Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - December 2, 2004
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136
Alt Contact:  Steve Valandra, General Administration, 360-902-7215

Gov. Gary Locke Officially Opens Capitol Building to Public

Flanked by legislators, elected officials and construction workers and contractors, Gov. Gary Locke today officially opened the Capitol Building to the public in a ceremonious lighting of the historic structure’s dome.

The 76-year-old building had been vacant almost three years for a $118 million renovation project. Tenants, including the governor, began moving back into the building in November.

“Our state capitol reconstruction project has gained national recognition for achieving sustainability goals in a historic building,” Locke said. “We have new energy efficient and sustainable equipment, improved access for people with disabilities, enhanced life safety features, and new public spaces for the more than 90,000 students and visitors who come to the capitol each year.”

This month, in partnership with Puget Sound Energy, BP (formerly British Petroleum), and Chelan Public Utilities District, the largest solar array in the nation on a state capitol building will be installed. Solar panels will be placed on the fifth floor roof where they will generate enough power to light the dome and lantern. This project will demonstrate the practical application of solar energy technology and its compatibility with historic buildings.

“We were entrusted with the renewal of this magnificent building by those who came before us,” said Rob Fukai, director of the Department of General Administration, which managed the renovation project. “Everyone who worked on this project honored the commitment to blend the history of the building with its future on behalf of all state citizens.”

Ninety-one percent of the construction material was recycled, and wood used to protect historic marble was donated to Habitat for Humanity to frame three new homes. The project was accomplished on time and with an exemplary safety record of more than 700,000 hours worked with only two time-loss injuries.

This project also required unique and creative solutions including:

·To secure the upper colonnade columns and prevent them from falling during a future earthquake, cores were drilled through each column 187 feet above the ground at the base of the dome.

·A 163-foot one-of-a-kind scaffolding system was constructed in the rotunda to paint the inner dome ceiling damaged by leaking roof and the earthquake.

·More than 60 tons of tailor-made steel rebar were carried by hand up 266 spiral steps to the dome interior to strengthen the dome.

·More than 300 miles of new heating, cooling, electrical and plumbing were placed behind the walls, ceilings and floors in order to preserve the historic character of the building.

On the first floor, an educational kiosk will be installed as part of a sustainability and renewable resources educational program for the more than 900 school children who visit the capitol each day during session.

Less than 6% of the total costs for the funding of this project came from state tax dollars. The State Enabling Act of 1889 set aside public lands to generate revenues for the sole purpose of establishing and maintaining the state capitol. Washington state has managed these lands to sustain revenue from the sale of timber for the preservation of the state capitol buildings. These dedicated revenues are the primary source of funding for the renovation.

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