Senate committee hears $1.3 million request to finish State House entryway design amid cost and safety questions

The Senate Committee on Institutions on April 14 heard a briefing on a Buildings and General Services-led plan to create a single screened public entry for the State House and a corridor linking that entry to the Lincoln hallway, with designers asking for $1.3 million to complete construction documents.

The design team said the focused project estimate is $18.6 million but cautioned it could grow depending on scope. "We have estimates as far as the 18.6 but all the way up to 22 and then all the way up to 30," a committee member noted during the meeting. Committee members asked the team to present the full range so lawmakers understand potential costs.

Why it matters: committee members said the entryway would address recurring safety and access problems — particularly for visiting school groups and public events — and allow screening before people enter the State House. Sergeant-at-Arms and Capitol Police representatives told the committee that multiple security assessments recommend screening as the primary way to protect occupants and visitors.

Design and scope: Joe Ager, director of design and construction at Buildings and General Services, described the plan as an expansion of the current loading-dock area into a controlled single point of public entry that routes visitors through a screened corridor and a glass-enclosed vestibule under the arch. Earlier, project designs included more elements — among them a proposed stair tower to provide a second egress from the Senate chamber — but those items were cut during redesign to reduce cost and focus the work on the entryway and connecting corridor.

Where the money goes: presenters said the $1.3 million request in the House-passed version would move the project from schematic design to construction documents (bid-ready drawings) and does not fund any construction. Part of that amount would be used to hire a construction manager to plan sequencing and a commissioning agent to review mechanical and building systems during design and at the end of construction.

Funding context and balances: presenters reported $243,447 of ARPA funds remain for the project, and a FY24 cash allocation of $150,000 with $103,196 currently unspent; the $1.3 million request is intended to supplement those balances. Presenters warned that ARPA funds tied to the project must be expended by Dec. 31, and that other capital demands — including potential FEMA-funded recovery work across the complex — could create competing priorities in future capital bills.

Safety and code questions: committee members repeatedly pressed designers about items removed for cost savings, notably a proposed fire stair and sprinkler work in the chambers. The project team said areas touched by major construction must be brought to current energy, fire and ADA code and that the $18.6 million estimate includes work to meet those codes for the areas being altered. The design team described possible phased approaches — for example, negotiating with the fire marshal to incrementally add sprinklers or a mist system — but noted that some changes (such as adding a new stair) would require enabling work and demolition that increase cost. A rough historical estimate for a stair from prior schematic pricing was about $200,000 before escalation and enabling work.

Schedule and operations: presenters outlined a schedule that targets pre-session construction during summer months so the House and Senate can resume use of their chambers for session; the team said construction would aim to have the building back in use by Jan. 1 and indicated the project could be completed in time for the 2030 session depending on funding and phasing. During session, the screened entry would be maintained for security; off-session the front doors would remain open to tourists as now.

What lawmakers asked for: multiple senators asked for updated, itemized cost breakdowns that show what was cut and the price to restore specific safety elements. They also asked for clarification on whether earlier design dollars (about $1.5 million for a prior cafeteria/second-floor study) remain available; presenters said prior programming funds were expended and that remaining ARPA funds would be used where allowable.

Next steps: the committee requested fuller cost detail and safety cost estimates before making further appropriations. The briefing closed with officials emphasizing the project's focus is public access, safety and screening rather than creating additional legislative office space.