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State Demolishes Iconic Mid-Century Building
21 Apr
Summary
- A historic modernist building designed by A. Gordon Lumm is being demolished.
- Renovating the General Administration Building was deemed too costly.
- Historic elements like a mosaic mural and bronze seal are being preserved.
The General Administration Building, a notable example of post-WWII modernist architecture and the International Style, is slated for demolition on the Washington state Capitol campus. Designed by Tacoma architect A. Gordon Lumm and completed in 1956, the six-story structure has been vacant since 2018 and poses health hazards due to asbestos and lead paint.
State officials determined that renovating the 283,865-square-foot building would be more expensive than demolition. The current demolition project is budgeted at $16.5 million, with major work expected to conclude by November. This process began in mid-August, with crews already removing interior and exterior elements.
Despite demolition, efforts are underway to preserve significant historic components. A large mosaic mural and the building's bronze seal have already been relocated or removed for future use. Exterior sandstone and granite elements will also be stored. The site's permanent use will be decided by the Legislature, though a temporary construction laydown area is planned.
The building once symbolized the centralization of state government in Olympia, a move contested in a 1950s Supreme Court case. Its construction also displaced plans for a local church's new sanctuary.
