HR0065 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0065 LRB095 10691 WGH 30923 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, In 1867 the Legislature authorized the construction of the sixth Illinois State Capitol and the second to be located in Springfield; the groundbreaking was held the following year and in 1877 the General Assembly met in its present chambers for the first time; work on the building was finally completed in 1888; and

WHEREAS, The original design for the building was created by Chicago architect John C. Cochrane, who formed a partnership with Alfred H. Piquenard; architect W. W. Boyington, who also designed Chicago's Water Tower building, played an important role in the final years of the Capitol's construction; and

WHEREAS, The last significant chamber renovations were finished in 1974; nearly three decades of additional wear, combined with critical electrical, plumbing, climate control, structural and public safety concerns, prompted the realization that to ensure the chamber would continue to serve its essential function for generations to come, it would be necessary to undertake a significant new reconstruction effort; and

WHEREAS, Those involved in the initial renovation planning recognized that the situation presented a rare opportunity to restore the chamber to the grandeur and majesty it had not known since its first days; to understand the chamber's original décor and arrangement, guarantee historical accuracy and maintain modern functionality, House and Senate staff, in conjunction with architects and historians, undertook a multi-year research effort involving the examination of period documents, photographs, newspaper articles and architectural drawings in the Sangamon Valley Collection of Springfield's Lincoln Library and at the State Archives; and

WHEREAS, By joint agreement of the House and Senate leadership, and the governor, the construction phase of the restoration was slated to begin in 2006; only moments after the 94th General Assembly adjourned its Spring session in May that year did workers begin the task of preparing the chamber, moving quickly to remove old fixtures and furnishings in preparation for the renovation ahead; so began the labors of hundreds of craftsmen and women working continuously for eight months to rebuild the chambers, literally from the ground up; and

WHEREAS, The firm of Vinci-Hamp Architects of Chicago, known for its expertise in historical architecture, researched, designed, and oversaw the renovation contract; CORE Construction of Morton, Illinois served as the project's general contractor under the leadership of Brian Rumpf, meeting deadlines and working to insure the historical accuracy of the work; and

WHEREAS, Numerous subcontractors worked diligently on various aspects of the project; Colfax Corporation did the initial asbestos abatement; Henneman Raufeisen & Associates did HVAC Phase I which upgraded the dependability and performance of the chambers mechanical systems; B & B Electric and Cochran and Wilken worked together to design and upgrade the electrical capabilities and dependability of the chamber's mechanical systems; Henson Robinson installed modern plumbing; Evergreene Studios provided historical analysis and restoration of decorative paintwork throughout the chamber; Imperial Woodworking was responsible for the extensive millwork; Brooks Art Glass replicated art glass for the laylight; Bennett Electronic Service Company installed and programmed the new audio system; Morton Automatic Electric installed the new voting consoles; Signature Craft installed the upholstered chamber panels; H. F. Fritsch & Sons did painting and woodwork refinishing; Murphy Marble did the intricate marble reconstruction; Bob Gfroerer hand-stitched over one mile of carpet on the House floor and Allied Carpet hand stitched the gallery and corridors; St. Louis Lighting Company provided period lighting fixtures throughout; and

WHEREAS, All of the work was done under the supervision of the Capitol Development Board in collaboration with Secretary of State Jesse White and Capitol Architect Donald McLarty; numerous state agencies and offices, from the Legislative Information System, Central Management Services, and the staff of the Illinois House of Representatives and Senate helped to make the project a success; and

WHEREAS, It is a great honor and privilege to be the first legislators to lay eyes upon and work in surroundings that, but for the addition of certain modern conveniences and appliances, would be completely familiar to the lawmakers who first did the people's business here one-hundred-thirty years ago; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that that we extend our sincere thanks to all those who endeavored to restore this House to its former glory, and create a place which is among the very finest legislative chambers in the United States and one which the people of Illinois can be justly proud; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be presented to the attached list of construction participants as an expression of our gratitude and appreciation.

CORE Construction Steve Roeschley Brian Rumpf Curt Tanner Rich Sandridge Wes Clanton Mike Reynolds Randy Jacob HF Fritsche Wen Fritsche Mark Conaway Tim Durbin Steve Sagle Dennis Gillette Keith Thrasher Herb Craig Robert Smith Doug Hernandez Mike Pryor J. D. Harris Tom Muir plasterers Steve Rothe Gerry Whalen Mike Jones Caine Weber Chris Howard Cochran & Wilken Inc Rick Schmudde Jerry Dillon Link Cochran Imperial Woodworking Frank Huschitt Marcus Belli Lloyd Busse Ralph Heppner Resource One Cindy Davis Kathy Costa Vinci|Hamp Phil Hamp David Hrabal Alex Krikharr Lisa Korpan David Reyff Larry DuPont CDB Tony Licata Mark Gerardot Jan Grimes Ron Wright Mark Flowers Ed James Todd DeJaynes Jim Riemer Bennett Electronic Service John Lauth Lance Bounds Brian Hopper Aaron Rock Morton Automatic Electric Alan Rumbold Evergreene Ed Magee Terry Vanderwell Glenn Brown Dave Giese Terry Brackenbury Egizii Jim Tomasko Dorse Taylor Mike McSperritt Architect Don McLarty Dean McGeath B & B Electric Warren Atherton Steve Trutter Scott Skillett Henson Robinson Scott Williams Doug Parker SOS Rusty Kunz Terri Coombes Donna Fitts Eric Whitlock Daryl Vermilion Harl Ray Joe Lowder Brooks Art Glass Steve Brooks and wife Monica Henneman Raufeisen & Associates Dave Mauch Paul Boland Lee Turley Chuck Belanger Joe Kolodzinski Murphy Marble Mike Van Etten Greg Satterfield Derrik Satterfield Dustin Satterfield Allied Carpet (Iowa) Nick Cox Ohio Carpet Bob Gfroerer Brian Gfroerer Signature Craft fabric guys Matthew Bice Dan Rausch sound Mark Bennett AT&T Ron Skelton Matt Dutz