State Capitol Annex Project

Capitol Annex construction looking south from L Street

The new California Capitol Annex building will have 537,444 square feet of floor space over 8 stories at a cost of $1.3 billion and counting. Demolition was completed of the 1950's in 2023 on the East side of the Capitol building, which housed the Governor's office and legislator offices. The project’s plans include a new annex and an underground visitor center on the west side of the Capitol and an underground parking garage on the southern side.

Capitol Annex construction looking south from L Street

Rendering of how Capitol Annex could look

Rendering of how Capitol Annex could look

Rendering of how Capitol Annex could look

Rendering of how Capitol Annex could look

How Not To Add To A Historic Building

 Now that the former Capitol Annex is demolished, it’s puzzling to see that the state has not shown an official rendering of what will replace the old structure. Here are some images from 2022 of the proposed Capitol Annex replacement buildings.  Much larger, with a glass exterior, overpowering the historic 1860's Capitol, and diminishing the view of the architectural front. It also appears that all approaches to the historic 1860’s capitol are now below grade, changing the historic character of the building.

You could argue that the proposed rendering negatively impact the historic 1860’s capitol.

Constructing a new addition on or adjacent to a primary elevation of the building which negatively impacts the building's historic character.

Attaching a new addition in a manner that obscures, damages, or destroys character-defining features of the historic building.

Placing new construction too close to the historic building so that it negatively impacts the building's character, the site, or setting.

Constructing a new addition that is large as or larger than the historic building, which visually overwhelms it (i.e.; results in the diminution of loss of its historic character).

Adding new construction that results in the diminution or loss of the historic character of the building, including its design, materials, location, or setting.

Constructing a new building on a historic property or on an adjacent site that is much larger than the historic building.

Demolition begins On Capitol Annex

The term "Demolition by Neglect" fits the current state of the Capitol Annex that is now being demolished. For decades the State failed to properly maintain and upgrade the Capitol Annex, therefore it is now in disrepair and needs to be torn down. State legislators for nearly 70 years didn't even do the minimum to keep the structure up to code or make any upgrades throughout the life of the structure. The budget to replace the Annex is currently $1.4 billion, as you know, this estimate will be way under budget when the project is completed in five or six years. It was only three years ago when the proposal was estimated to be $775 million. The State doesn't even have a rendering of the replacement building to show the public, just another reason why public trust of all politicians is at an all time low. 

Legal Trouble For Capitol Annex

North entrance into the California State Capitol

A December court ruling has delayed the demolition of the existing Annex and construction of a new building, parking garage and visitor center by requiring the state Department of General Services to recirculate its environmental impact report for public input.

As reported by CapRadio, neither legislative leaders nor DGS have released a new timeline for the project or its received impact reports following the court ruling. The Annex portion of the Capitol was closed over a year ago and demolition has not begun.

Opponents of the planned $1.2 billion revamp of the California state Capitol Annex are calling for the state to reconsider the entire project. the state is projected to experience a budget deficit of more than $22 billion this year.

Materials on the north side of the State Capitol

Looking inside the 8 foot fence sounding the State Capitol

Looking inside the 8 foot fence sounding the State Capitol

East entrance of the State Capitol

East entrance of the State Capitol

East entrance of the State Capitol

Governor Newsom

Capitol Annex Demolition

Eastern entrance to the State Capitol and the Annex
portion that is slated to be torn down.

It appears the demolition of the eastern portion of the State Capitol is under way as both the stairs and portions of the granite exterior are being removed as part of the billion-dollar-plus project. While the legislature and Governor have already moved ahead making decisions about the Annex plans behind closed doors, three lawsuits are still pending to challenge the legality of the effort and could end up halting work midway. 

I find it very odd to walk around the construction site and not seeing a single sign posted about the project, almost as if the legislators are ashamed. All the other state offices being built in town have giant posters with pictures showing what will be constructed there someday. Even the monthly newsletter concerning this project have not been sent out in over two years. Remember, this is a $1.4 billion restoration, rehabilitation or reconstruction of the current State Capitol Annex. Estimated completion date in 2025.

There is very little known about what will actually be built once completed. These are some links I found useful. 

California lawmakers consider proposal for new billion-dollar Capitol Annex building (Architect's rendering)

State Capitol Annex Project (DGS)

Planned New Sacramento State Capitol Annex

Super Majority of Californians Oppose $1.4B Capitol AnnexProject as Planned

A overview map of all the underground construction and
size of the new Capitol Annex building

Southern side to the State Capitol where an
underground parking garage will be built.

Northeastern side to the State Capitol Annex
that is slated to be demolished.

Eastern side to the State Capitol Annex
that is slated to be demolished.

Southeastern side to the State Capitol Annex where an
underground parking garage will be built.

Southeastern side to the State Capitol Annex where an
underground parking garage will be built.

Southern side to the State Capitol Annex where an
underground parking garage will be built.

Southern side to the State Capitol Annex where an
underground parking garage will be built to the sidewalk.

Southwestern side to the State Capitol where an
underground parking garage will be built.

Western side to the State Capitol Annex where an
underground visitors center will be built.

Northern side to the State Capitol Annex that appears
 to be a staging area for construction.

Northern side to the State Capitol Annex that appears
 to be a staging area for construction.

“Demolition by Neglect” for Capitol Annex

It's becoming very clear that the plan to demolish and rebuild the State Capitol Annex on the east end is the most secretive public project the State has ever tried to slip by the people. The more I learn about this horrible process as it’s slides through the approval process, the more I want it stopped all together. In the latest issue of Sactown Magazine, Rob Turner does some digging and finds that this entire project is being done in seclusion, everything from the underground parking garage to $1 billion cost to build a modern Annex replacement. At this late date in the approval process, neither design for the Annex or the underground garage have been made public.

The whole plan is also ill-timed as the Governor said he wants to explore the possibility of 75% of state workers telecommuting after the pandemic ends. So now should be the time state offices rethink how offices function. Also, as mentioned in the article, the only reason the annexation is in such bad shape is because for 70 years the Legislature found it inconvenient to their calendar to do major upgrades to bring deficiencies up to code along with other improvements. There’s a name for this in the world of historic preservation: “demolition by neglect.” Owners who have neglected historic properties often argue that they need to tear them down because they’re not up to code even if they were the ones who didn’t make those upgrades throughout the life of the property.

I highly recommend reading “No Annexation WithoutRepresentation” in Sactown Magazine.  

https://www.dgs.ca.gov/RESD/Projects/Page-Content/Projects-List-Folder/State-Capitol-Annex-Project

https://annex.assembly.ca.gov/

State Capitol Annex

If you have not heard, back in 2017 a plan was launched to demolish the State Capitol annex on the east side of the building and replace it with a modern office building. In addition, the plan also includes building a private underground garage and underground visitors center. This is a billion-dollar plan at a time the State has a $54 billion deficit due to the impact of Covid-19. Read more in Sactown Magazine where investigative reporting puts a spotlight on this boondoggle with public monies!

In late September, Gov. Newsom said he wants to explore the possibility of 75% of state workers telecommuting after the pandemic ends.

Annex-Collage massing studies
 by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill

Will The Capitol Annex Renovation Continue?

The SacBee is reporting that a group of historic preservationists are asking the Capitol Annex project be halted because of the destruction of trees. The current plans call for a underground parking garage on the south side along N Street, a modern visitors center underground to the west and a replacement of the current annex to the east. With the budget deficit expected to run $50 billion or more, the preservationists are asking the state to rethink the project. Lawmakers believe the project is safe because it’s being paid for by selling bonds and repaid to investors over time. Next month lawmakers will negotiate the budget and choose to delay certain projects. The proposed $755 million project includes: (1) the loss of many trees in Capitol Park; (2) the degradation of public gathering spaces; (3) the disturbance of Tribal Native Community resources, and; (4) the demolition of Capitol Annex. Preservation advocates are calling for a better plan.