Katy city officials broke ground Jan. 15 on the site for a new City Hall across from the current facility on Avenue C.

The new City Hall will be a three-story, 33,000-square-foot building. Construction is expected to take a year, with the building scheduled to open in spring 2016.

Mayor Fabol Hughes said construction of a new facility is overdue, citing deteriorating conditions and overcrowding in the city's current building at 910 Ave. C.

"[The current City Hall] is starting to deteriorate rapidly," he said. "There are cracks in the wall, leaks in the roof, the air conditioning and heating system is all outdated and overloaded. We're doubled up in offices, almost sitting on top of each other."

Hughes credited previous administrations for having the foresight to create a fund for the construction of the new building, which is expected to cost between $6.8 million and $7.3 million.