release, Grimes’ Development Services Director Alex Pfaltzgraff said the decision is the result of “years of thoughtful planning.”

“After first investing in critical community facilities like the library and public safety center, the council prioritized a purpose-built space that enhances how city staff engage with the public,” he said.

According to the release, the current city hall will be torn down when Iowa Highway 44 is expanded, and the community complex is facing $10 million in repairs. It has several structural, HVAC and sanitary sewer issues that have affected staff’s ability to work in the building and disrupted city services, the release said.

The new $8.5 million administrative building will be at the corner of James Street and Highway 44 in Waterworks Park. It’s the location of the city’s splash pad, and additional parking will be added as part of the project. The former library is in the park and will be torn down in the spring, the release stated.

The community complex will remain open for programs as the city evaluates further uses, redevelopment or sale of the building.