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Capitol View®
Tom Scheck

No delay in Capitol construction

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Crews continue to work on the State Capitol MPR News/Tom Scheck

There will be no delay in the remodeling of the state Capitol after the House, Senate and governor announced an agreement today on how to allocate space in the building.

The Capitol Preservation Commission signed off on a final design this morning that increases public access to conference rooms, dining rooms and bathrooms.

The design reduces the number of offices for state senators inside the Capitol building from 39 to 4. However, nearly all senators will have offices in a newly constructed building across University Ave. from the Capitol.

Every member of the commission, including Gov. Mark Dayton, praised the agreement.

“It’s a big step forward for the public and the people’s building,” Dayton said.

Every member of the commission voted for the plan after Dayton, DFL Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk and GOP House Speaker Kurt Daudt worked behind the scenes to agree on a floor plan that served all of them.

“The truth is we would be sitting here right now approving renovations of the Capitol to permanently be a senate office building if we weren’t building an office building across the street,” Bakk said.

Bakk said the senate leaders who have offices in the renovated Capitol will not have offices in the Senate Office Building.

Construction crews are currently working on a major overhaul of the 109 year old Capitol building. The work is scheduled to be completed in 2017.

If the disagreement over space had persisted, it would delayed construction and forced additional taxpayer money to be spent on the project.

When the building reopens, it will include a historical library featuring architect Cass Gilbert’s work, more  bathrooms and designated space for the  Minnesota Historical Society to showcase the Capitol to the thousands of students and others who visit the Capitol every year.

Some of the design work will also accommodate people who had a difficult time getting around the building.

“One of things I’m most proud of is how we have changed the Capitol in a way that I think Cass Gilbert would be very proud of, by being so welcoming to the disability community,” said Sen. Ann Rest, DFL-New Hope.

Republicans in the Minnesota Senate used today's meeting to criticize Dayton and Senate Democrats for approving funding for the new Senate Office Building.

Senate Minority Leader David Hann issued a statement saying Dayton and lawmakers “overbuilt” because the Capitol renovation provides more space to Dayton’s office and establishes the library honoring Cass Gilbert.

However, several Republican House members on the Commission praised the work.

“This has been a long arduous process to reach this point, but I believe that we have done is best for the people of Minnesota to serve this state for another 100 plus years,” said Rep. Dean Urdahl, R-Grove City.

The architect overseeing the redesign, David Hart, says a shortage of money will mean some of the amenities he initially proposed will be sacrificed. Fine art conservation and decorative painting in some areas will not be done. Hart emphasized, however, that there will be no cost overruns in the $273 million project.