The Washington Council of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) has presented a 2005 Civic Design Honor Award to the Legislative Building Rehabilitation Project.

The Honor Award is the highest level of recognition given by the AIA for design excellence.

The state Department of General Administration managed the $120 million rehabilitation and earthquake-repair project.

The three-year project installed modern heating and cooling, plumbing, fire protection and state-of-the-art wireless technology systems, while maintaining historic features. The building first opened in 1928.

“This project presented unique and exceptional architectural challenges,” says Pat McLain, the project director. “It is extremely gratifying that the council recognized the innovative work of our design and construction team.”
The project also improved accessibility, added new public space, made seismic and security upgrades, and repaired damage caused by the February 2001 Nisqually earthquake.

The rehabilitation project was done in accordance with the U.S. Secretary of Interior’s Standards for Historic Preservation. The project installed about 300 miles of new heating ducts, wiring for computers, phones and wireless technology, and plumbing pipes tucked behind historic marble, wood and plaster walls.

As part of the environment-friendly building practices used throughout the project, more than 80 percent of the construction waste – 8,000 tons of wood, concrete, paper, bricks, dirt, metal and drywall – was recycled.

The project also placed 144 solar panels atop the fifth-floor roof of the building – the largest array of solar panels on a capitol in the United States.
The Washington AIA Council is comprised of about 2,200 registered architects who work throughout the state.