Austin

Austin City Council Returns to Renovated Chambers Today

KUT 90.5 | By Alisa Semiens

Published November 6, 2014 at 8:56 AM CST

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The new Austin City Council chamber opens today and features an expanded dais and updgraded audio-video equipment.

Filipa Rodrigues/KUT

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The chamber will accommodate the 11 new council members. The renovation began in August.

Filipa Rodrigues/KUT

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The $1.7 million project will also add four new offices to City Hall for the additional council members.

Filipa Rodrigues/KUT

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The public testimony podium got some renovations ahead of the new council.

Filipa Rodrigues/KUT

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A worker removes a piece of the original council dais on July 9, 2014.

Bryan Winter/KUT

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Construction crews making room for the new display monitor on July 9, 2014.

Bryan Winter/KUT

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A photo of the initial Austin City Council Dais from 2012.

Filipa Rodrigues / KUT

Austin City Council returns to City Hall today with a brand new council dais ahead of the city's new 11-member council.

The $1.7 million renovation started in early July and was slated to complete construction in last month, and includes audio-visual upgrades and the building out of four new offices to the executive suites on City Hall’s second floor. Construction on those offices is set to be done by Thanksgiving.

The new council will be officially seated on Jan. 6. That council, however, hasn’t yet taken form. Only District 2 candidate Delia Garza and District 5 candidate Ann Kitchen secured over 50 percent of the vote in their races. Eight other council races, and the mayoral race, will head to run-off elections on Dec. 16.

Above you can see a photo gallery of the original dais, the renovations and the finished product.