What’s next with the Oregon Capitol construction project?
Up next in construction at the Oregon State Capitol: 13,000 yards of concrete will be poured underneath the building to complete a mat slab that will serve as a foundation for the building constructed in 1938.
The latest phase of the Oregon Capitol Construction project began in 2022 and is scheduled to end in January 2025, just ahead of that year’s legislative session.
Completion of the Capitol Accessibility, Maintenance and Safety (CAMS) project was approved during the 2016 session. The project split various upgrades to the state capitol building into different phases.
A 2013 report found the Capitol needing to address “serious seismic problems” to be fully prepared for a major earthquake.
Phase I improved at-risk mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems and addressed seismic safety concerns in the building’s office wings. Phase II, approved by the 2020 Legislative Assembly, extended Phase I work and improved the seismic structure of the 1977 portions of the Capitol building in addition to addressing accessibility at the south entrance.
Both initial phases are done, with Phase I coming in at $59.9 million and Phase II at $70.8 million.
Phase I and Phase II
Multiple projects have been completed in addition to the seismic upgrades during the first two phases.
“There’s more behind us than ahead of us,” Brett Hanes, legislative administrator, told lawmakers during a Joint Legislative Administration committee meeting early this month.
New accessible entrances have been added to the northeast, northwest, and south entrances in addition to new stairwells on the northeast and northwest portions of the building. There was a single American With Disabilities Act-compliant entrance to the Capitol, according to Hanes. There will now be five.
Power to the Capitol will be backed by a new generator, a second backup supply in addition to the two powerlines into the building.
New heating, ventilation, and air
conditioning also has been installed throughout the building.
Truck convoy soon arriving with concrete
Phase III of the project was approved by the Legislature during the 2022 legislative session. Total funding for this phase was originally $375 million. The legislature approved an additional $90 million for the project during 2023’s legislative session.
The third phase is centered on the 1938 portion of the Capitol and has also featured scaffolding around the Capitol dome to strengthen it, in addition to upgrades to sound systems and elevator equipment.
According to project director Jodie Jones in June, the work on the dome will consist of replacing the observation deck tile, upgrading the anchors that hold the gold Oregon Pioneer in place, reinforcing the walls with strong vertical concrete, and adding 22 new vertical trusses to the drum.
During September’s legislative committee days, construction blocked access to the Senate chamber and meant lawmakers convened in one of the hearing rooms.
Work on the dome continues. Demolition and seismic upgrades on the first through fourth floors are 75% complete, the team said in an email to the Statesman Journal. The remaining 25% will come after work on the dome is complete.
Seismic upgrades on floors one through four included adding sheer walls with fiber-reinforced polymer to stiffen portions of the Capitol building, according to the CAMS project team. Next, they said crews will frame and install the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems.
The project team said crews also have successfully dug 22 feet below ground and placed 50% of the building on shoring towers. The remaining 50% will be completed by the end of January.
A convoy of transit trucks is expected to start bringing the concrete necessary for the new mat slab under the building in December. It will be poured through July to create the new foundation. Once that done, rebuilding the lower portion of the Capitol can start, the project team said.
Hanes told lawmakers they can expect a similar setup to the 2023 legislative session when they convene for the short session in February, except temporary support offices will be removed, and all three State Street entrances and the garage entrances will be available.
Oregon State Police will have a temporary space in the building, and Visitor Services will have a desk at the center entrance. Legislative Admin will also have an area next to the Senate Wing for support.
As of Oct. 1 of this year, $111 million has been spent on the $465 million CAMS III budget, according to the project team. Jones said he did not anticipate going over budget.
“Right now, we are targeting to come in right at budget,” Jones told lawmakers. Phase I and Phase II came in under budget, and Jones said they will continue to try to do the same in the updated Phase III.