Alcatraz, the infamous prison that once held Al Capone and other notorious villains, is getting a $48.6 million renovation led by general contractor Tutor Perini. The upgrade will stabilize and refurbish much of the main prison building, ensuring the safety of future tourists visiting the island prison in San Francisco Bay.

Tutor Perini is a major civil, building, and specialty construction company. Its subsidiary, Perini Management Services Inc., received the contract from the National Park Service as part of the Alcatraz Island Historic Structures Stabilization and Rehabilitation Project.

Alcatraz Prison was built as an Army prison by the U.S. Army in 1909 after it razed a previously existing fort on the island. Its desolate remoteness, reputation for being a prison that no prisoner could ever successfully escape from, and the historic criminals it once housed have inspired writers, photographers, and artists globally. It welcomes 1.4 million tourists annually.

Tutor Perini was contracted to address the deterioration of the Alcatraz Main Prison Building, including remediating structural problems. The scope of work includes replacing steel reinforcement in the walls, strengthening concrete foundation walls, repairing exterior windows, installing storm windows, and removing hazardous materials in the building’s exterior walls.

Renovations will also strengthen the structure’s ability to withstand earthquakes. This will be accomplished in part by fixing the deteriorating exterior walls and repairing concrete foundation walls, making the building weather-tight with new windows, and replacing spalling concrete.

The project is expected to begin in July 2024 and be mostly completed by the summer of 2027.