Concerns build over Minnesota Capitol redo

"Features"

11/20/2007

Associated Press | November 20, 2007


The attempt to give Minnesota's century-old Capitol some TLC is taking on a whole new meaning: a revised plan seeks much more time and lots more cash.

Architects laid out an alternative proposal Tuesday to a panel of lawmakers and building stakeholders. It would push a six-year completion timeline out to 10 years and raise the price from about $260 million to $308 million.

State lawmakers will consider next year whether to make a downpayment on the project. Last year, they balked at the idea of writing two $130 million checks to finish the job by 2014.

So architects developed an option that spreads the cost and work out over the next decade, ending in 2017.

Broadly, the project involves replacing the ventilation and mechanical systems, adding fire sprinklers, fixing moisture problems and expanding office and public meeting space.