State to build temporary legislative chambers by 2025 as Capitol renovations continue
.JPG "Renovations and repairs are being undertaken at the Kentucky state Capitol in Frankfort, Ky. Thursday, Oct. 28, 2021")
As the long-planned renovation of the aging state Capitol in Frankfort ramps up, the state is seeking bids to construct temporary chambers for the House of Representatives and Senate to be used during the 2025 legislative session.
No cost estimate for the temporary project is included in the Request for Proposals.
In the latest state budget, which was passed in 2022, the General Assembly authorized the sale of $260 million in bonds to be used on “phase 2” of Capitol renovation projects. In 2020, the previous two-year budget cycle, the legislature included $22 million in bond funds for Capitol campus renovations.
The request for proposals, which was released on Saturday, calls for more than 27,000 square feet of new construction adjacent to the Capitol Annex building. According to renderings of the projected building footprint, the new construction is to be built on top of the existing Capitol Annex garage, East of the Capitol Annex and due South of the Governor’s Mansion.
The temporary chambers for the House and Senate will measure around 3,600 and 3,400 square feet, respectively, with the remainder of the space being dedicated to offices as well as staff and conference rooms.
In the projected “milestone schedule” included in the request for proposals, construction would begin April 16, 2024, one day after next year’s legislative session is scheduled to conclude. “Substantial completion” is projected for Nov. 30 of that year, with final completion slated on Dec. 31, 2024, days before the 2025 session is set to begin.
Spokespeople for the Department for Facilities and Support Services as well as the Kentucky House Republicans have yet to respond to questions about how long the temporary chambers will be needed or if the project is included in the $260 million in bond funds this budget cycle.
Final bids are due near the end of November, and the project is set to be awarded Dec. 1 of this year.
