Acoustics project reaches 95% design; subcommittee agrees to seek bids while treating House and Senate work as alternates

The Capitol’s acoustic-improvement project reached a 95% construction-document milestone, and the subcommittee directed staff to move toward bidding the work with the legislative chambers included as bid alternates rather than base scope.

The design team said the project is divided into three core parts: mechanical upgrades and major maintenance (fan-coil noise mitigation and HVAC changes), the broadcast studio and control-room fit-out in the extension, and architectural acoustics (ceiling and wall absorption, and optional drapery in the House and Senate galleries). The team described the 95% documents, cost estimates and a proposed schedule for 100% CDs in late June or early July and subsequent bidding.

Trainer (project lead) explained the approach: balance historic preservation with acoustic improvement across budget, quality and scope. The engineer’s earlier testing established reverberation and intelligibility problems in the legislative and public spaces; the proposed technical responses are (1) acoustic panels and plaster ceiling treatments, (2) mechanical fan-coil remediation and thermostat/controls corrections, and (3) sound reinforcement where needed.

Project manager Nick reported that the new millwork for kiosks was in production and that electrical and data wiring work is being coordinated; he warned that some millwork and kiosk electrical work may be slightly behind the July 10 installation timeframe but should follow shortly afterwards. On the mechanical side, staff said they plan a mock-up — installing remedies in a small room and measuring pre/post results — before more widespread rollout.

The broadcast studio design was shown in renderings; it includes a control room, flexible sets for interviews or lectern use, and an allowance for AV rigging and furnishings. The AV and rigging line items have been developed separately in the cost estimate and will be included in the bid package.

For ceiling and wall treatment, the team proposed an integrally colored acoustic plaster product that sits slightly below historic crown moldings and can be detailed to blend with existing decorative elements. Where necessary the team recommended wall panels shaped to fit the existing upper wall panels and a more restrained stencil motif than earlier designs. In larger spaces such as the House and Senate, the design includes drapery behind the bar areas as a deduct alternate; if draperies are not installed the project would add ceiling treatment in the galleries as an alternate.

Representative members said the mechanical fixes felt like “low-hanging fruit” and urged early procurement of that work. Several legislators and staff asked that the project also study a simple “kill-switch” or relay that could be used in certain rooms to silence HVAC fans for short periods; the design team agreed to evaluate that option in supplementary scope and testing. Trainer confirmed the plan to bid the entire package, with the House and Senate chamber work offered as alternates so leadership can review costs and timing before approving those specific changes.

No formal vote was required to proceed. The subcommittee instructed staff and construction management to finalize the 100% construction documents, include alternates for chamber work, pursue mock-up testing and bring estimated costs and a submission package for State Building Commission (SBC) and Management Council notification as appropriate.