Illinois Capitol Architect Fires Back At Quinn

By Chuck Sudo in News on Sep 14, 2013 6:00PM

Illinois State Capitol architect responded to Gov. Pat Quinn’s criticism regarding the running tab for the ongoing Capitol building renovations in Springfield Friday, calling it “completely unfair.”

Quinn called the renovations, which include nearly $670,000 for copper-plated doors, $323,000 for four new chandeliers and $160,000 for two sculptures worth $156,000 “excessive flourishes” for a state facing a $100 billion unfunded pension liability and owes $7 billion in unpaid bills, and halted funding on the project earlier this week. The next phase of the project could cost as much as $140 million, far more than the $50 million earmarked for renovations. “We’re not designing the Palace of Versailles,” Quinn declared as he demanded Alsop be “reined in” by the board that hired him.

Alsop told reporters in his first public comments on the controversy, “I don’t know why he made the statements he made, but I think they were unwarranted and completely out of line.”

“We were given a direction. The scope was agreed to long before I got here. Money was appropriated long before I got here. We did the best job we could with the resources we had.”

The Office of the Capitol Architect Board issued a statement later defending Alsop and reminding people that the Capitol Development Board, led by Quinn, agreed to the plan.

“While much attention is given to the finishes that restore the building back to its original period of significance, that focus represents a mere fraction of the work being done to restore the Capitol,” the statement reads. “This renovation was primarily about life safety and making the necessary infrastructure changes needed to stabilize the building for future generations.”

Related:

State Takes Heat Over Cost Of Capitol Building Doors
New Details On State Capitol Renovation Expenses Draw New Criticism From Lawmakers
Quinn Halts Further Spending On Capitol Renovations