Contractor selected for repairing Capitol exterior
JE Dunn Construction to repair, restore building's deteriorating exterior
OKLAHOMA CITY — The State
of Oklahoma on Monday selected JE Dunn Construction to repair and restore the
deteriorating exterior of the 97-year-old State Capitol.
JE Dunn Construction received the top score of the three teams that
participated in the state’s competitive selection process under the state’s
Public Building Construction and Planning Act. Work should begin in the spring
and will be overseen by the Office of Management and Enterprise Services, which
manages the Capitol and is the state’s central operations and finance agency.
“JE Dunn presented a highly impressive, comprehensive proposal to repair
and restore the Capitol’s exterior to its original grandeur,” said OMES
Director Preston L. Doerflinger. “Oklahoma will be receiving world-class
solutions to the litany of problems facing the outside of our Capitol. The
Capitol is our front door to the world and we’re confident this partnership
will help make us as proud of it today as we were when it opened nearly a
century ago.”
Other respondents to the state’s request for proposals were
Manhattan Construction and Capitol Renaissance Design Builders, a partnership
between CMS Willowbrook and Flintco.
“The quality of all three proposals was phenomenal. No bad choice
could be made and the state was pleased to be able to make an excellent
selection for this historic work,” said State Capitol Project Manager Trait
Thompson.
The maximum value of the contract is $25 million. It will be awarded
early next year upon the state’s receipt of proceeds from the first sale of
bonds under House Joint Resolution 1033, which authorized a $120 million bond
issue to begin repairing and restoring the Capitol.
A separate contract for repairing and restoring the interior of
the building will be awarded next year through the Public Building Construction
and Planning Act. Subcontracts will be issued in compliance with the Public
Competitive Bidding Act.
The interior contractor will be chosen based on criteria approved Dec.
11 by the State Capitol Repair Expenditure Oversight Committee.
EXTERIOR
PROBLEMS
The Capitol’s exterior faces myriad problems typical of buildings
of similar age and construction type, according to an assessment by Wiss, Janner,
Elstner Associates (WJE), an internationally-renowned firm the state retained
to investigate the condition of the Capitol’s exterior and recommend repair and
restoration strategies.
WJE spent months conducting an extensive investigation of the
Capitol’s limestone and granite exterior, using tactics ranging from detailed inspections
conducted while rappelling down the building to laboratory analysis of stone
samples. The assessment found:
- Extensive cracking and other damage to the stone façade;
- widespread mortar bond failure between stone blocks;
- insecure attachments of the stone façade to the primary structure;
- problematic water infiltration due to failed seals and other damage;
- improper mortar selection and application in many areas;
- biological growth and staining on stones due to water infiltration
and flawed sealing and cleaning attempts;
- corrosion of several metal component pieces;
- damaged, inadequate or failing anchors;
- lack of adequate anchoring for some walls due to damage or failure
to install during initial construction;
- aging windows and window panels in need of replacement;
- and degraded subgrade foundation walls in need of replacement.
JE Dunn Construction will use the findings and recommendations in
WJE’s assessment to guide work on the building’s exterior. The assessment can
be viewed on the Capitol Restoration website, capitolrestore.ok.gov.
ABOUT JE
DUNN CONSTRUCTION
JE Dunn Construction is a leading, full service commercial construction
company with offices in 20 cities, including Oklahoma City, and an extensive
history in renovating historic structures nationwide. Among the 300 exterior
projects in its portfolio are more than 30 National Register of Historic Places
properties, including the state capitol buildings in Kansas, Minnesota, Oregon
and Wyoming. JE Dunn has 24 projects currently active in Oklahoma.
Media Contact
JOHN ESTUS Director of Public Affairs (405) 521-3097 | john.estus@omes.ok.gov
About the Office of Management and Enterprise Services
The Office of Management and Enterprise Services provides financial, property, purchasing, human resources and information technology services to all state agencies, and assists the Governor’s Office on budgetary policy matters. Our mission: To lead, support, and serve. For more information, visit OMES.OK.gov.
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