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Multimillion-dollar repairs under way at Capitol
Monday, November 12, 2007 | No comments posted.
SALEM (AP) - The multimillion-dollar renovation of the state Capitol is on schedule as crews work to strip the building to its bare bones, including the aging pipes that made water unfit to drink.
“We have had no surprises, either good or bad,” said Herb Colomb, Capitol facility services manager.
Except for concrete walls around the elevator shafts and stairways, and the double-paned windows that overlook the grounds, there virtually is nothing except bare concrete floors in the House office wing, where construction is by design one month ahead of the Senate wing.
The renovation also allowed crews to plug holes drilled in ceilings and in concrete floors for power lines — many of them not discovered until carpeting and walls were torn out.
“We have a lot of these holes, some of them covered with just a piece of carpeting on top,” Colomb said. “If there was a fire, these holes would be chimneys and the fire would go straight up them.”
One thing the public will notice from the renovation is that a restroom on each floor in each wing will be accessible to people with disabilities. Most of the improvements can be seen overhead in the garage and first floor:
* New copper plumbing to replace thousands of feet of corroded iron pipe, which made the water undrinkable because of a buildup of iron oxides inside the pipes.
* New conduits to houses several miles of computer cables, which otherwise would spew toxic smoke in a fire. The old cables were bundled, which also posed a hazard.
* A new energy-efficient system for heating, ventilation and air conditioning.
* An upgraded electrical system to accommodate the greater power demands of computers and other office equipment.
* Fire alarms and fire suppression systems that comply with current building codes.
The work is being done by Fortis Construction of Portland. Construction is estimated at $24 million. The total is $34 million when architectural and engineering work, communications systems, furnishings and relocation expenses are added.
The work in both office wings is scheduled for completion in November 2008.
“We have had no surprises, either good or bad,” said Herb Colomb, Capitol facility services manager.
Except for concrete walls around the elevator shafts and stairways, and the double-paned windows that overlook the grounds, there virtually is nothing except bare concrete floors in the House office wing, where construction is by design one month ahead of the Senate wing.
The renovation also allowed crews to plug holes drilled in ceilings and in concrete floors for power lines — many of them not discovered until carpeting and walls were torn out.
“We have a lot of these holes, some of them covered with just a piece of carpeting on top,” Colomb said. “If there was a fire, these holes would be chimneys and the fire would go straight up them.”
One thing the public will notice from the renovation is that a restroom on each floor in each wing will be accessible to people with disabilities. Most of the improvements can be seen overhead in the garage and first floor:
* New copper plumbing to replace thousands of feet of corroded iron pipe, which made the water undrinkable because of a buildup of iron oxides inside the pipes.
* New conduits to houses several miles of computer cables, which otherwise would spew toxic smoke in a fire. The old cables were bundled, which also posed a hazard.
* A new energy-efficient system for heating, ventilation and air conditioning.
* An upgraded electrical system to accommodate the greater power demands of computers and other office equipment.
* Fire alarms and fire suppression systems that comply with current building codes.
The work is being done by Fortis Construction of Portland. Construction is estimated at $24 million. The total is $34 million when architectural and engineering work, communications systems, furnishings and relocation expenses are added.
The work in both office wings is scheduled for completion in November 2008.
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