HD104 - Facilities Condition Assessment of the General Assembly Building


Executive Summary:
[Please note that portions of this report have been redacted for purposes of publication, as certain of the information contained In the report is exempt under provisions of the Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3705.2 subsection numbers 2, 3 and 6, Code of Virginia) regarding safety and structural security of public facilities.]

The General Assembly Building has had no major infrastructure improvements since 1977 with the exception of a few small interior renovation projects. A facilities condition survey conducted on the building found that most of the building infrastructure systems do not meet current Virginia Statewide Uniform Building Code requirements and that much of the equipment is at the end, or has exceeded its useful life. A significant number of system parts are no longer manufactured.

Summary of findings include the following:

1. The building is less than 55% efficient. Corridors and support spaces use up too much square footage. Mechanical spaces are not centralized.

2. Restrooms, stairs, stairwells, exterior entrances do not meet current handicapped accessibility guidelines.

3. Moisture problems are resulting in deterioration that is occurring in both the exterior and the interior of the building. Moisture damage was noted in the basement areas under the exterior sidewalks of the building and at the limestone and granite panels located on the building exterior. Concrete balusters on the East Building are severely deteriorated. Exterior masonry work has significant amounts of cracking. Masonry shelf angles are rusting and expanding. The East Wing roof is in poor condition.

4. The existing windows are single pane windows and are not insulated. Windows in the East Building are very old with several layers of paint, in poor condition and need to be replaced.

5. Hazardous materials are present in the building in the form of asbestos, lead-based paint, mercury, and PCB's.

6. Mechanical systems including chillers, boilers, cooling towers, air-handling units and associated controls, based upon the age of the equipment, are passed their useful life and are very inefficient.

7. All plumbing fixtures need to be replaced in order to meet the current Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code requirements.

8. (Redacted)

9. Electrical service equipment including switchgear, and distribution panels are very dated and have exceeded their projected useful life. Many parts for these systems are no longer manufactured. The existing emergency generators do not meet code.

10. The exterior lighting for the building is very limited and much of the interior lighting consists of fixtures that are 30 or 40 years old and have exceeded their life expectancy.

11. The fire alarm system is obsolete and many components are no longer manufactured.

12. (Redacted)

Due to the age and obsolescence of many of the building infrastructure systems and the number of deficiencies in compliance with the current Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code, a total renovation with new infrastructure is recommended including the removal of existing hazardous materials (redacted).

The estimated construction cost for a total renovation of the General Assembly Building is $80,200,000.