Arkansas State Capitol House of Representatives

Type: Renovation     |     Category: Government & Civic

The Renovation of the House of Representatives involved the total demolition of all existing millwork, including the custom chairs the room is so well known for. 

All technological amenities required an upgrade as well, including the sound systems, cabling, and wiring for the famous voter board. As we removed the carpet to replace the flooring, we discovered solid concrete beneath the plywood. With some quick thinking and ingenuity, we created a trench in the concrete to bring power and data to the desks. As we dug, we discovered wiring that provided essential communications functions to the Governor’s conference room. We successfully rerouted those wires, poured new concrete through the third-floor window, and re-carpeted the room, as if we were never there. With inspiration from the original early 1900s design, we were able to furnish and install new desks for the House. These renovations shut down the House Chambers and had to be coordinated in between sessions to not interrupt the operations of the State Legislature. Extensive coordination and communication were necessary to plan around the House of Representatives’ needs to conduct business and ultimately occupy a usable space in time for the upcoming session.