November 1, 2024

Ground broken, cranes up for rehab of Joel Pritchard State Library on Capitol Campus

Rendering by DLR Group [enlarge]

The rehabilitation will preserve the architectural significance of the building while improving use for office space.

The ground has been broken, and now construction cranes are setting up for the rehabilitation and expansion of the historic Joel Pritchard State Library on the Capitol Campus in Olympia.

BNBuilders is the general contractor/construction manager for the project, which is headed by the Washington Department of Enterprise Services (DES). The project team includes DLR Group, architect, structural and MEP engineer; HBB Landscape Architecture; and Holmes, historic structural engineer. Subcontractors include Auburn Mechanical, mechanical; Prime Electric; DBM Contractors, pile; and MidMountain Contractors, sitework.

A spokesperson from BNBuilders said the project has a final value of $106 million. DES expects substantial completion by the end of July 2026.

A 188-foot-tall tower crane is being moved into place this week, and is expected to be fully operational by Monday, according to a news release from DES.

Photo courtesy of BNBuilders [enlarge]

BNBuilders is the general contractor/construction manager for the project.

The Pritchard library building was originally built in 1959 to house the Washington State Library. It was designed by architect Paul Thiry, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Named for former U.S. Congressman Joel M. Pritchard, it has served various government functions over the years, and is now home to members of the House of Representatives and their staff, the Code Revisers Office, and other state support staff.

On its project website, DES said that more than 60% of the building has been empty because it was built for book storage — not office space. Also, the building's proximity to a steep and unstable slope, along with its inadequate lateral resistance system, increased the risk of failure during an earthquake — a risk that came into sharp focus following the 2001 Nisqually Earthquake.

The rehabilitation calls for comprehensive updates to help preserve the architectural significance of the building, while improving functionality for legislative use. A 58,591-square-foot expansion will have office space for House members, support staff and other essential legislative services. There will also be a hearing room and a new cafe.

The expansion will be built using a glass fiber reinforced concrete panel system, which is a durable, energy-efficient solution that serves as the building envelope.

Along with the expansion and preservation, work will include significant stabilization efforts. Crews will install 230 auger cast piles topped with a 3-foot load transfer platform cap to support the hillside and ensure structural resilience.

DES says that deconstruction and abatement have been completed, and hillside stabilization is underway.

In a news release yesterday, BNBuilders emphasized how the Pritchard project aligns with its mission to blend innovation with historic preservation. “This project is especially meaningful as it allows us to restore and enhance a building of cultural and historical importance to Washington,” said Matt Lubbers, project executive.

This is the second phase of DES's major Legislative Campus Modernization project, which addresses space needs of legislative agencies as well as critical issues with the Pritchard State Library, Irving R. Newhouse and John L. O'Brien buildings. DES says that both the Newhouse and Pritchard are in the active phases of construction, while work on the O'Brien building will begin in 2026.

DES says the revitalized Pritchard library building will be net zero ready to accommodate future rooftop solar panels and offsite renewable energy and reduced carbon through electric HVAC systems. It is on track to receive at least a LEED Silver certification.