Washington state lawmakers face a new proposal to transform a vacant Olympia demolition site into the future home of the Washington State Library and Archives Building, Yahoo reported.
The Joint State Capitol Committee and Capitol Campus Design Advisory Committee voted on November 12 to seek formal legislation for the project, according to an accompanying overfull and aging facility document. The site at 210 11th Ave. SW previously held the General Administration Building before demolition crews razed the structure earlier this year.
State officials want to replace the current archival facility, which suffers from severe infrastructure issues. The existing building is overfull while plagued by persistent flooding, leaks, and a failing HVAC system meant to control humidity and temperature.
“It represents a once-in-multiple-generations opportunity to focus an accessible piece of Capitol Campus real estate toward our heritage and place of democracy,” said Randy Bolerjack, Deputy Secretary of State, told Yahoo News.
History of the temporary library location
The Washington State Library has operated out of a non-descript office building in Tumwater for decades. The 2001 Nisqually earthquake forced the library to relocate away from the Capitol Campus on what was originally intended as a temporary basis.
Twenty-five years have passed since that displacement, and space at the current 6880 Capitol Blvd. SE location in Tumwater is running low. Relocating back to the Capitol Campus would allow visitors to explore state history directly.
A feasibility study conducted by the Office of the Secretary of State determined the former General Administration Building site is amenable for housing these state collections. The General Administration Building itself sat vacant since 2018 due to safety risks.
Demolishing the structure cost $16.5 million. State officials concluded that renovating the old building would have cost significantly more than clearing the land for a complete replacement.
Legislative funding and timeline
No money has been set aside for the project yet. State Capitol Committee Chair Beau Perschbacher said that the governor’s office supports the proposal and wants to avoid building more standard office space on the prime real estate.
“They can go look at these historical documents, and that can be something that’s part of the memorable experience of visiting our beautiful Capitol Campus,” Perschbacher told Yahoo News, noting the cultural benefits for visiting school groups.
Planning for the project begins with a $250,000 request to the Legislature during the upcoming biennium. A design-funding request ranging from $7 million to $15 million could follow in the 2029 session.
Yahoo said that funding for construction would be requested in 2031, though the exact figure remains undetermined at this time. Construction could wrap up by late 2033 under an ideal timeline.
Why the library and archives must move
What will happen to the former General Administration Building site?
The Joint State Capitol Committee and Capitol Campus Design Advisory Committee recommended turning the vacant lot at 210 11th Ave. Officials on the Joint State Capitol Committee and the Capitol Campus Design Advisory Committee evaluated a proposal to convert the former GAB property at 210 11th Ave. SW into the new home for the state library and archives.
Why must the current archives and library move?
State archival records sit in an aging, overfull facility plagued by leaks, flooding, and a failing HVAC system, while the state library has operated out of temporary Tumwater quarters since the 2001 Nisqually earthquake.
How much did it cost to clear the old building?
The demolition of the former General Administration Building cost $16.5 million before state committees advanced the new library and archives proposal.