2018 Directory

35 The failing materials on the dome have been replaced with copper, and the dome was recently gilded with 24-carat gold. Herschler renovation Just north of the Capitol, the Her- schler Building is being renovated and expanded by approximately 56,000 square feet. Demolition of the atrium removed the link between the two wings of the Herschler Building, opening up the historic north view of the Capitol. Because of this change, the Herschler Building appears as two separate buildings, Herschler East and Herschler West, though they are connected under- ground by the Capitol Extension. Employees moved into the Herschler East and construction began on Herschler West in May 2018. The Herschler renovation includes the demolition of the exterior and removal of the interior elements down to the structural system and foundation. The replacement of the exterior addresses major mainte- nance issues, which included water infiltration, corrosion, and rotting sill blocks. The new exterior design makes the Herschler Building more complimentary to the Capitol, as well as allowing more daylight into the building interior. Replacing the deteriorating exterior provided an opportunity to enlarge the footprint by 15 feet on existing foundations. In addition to new lighting and more modern finishes, all MEP systems will be replaced. Equipment failures in the past have resulted in difficulties keeping the building heated and cooled. A more efficient Central Utility Plant The new state-of-the-art central utility plant (CUP) began operating in 2018. The original 11,000 square foot CUP systems had reached the end of their useful life cycles and required extraordinary mainte- nance to keep operating. The CUP supplies chilled water and domestic hot water services to the Capitol, Capitol Extension, Herschler East, Herschler West, Barrett Building, Wyoming Supreme Court Building, and Hathaway Building. The CUP also provides hot water heating and emergency power services to the Capitol, Capitol Extension, Herschler East and Herschler West. The new CUP is located under- ground, southeast of the Herschler East and is a much larger space, al- lowing for the installation of modern systems and for additional capacity in the future. The excavation was approximately 32 feet deep at its lowest point and over 13,000 cubic yards of soil were removed to make room for the new structure. The new CUP is approximately 18,000 square feet with a 17 foot 6-inch high interior clearance to allow for better equipment access and maintenance capabilities. The new systems in the CUP include high-efficiency, con- densing hot water boilers and new high-efficiency magnetic bearing, water-cooled centrifugal chillers. Tied to the CUP replacement, the above-ground cooling tower and electric service transformers, former- ly located on the northeast side of the Capitol, were relocated to the fourth floor, open area of the Herschler East. Moisture from the cooling tow- er at its previous location degraded the nearby stone on the Capitol. Two new 600 kW diesel-fired genera- tors, located on the fourth floor of Herschler East, provide emergency power and back up the boilers and associated hot water system pumps. Restoration efforts for the future When complete in 2019, the Capitol Square Project will have blended the restoration of a 130-year-old historic landmark with expansion, renova- tion, and repair efforts. The return to its original grandeur will certainly astound visitors, especially consider- ing that the decorative paint designs, higher ceilings, and hidden archways have not been seen for many decades. More importantly, beneath the restored finishes, the investment in infrastructure will allow the build- ing to be enjoyed for many future generations. b Workers with Renaissance Roofing, Inc. have finished the decorative ele- ments on the upper sections of the Capitol dome. The pieces were recreated from copper and painted to match the entablature on the building. The remaining copper will be gilded with gold leaf. Extensive work to the dome includes replacement and repair of the existing decorative sheet metal, repainting, roof repair, and re-gilding of the dome. The repairs will extend the life expectancy of the dome by over 75 years