Legislative Facilities – August 3, 2009
Posted on August 3rd, 2009
Date & Time: Tuesday, August 3, 2009 at 10:00 AM
Location: Room 272, State Capitol
Agenda: http://tr.im/vhLe
Attachments: none
The Legislative Facilities committee shall review the existing usage of the space presently used in the State Capitol Building and make reallocations or improvements. (A.C.A. 10-3-1104)
10:03 am – Discussion about audio upgrades in Old Supreme Court. A few additional minor expenses were necessary for historical preservation.
10:06 am – Brief discussion about audio upgrades completed in House Committee Rooms. Senator Glover expressed displeasure with some of the more recent systems in the ALC meeting room.
10:09 am – Currently discussion by Ms. Laidlaw talking about the “Big Mac Building” renovation and proposed tunnel. Also discussion of renovation and redevelopment of the Old Dillards building for housing the state library and various state agencies. The building will be silver LEED certified.
10:14 am – There was some additional discussion about the tunnel proposal.
10:15 am – Rep. Reep is asking if we lease that building or if we have purchased it. The building is currently under a lease with an option to purchase. Rep. Reep asked if formal decisions have been made about usage. Apparently there have only been informal with no specific usage been determined. Sen. Farris said that one of the priorities would be for legislative space.
10:18 pm – Senator Baker asked about the cost of the building. Ms. Laidlaw said that exercising the purchase option would be about 18.5 million.
10:20 pm – This meeting seems to be progressing very quickly. We are already on the last agenda item. Rep. Rick Green is asking about exact location and ease of public access for the new buildings. Apparently the access for the state library will be greatly improved, but because of the demands at the Capitol, access will neither be helped or hurt to any substantial amount.
10:23 pm – Rick Green is asking if there are any plans to move any of the Constitutional Officials out of the Capitol. While some staff may be moved, there is no plans to move the Constitutional Officials themselves.
10:24 pm – Rep. Barry Hyde is asking about the costs per square foot on the ADEQ and Dillards buildings. The response is about $150 to $175 per square foot. The Dillards building is going to be less than new construction and that cost includes data and elsctronics systems that would normally have to be provided in an additional contract.
10:26 pm – Rep Hyde is asking that the design professionals be called to testify about the design options for the tunnel.
10:28 pm – Rep. Maloch asked who would ultimately make the decision to proceed with these projects. Senator Farris said he believed that it would be this committee.
10:29 pm – Williams and Dean Architects are now before the committee. Tad Price, the state architect is also here.
10:31 pm – The tunnel from the basement of the Capitol to the 5th floor of the Big Mac Building would actually be a combination of tunnel and sky bridge. The cost would be somewhere around $3.5 million. There are pure tunnel options under consideration that would be slightly less costly.
10:34 pm – It seems like press coverage of committee meetings has been greatly improved/increased recently.
10:35 pm – The improvements to the fifth floor of the Big Mac Building are expected to be about 3.8 million.
10:36 pm – It sounds like the “Economic Development” agencies are the ones likely to be moved to the renovated Dillard’s Building.
10:37 pm – Committee adjourned.
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