Tenant talk [Vol. 3 [i.e. 4], no. 1 (Apr. 1998)]

Volume 3, No. 1

April 1998

Restoration Begins in House and Senate Chambers

With the restoration of the public spaces

ment of technology, many of these elements have

almost complete, work now begins on the restoration

disappeared as major changes and renovations

of the House and Senate Cham-

occurred. Air conditioning and

bers. Actual work in the House

high intensity lighting for televi-

Chambers will not begin until the

sion cameras were installed in the

first week of May 1998 in order

mid 1960's. The communication

to accommodate candidates

systems, including speakers,

qualifying for the upcoming

voting and audio-visual equip-

elections. The restoration is

ment date from the early 1980's

scheduled for completion in

with some recent improvements

December of 1999 with con-

in the last 10 years.

struction breaks being taken for

In 1996, the Georgia

the annual legislative session.

General Assembly funded a

When the State Capitol

Historic Structure Report for

opened in 1889, the House and

the House and Senate Cham-

Senate Chambers, unlike the

public spaces in the building,

Artist's rendering of restored Senate Chamber courtesy of Lord,

were very elaborately decorated Aeck & Sargent.

bers which describes the history and original appearance of both Chambers as well as the

with cove ceilings, decorative paintings and beautiful

renovations which have occurred and their present

carpets. Through the years and with the advance-

condition. This report serves as the blueprint for

See, Restoration, inside

World War I Monument Dedicated

United States Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs Hershel Gober, Governor Zell Miller, Georgia House Speaker Tom Murphy and World War I veteran James Lindsey participated in the dedication ceremony for Georgia's World War I memorial on April 6. The granite memorial, which is located opposite the World War II memorial outside the Floyd Building, consists of three bronze tablets with the names of the 1,937 Georgia veterans who died in World War I. It is estimated that 103, 468 Georgians participated in the war, and as of July 1, 1997, the Veterans Administration estimated that there were 100 World War I veterans residing in Georgia. With the dedication of the World War I memo-

rial, veterans of each major conflict of this century have been recognized with a monument in the plaza of the Floyd Building.
The General Assembly has also taken steps to honor longtime Georgia Department of Veterans Service Commissioner Pete Wheeler. Senate Resolution 583, which awaits the Governor's signature, renames the Floyd Building Plaza to Pete Wheeler Georgia War Veterans Memorial Plaza.
Wheeler has worked for the Department of Veterans Service for 49 years, 43 of those as Commissioner. He has served under nine governors and has been instrumental in the development of the War Veterans Memorial Complex.

Weather Monitoring System Installed on Capitol Hill
As part of a statewide program to improve communications of dangerous weather conditions, a Data Transmission Network (DTN) system has been installed in the GBA Communications Center in the basement of the Floyd Building. Funded by the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA), the DTN system is a stand alone information system that continuously monitors weather conditions and provides updated information on severe conditions in our area.
The system is satellite driven and can receive timely and reliable information regardless if cable and telephone services are impaired. It is also capable of detecting second weather systems even after land based communications have been interupted. Unlike the Weather Channel, which provides updates every 10 minutes, the DTN system continuously monitors the weather conditions.
The Georgia Building Authority has in place an emergency plan and communication procedures to notify tenants of serious weather conditions. Each agency has employees who have been designated Emergency Coordinators. These coordinators are the first point of contact and are responsible for notifying department employees of these conditions.

Capitol Education Center to be
Built at Georgia Plaza Park
Look for lots of activity at Georgia Plaza Park as crews begin construction of the Georgia Capitol Education Center, a state-of-the-art center with multimedia auditorium, classroom, broadcast studio and education exhibit space. The project, scheduled for completion in January 1999, is the result of efforts by the Georgia General Assembly as well as the Georgia Building Authority, Secretary of State's Office, Georgia State Financing and Investment Commission and Georgia Public Television. In 1996, the General Assembly appropriated funds to convert the Montage Room, one of four banquet rooms in the facility, to a video conference center. A year later, during the 1997 legislative session, the project evolved into the Capitol Education Center. Lord, Aeck & Sargent was selected as the architect for the project and demolition began in January 1998. The Georgia Capitol Education Center will be a multi-purpose center serving the needs of the General Assembly, Georgia Public Television, state agencies and departments as well as visitors to Capitol Hill. One of the main objectives is to provide enhanced educational resources for the many students and visitors to the State Capitol. From January until June, typically the busiest time of year at the Capitol, approximately 500 people per day tour Georgia's historic Capitol and museum. The Education Center will serve as an initial orientation area for these groups with a multimedia presentation, currently being developed by GPTV, and introductions by Secretary of State tour guides prior to an actual site visit to the Capitol. The Center will also be available for use by state agencies as a GSAMS video conference center. Surveys conducted by GBA in 1996 indicate regular use of the facility by at least 28 agencies. Another major plus is that the Center can serve as an alternative site for joint legislative sessions of the General Assembly should one of the chambers not be available. A broadcast studio will also allow production of GPTV's Lawmakers and for training purposes for state schools.
See, Education Center, back page

Restoration, continued from front page
any future restoration efforts. This past fall, work crews began investigating, and continue to
investigate, the condition of the plaster as well as the decorative painting. Thus far, a great deal of the original decorative painting exists. With this discovery, architects believe sufficient replication of the decorative painting is possible. In the next few weeks, work will begin on repairing the ceiling plaster and recreating the cove ceiling and decorative painting. Mechanical diffusers, fire sprinkler heads and lights will be installed in unobtrusive locations so that they do not distract from the highly ornate ceiling. The original desks in both chambers are scheduled for restoration and temporary furnishings will be supplied until their restoration is complete. Limited work is scheduled for the walls. The Chamber will be returned to a presentable appearance before the start of the 1999 Legislative Session.
Technology has changed considerably and many of the systems installed in the 1980's can be updated. Design is underway on technical and communication systems needed in the Chambers including mechanical, electrical, lighting, voting, voice amplification, page call, computers and television broadcast. Discusssions are ongoing as to the best approach for these systems and their integration with the restored Chambers.
Following the 1999 Legislative Session, construction will begin again concentrating on the walls and floors. Woodwork will be refinished and the windows restored with operable wood shutters. The fireplaces will be opened and the mirrored mantels recreated. Communication systems will be installed at this time and the floors will be carpeted in a design similar to the original weave and patterns.
Once these Chambers are restored to their original elegance, another step in the restoration process will be complete and the focus will turn to the restoration of the Appropriations Room, formerly the Supreme Court Chamber.

Calendar of Election Events

June 22

Last day to register and be eligible to vote in the General and Nonpartisan Primary and Runoff

July 21

General and Nonpartisan Primary

August 11

General and Nonpartisan Primary Runoff

October 5

Last day for individual to register and be eligible to vote in the General and Nonpartisan Election and Runoff

November 3

General and Nonpartisan Election

November 24 General and Nonpartisan Election Runoff

Mail-in voter registration application are available at your local library, city hall or drivers' license office.

Earth Day Tips
Here's some suggestions for cutting back on the paper trail most of us leave at the office.
U Copy on both sides of the paper, especially for internal documents and drafts.
U Reduce documents to fit two pages into one.
U Use e-mail, voice mail and fax modem instead of hard copies of correspondence whenever possible.
U Eliminate unnecessary subscriptions and remove your name from the mailing list of companies you aren't interested in doing business with.
U Recycle!

Other Happenings
April 22 Secretaries Day

April 22 Earth Day

April 24 Arbor Day

April 26

Confederate Memorial Day

May 10

Mother s Day

May 14

Clean Commute Day

May 25

Memorial Day

Education Center, continued from inside
The project includes 9000 square feet of renovation to the existing structure and the construction of a 19,650 square foot addition. The new construction will primarily be the multimedia audio/ visual auditorium as well as a control room located adjacent to the auditorium. In addition to the orientation film for visitors, the auditorium will be used to broadcast legislative proceedings via GPTV cameras in the House, Senate and Appropriations Room. Two large assembly rooms will also provide additional multimedia space for large groups.
The Montage Room, located one level down from the Garden Room, will be renovated for use as the GPTV studio and newsroom. With the renovation, GPTV's capabilities for producing its legislative coverage will be expanded. The renovation will also provide easier access to legislators for on-set interviews. The studio will consist of a two set sound stage, control room and newsroom. This studio space will supplement the existing control area in the basement of the State Capitol.
Georgia Plaza Park has seen its share of ups and downs since its development in 1968. Originally intended as a combination park and parking garage, the facility took on a new life in the early 1970's with the introduction of food service. The Georgia Building Authority operated a hot dog stand serving the lunch time needs of state and city employees. It became so popular that GBA eventually expanded its operation into what we know as the Garden Room. In its heydey, the Garden Room served approximately 2500 meals per day with regular use of the Montage, Fireplace, Waterfall and Capitol City Rooms as banquet facilities. However, the opening of Underground Atlanta in the mid1980's adversely affected the volume of customers frequenting the Garden Room. The GBA closed the Garden Room in 1995 and allowed a private vendor to offer food service in 1997. Banquet rooms in the facility have been used on an occasional basis.
The Capitol Education Center will be a reality within the year, bringing new life to Georgia Plaza Park and serving the needs of state government and visitors to Capitol Hill. (Reprinted from GBA News, February 1998)
Important Telephone Numbers!
GBA Security ...................... 656-3281 Parking .................................... 656-3251 Recycling ............................... 651-5924 Banquets .............................. 656-3850
Work Order Desks Maintenance Team North ............... 656-3273 Maintenance Team South .............. 651-8670 Maintenance Team Ptree ................ 657-4422 Shared Services ................................. 657-5663

Public Spaces in State Capitol Declared Smoke-Free
The Legislative Services Committee, in their January 1998 meeting, designated the public spaces on the third and fourth floors of the State Capitol as a smoke-free environment. Luther Lewis, Executive Director of the Georgia Building Authority, followed suit and declared the first and second floor corridors smoke-free.
The Georgia Building Authority maintains 18 other properties that are smoke-free environments. In order for a property to be declared smoke-free, the department heads of the agencies in the building must agree and make their request in writing to Luther Lewis. Once this request is received, the GBA will post signage declaring the buildings smoke-free.
Smoke Free Buildings
#1 MLK, Jr. Drive 209 Mitchell/Pryor Building 330 Ponce de Leon Avenue
Archives Department of Transportation
47 Trinity Avenue Floyd Building
#2 Peachtree Street 254 Washington Street 1050/1150 Murphy Avenue
130 Memorial Drive GBI Headquarters
Judicial Building 270 Washington Street 244 Washington Street
156 Trinity Avenue Legislative Office Building (public spaces only)
State Capitol (public spaces only)
is a special publication of The Georgia Building Authority
Send NEWS/ARTICLES to: Ms. Julie Kerlin
1 MLK, Jr. Drive, Atlanta, Georgia 30334 Phone 404-656-6557