Phase I of the Court's Modernization Project, the construction of an underground annex on the Maryland Avenue side of the building, is on schedule and due to be completed on July 16, 2004. Grunley Construction Co., Inc., of Rockville, Maryland, has been selected as the contractor for the second phase of the modernization project. Grunley Construction was founded in 1955 and is ranked among the largest general contractors in the Washington, D.C. area. The company has done several prominent construction and renovation projects for the Architect of the Capitol and the U.S. General Services Administration. Phase II, the modernization of the building's infrastructure, will include the upgrading and replacing of building systems such as the mechanical and electrical systems, and moving some functions to provide more efficient use of space, to better serve the public, or to comply with code requirements. Phase II construction is scheduled to be completed in summer 2008. In the first six months of Phase II, the interior of the annex will be completed and work in the basement and gift shop area will begin. It is expected that most offices in the building will temporarily move to modular swing space located on the Maryland Ave. (north) and East Capitol (south) sides of the Court building at some point during Phase II construction, but a schedule has not been finalized. Chambers' staff will move to swing space within the building.

The following are highlights of Phase II construction that will occur this summer:

• The theater will be split to create a corridor to the doors now covered by the theater, which will be used as an employee entrance, to gain access to south exterior swing space, and as a public exit to East Capitol Street. The theater will be closed during the construction. This work is scheduled to begin June 14 and last approximately two weeks.
• The Form and Function exhibit on the Ground Floor will be removed and the current Gift Shop area and NW entrance/exit will be closed beginning July 6 for an indefinite period.
• The SCHS Gift Shop will temporarily move to Room G-8 (near the theater), where it will be located for approximately two years. It will then move to its new, permanent home where the snack bar is now located. The Snack Bar will not reopen.
• Temporary, modular swing-space will be constructed on the north and south sides of the building beginning August 2 and scheduled to be completed by September 7.

Updates on Phase II construction will be provided on the Court's Website, www.supremecourtus.gov.