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June 26
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JE Dunn Construction served as the Construction Manager on the Wyoming Capitol Square project, which was comprised of four interrelated construction projects. Listed as a National Landmark, the 130,000-square-foot Capitol, which was originally built in 1886, underwent extensive rehabilitation to replace outdated building systems, add critical life-safety infrastructure, and address public space needs, especially the need for larger meeting rooms that seat 75-250 people. This invasive work created the opportunity to restore historic building features while reconfiguring the space to accommodate modern offices, state-of-the-art technology and improved circulation and provided more new hearing rooms and conference rooms to better serve public access to the government.
Listed as a National Historic Landmark, the Wyoming State Capitol, originally constructed in 1886, underwent a major restoration. This project included renovation and restoration of the historic 130,000-square-foot State Capitol, renovation of the 360,800-square-foot Hershler Office Building, and modifications to the underground connector gallery that serves as a tunnel for the Capitol Square. The project also includes a new central utility plant that accommodates all new mechanical, electrical, plumbing, life safety, and ADA upgrades. Although renovations were necessary, the restorations maintained the original appearance and historical features all while re-configuring the space to accommodate modern offices, state of the art technology, additional meeting rooms and improved circulation.
Over the course of the four-year Capitol Square project approximately 3,900 people were employed to work on its various components, two-thirds of whom were residents of Wyoming. On a project this complex, the overall teaming approach was an integral part in maintaining excellent project execution. From the onset, the team collectively embraced the guiding principle to do what was best for the project. Not only were we required to accommodate a massive construction crew, but the project also required ongoing accommodation for over 300 State employees on-site during construction within the Herschler Building. Thus, the Herschler project was phased in such a way that allowed for half of the building remain occupied while the other half was demolished and then rebuilt along with the addition and new central utility plant (CUP). Once the first phase was complete employees moved into the new half, while construction commenced on the 2nd phase which included demolition of the existing CUP. Extra precautions including night and weekend work were needed for critical tie-ins to both the structure, mechanical and electrical systems. Through careful coordination of all project team members this was completed without impacting State operations.
JE Dunn relied on historic expertise and experience from the restoration of the Kansas and Minnesota capitols to ensure success in Wyoming. Critical to the project success was involving trade partners who had demonstrated success with historic restoration by blending restoration while maintaining the historic fabric of the structure. Evergreene Architectural Arts and JE Dunn’s own self perform crews demonstrated the experience and passion for this delicate balance.
Previous restorations of the Wyoming capitol building had destroyed or covered much of the original decorative plaster ceilings. HDR, JE Dunn and Evergreene completed extensive investigation into historic photographs, performed selective demolition and investigation, and were able to verify the existing profiles and composition of the existing plaster throughout the project to ensure the original details were restored. The project team also took extensive effort to maintain original plaster where it existed and blend the original materials with new as opposed to removing and replicating. This process proved to be more difficult and time consuming, but critical to the historic restoration process.
Similar to the plaster restoration, JE Dunn and partner firms, Carley Wood and John Tiedemann, were hard at work during the investigation and structural phases of the project analyzing the existing species and profiles of the original woodwork. The investigation led to unexpected wood species and countless additional wood profiles discovered. The team created custom knives to replicate the original profiles where possible and utilized the expertise of the experienced craftsman to perform custom blending on site when quantities were limited. While the team prioritized removing and restoring existing woodwork for reinstallation, due to the many changes in the building, new woodwork was woven throughout the building as needed. The result allowed new and existing finishes to blend seamlessly throughout the building.
As a 130-year-old historic structure, the investment in restoration of the existing exterior and interior fabric of the Capitol was the critical defining factor guiding this project. Respecting guidelines of historic restoration principles, exterior stone restoration was followed by extensive re-fabrication of ornamental sheet metal at the pediment and cornice and Capitol dome and dome base. Allowing these exterior improvements protecting the Capitol façade from future impacts of the elements. Exterior windows were replaced with historic replications and of low-emissivity glazing. Contemporary heating and cooling systems and fire protection are integrated and concealed within the interior historic fabric as well as accommodating the power, data and audiovisual complete the appurtenances essential for a modern working Capitol. Several of these features were never envisioned when this structure was built.
Adjacent to the classical influenced motif of the Capitol, the design aesthetic of the 1980-era Herschler Building, a modernist structure, had formed a dichotomy which over time became dated. With this project, the opportunity to implement a new design aesthetic was considered a benefit and means to reimagine the Herschler Building and establish an integrated Capitol Square Complex. With the exterior façade removed, enabling the expanded floor area needed, the project replaced the building envelope with an updated exterior aesthetic more sensitive to the character and quality of the Capitol and State Supreme Court buildings, aligning them as a campus with compatible exterior character. The façade is articulated horizontally to create the concept of a heavy base, pilasters and cornice. Vertical articulation follows the rhythmic patterns established by the Capitol integrating large windows allowing natural daylight into the building’s interior. At an urban level, the prominence of the Capitol is reinforced by framed Capitol views between the two Herschler wings.
