Key areas will be closed for the installation of a new roof and mechanical infrastructure

ST. PAUL - After this July 4 holiday weekend, the Minnesota State Capitol Restoration Project construction will become much more visible. Workers will begin replacing the roof and prepping much of the interior for new mechanical and electrical system installation. Key areas of the building will be closed to protect the public and irreplaceable architectural details. There will be no access to the Rotunda, all floors of the East Wing, and the ground and first floors of the West Wing.

"The interior and exterior of the Minnesota State Capitol is a live construction site," said Department of Administration Commissioner Spencer Cronk. "We have a once in a lifetime opportunity to preserve this beautiful building for the next century, but with that opportunity comes some short-term inconveniences. There will be a lot of noise and detours."

As the restoration project enters its next phase, expect to see several major changes.

• The offices of the Governor Mark Dayton and Attorney General Lori Swanson have been temporarily relocated outside of the Capitol during construction.
• Senators with offices in the Capitol will remain in the building, and then relocate outside of the Capitol following the 2015 session. Senate administrative offices have already moved.
• Art from within the Capitol has been removed for safe storage by the Minnesota Historical Society.
• Flagpoles atop the Capitol Building will be removed to facilitate the roof replacement. The official Capitol Complex flags will be flown over the Court of Honor Memorial in front of the Veterans Service Building on the Capitol Mall.
• The Quadriga roof monument (golden chariot sculpture) will be enclosed to protect it during the reconstruction. The Quadriga's male figure will be removed this summer for repairs after deterioration was noted during routine maintenance.
• No parking will be available around the immediate perimeter of the Capitol building (Aurora Avenue, Lots N and O), other than a limited number of disability accessible spaces.
• Green Line light rail stops and Metro bus stops will remain the same (Please note that Capitol area bus stops were recently reconfigured to accommodate the light rail).

The Minnesota State Capitol Restoration Project is a $272.7 million renovation and repair initiative. The multi-year project will focus on repairing the deteriorating exterior stone, addressing life-safety concerns, replacing outdated mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems, and making more space open to the public. The construction phase of the restoration project began in fall 2013 and will end in 2017.

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Contact: Curt Yoakum
Communications and Legislative Director
Curtis.Yoakum@state.mn.us
651-201-2771