Saint Paul – The recently completed restoration of the Minnesota State Capitol has been recognized as a Public Works Project of the Year for 2018 by the American Public Works Association, (APWA.)

The award was in the category set aside for the largest projects – over $75 million. It will be shared by the Minnesota Department of Administration as the primary agency, J.E. Dunn Construction Company as the primary contractor and HGA Architects and Engineers as the primary consultant.

The $309 million Capitol restoration was a comprehensive project covering virtually every inch of the 113-year old structure, from reinforcing subterranean footings to the newly-gilded finial on top of the Capitol’s dome. Over 26,000 pieces of marble were repaired, 242 historic windows were replaced, 57 murals were restored and thousands of other repairs were made to architect Cass Gilbert’s Renaissance Revival masterpiece.

“The Capitol restoration was the largest and most complex asset preservation project in the history of the Department of Administration,” said Commissioner Matt Massman. “This recognition is gratifying to everyone here who put in countless hours of work with our contractors to complete this project.”

“It’s also a tribute to the support we received from Minnesotans who lost access to their Capitol and bore the inconvenience with great patience and support.”

Debra Young, Senior Project Manager at HGA, said “HGA is deeply honored to be recognized, along with our collaborative partners, for preserving, restoring and enhancing this historically significant building. This award echoes the teamwork and close coordination involved on every level from each team member throughout the project’s long history.”

Jeff Callinan, Vice President of JE Dunn added, “The outcome of the Minnesota State Capitol renovation project continues to impress the people of Minnesota, while also being recognized across the country. The result is a shining example of how to effectively execute large complex public projects. The AWPA Public Works Project of the Year award recognizes the deliberate collaboration required at all levels to successfully deliver the project on-time and under-budget.”

Commissioner Massman added, “We’re all grateful to the APWA for this recognition. But it’s the people of Minnesota who are owed the greatest thanks. They supported the Capitol restoration whole-heartedly and were patient with the closures and inconvenience. Their satisfaction with the results is the greatest award any of us can receive. No great public work can happen without their support.”

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For additional information, please contact:
Curt Yoakum, Assistant Commissioner
(651) 201-2771
curtis.yoakum@state.mn.us