State leaders have known for years that sizable seismic activity would devastate the Utah Capitol.
In recent years, a handful of events have served as reminders about the precarious state of the building, most recently the earthquake in Washington state. The short of it is, Utah's Capitol would not withstand a similar quake. Said David Hart, executive director of the Capitol Preservation Board in a recent Deseret News report: "It will break itself apart."
While one can argue about the economics of retrofitting a nearly 90-year-old building, there is no question that Utahns have a deep emotional attachment to the venerable landmark and support its renovation so long as costs are contained as much as possible. The state needs to move ahead with this proposal.
The $200 million-plus estimate is, indeed, a tough pill to swallow. Yet, some of this community's proudest accomplishments have come from salvaging and restoring buildings that give Salt Lake City character and a sense of history. Among these are the Salt Lake City-County Building, the Cathedral of the Madeleine and the LDS Church's 10th Ward complex. While the money spent to restore the buildings seemed astronomical at the time, each has proven to be a worthwhile investment.
The construction and location of the Utah Capitol will, perhaps, render its renovation more problematic. Utah's Capitol has no shear walls which could absorb the force of an earthquake. Likewise, its builders did not attach the outer walls of the Capitol to the frame, as is the custom in modern construction.
The other threat is the Capitol's location. Although the view from Capitol Hill is breathtaking, the so-called "peninsula" is more susceptible to horizontal movement. The solid marble columns that support the Capitol's fourth floor are brittle and do not allow for side-to-side movement. If the columns come down, so does the fourth floor, which presumably would trigger a domino effect on the lower floors.
Retrofitting the Capitol would require isolating its base, which would enable the ground to move independently from the building, minimizing infrastructure damage. Existing walls would need to be reinforced as shear walls, which would support to the building's entire frame. Lastly, the Capitol dome would need to be reinforced with steel mesh and collars.
If the project goes according to plan, the retrofit would be complete in time for the 2008 legislative session.
Anyone who has undertaken a simple home remodeling project knows how easily time projections and expenses can multiply. Considering the scale of the state Capitol, time and costs will be substantial.
That's why the state's leaders must enter this project with a realistic understanding, and with an appreciation for the fact that, ultimately, residents of the state will view the preservation of this treasure as money well spent.