State Office Building construction project on track for 2027 completion, state government panel hears

Renovation and expansion of the State Office Building is to be finished by July 29, 2027.

So how are things going since work began gutting the current structure, erecting steel, pouring concrete and wall framing throughout a project wrapped with scaffolding or encased in plastic just west of the Capitol?

A brief update was provided to the House State Government Finance and Policy Committee Tuesday.

Demolition inside the existing State Office Building is complete. “We are working on build back framing on floors 1-5, so we’re installing aluminum studs for walls, working on drywalling the space now, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, life safety is being installed,” said Eric Radel, construction operations manager at the Department of Administration.

Masonry on the west side of the addition is scheduled through April with window and curtainwall installs scheduled to begin in April and May.

[MORE: View funding breakdown, project detail timeline and photo updates]

As of last week, $483.76 million of project expenses has been allocated with $29.77 million remaining.

“We have successfully allocated dollars for more than 90% of the materials at this time for the project, so we’re locked into a lot of those pricings which is really good news,” said Joe Stahlmann, vice president for MOCA Systems, the project manager.

More than $478.58 million of the project cost is being financed, including a $454 million sale of certificates of participation in October 2023 and just under $35 million coming from the General Fund.

The current timeline calls for substantial completion of the existing State Office Building by Dec. 31, 2026, and substantial completion of the new space, including hearing rooms, by June 25, 2027.

As for when members, staff and others will relocate from the aging Centennial Office Building, a lot of decisions remain to be made.