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Building Statistics

Michigan State Capitol 

Location | 100 N. Capitol Ave, Lansing, MI 48933

Occupancy Function | offices and assembly spaces

Size | 201,707 SF

Cost | unavailable at this time

Construction | originally built in 1879

Height | 4 stories tall with a rotunda

 

 

Project Team

Owner | Michigan State Capitol Commission

General Contractor | Christman

Architects | EYP Architecture & Engineering

MEP | Loring Consulting Engineers

Civil Engineering/Landscape | Beckett & Raeder

Geothermal | Strategic Energy Solutions

Geotechnical | SME

Structural Engineering | Robert Darvas Associates

Waterproofing | Seal Engineering

Life Safety and Fire Protection Systems | Jensen Hughes

Lighting Design | Gary Steffy Lighting Design

Material Conservation | Building Conservation Associates

Historic Artifacts | Wendy Jessup and Associates

Building Envelope | Watson & Henry Associates

Building Enclosure/ Structure

Thick masonry exterior walls

 

Rotunda | 47 foot tall metal-framed drum with outer cladding of cast iron and sheet metal

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In the center of the Capitol, cast iron columns support the glass floor of the rotunda

Architecture

Information are shown here: 

http://www.capitol.michigan.gov/CapitolBuilding

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Virtual Tour: 

http://www.capitol.michigan.gov/VirtualTour

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Sustainability Features

No known sustainability features are incorporated into the building. 

Electrical/Lighting

When the building opened in 1879, it was predominantly illuminated with daylight. The rooms were originally lit with gas fixtures but it has been refitted with electric lights. The extant historic luminaires and historic re-creations are splendid. Many of these are the epitome of late 19th century Victorian lighting. 

Construction

The Lansing Capitol building inspired a national trend after the American Civil War for fireproof buildings, large enough to house expanding government as well as serving as a durable repository for artifacts of the war, including battle flags that were moved to the Michigan Historical Museum in 1990. Over the years the dome, which at first matched the light tan of the building, was repainted a bright white. The legislature funded an extensive historical restoration starting in 1989 which was completed in 1992. The restoration returned the dome to a creamy-white shade, upgraded mechanical systems, and improved accessibility as well as restoring many of the original design elements. One of the restoration's largest phases entailed removal of "half-floors" that were installed in 1969 to create 50,000 square feet (4,600 m2) of additional office space. The floors were created by dividing the 16-foot (4.9 m)-high rooms horizontally and creating a level of rooms which was accessed from the stairway landing.[8] The Capitol Building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places January 25, 1971 (NRHP Reference #71000396), and was designated as a National Historic Landmark October 5, 1992.

Mechanical

Low pressure steam line from Board of Water (BWL) enters the Capitol building at the sub-basement level and provides heating for the following systems:

- comfort heating via two steam to hot water converters

- snow melting system for the East side via steam to hot water converter

- Domestic hot water heating

Fire Protection

Corrosion caused in the steel drop nipples installed. They are not provided with a dielectric fitting where the steel and copper piping connect. 

Plumbing

The internal condition of plumbing piping is impossible to predict visual observation, and experience has found that some systems exhibit little if any deterioration and other similar systems of similar age and duty show aggressive and significant levels of piping deterioration. 

Sanitary piping in the existing boiler room exposed in the concrete floor and visibly deteriorated should be repaired, and abandoned piping located in the sub-basement should all be removed. 

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