Library of Congress Renovation Priorities

Following the occupancy of the James Madison Memorial Building,

the existing Library buildings will need to undergo considerable renovation to restore them to their original beauty and purpose, as well as to bring them into conformity with modern life-safety requirements and current intended uses. The fiscal year 1980 budget request submitted by the Architect of the Capitol identifies the probable cost of restoring the main Library of Congress Building, estimated at $20,000,000. The Architect testified that there would be an additional cost of between $4,500,000 and $5,000,000 for improvements to life-safety systems in the building as recommended recently by a consultant, but he also testified that this cost could be brought within the $20,000,000 by certain changes in the methods of carrying out the restoration work. The fiscal 1980 budget request also includes an item of $900,000 for the renovation of the Coolidge Auditorium, separately estimated from the general restoration and not included in the life-safety study. Further renovation costs are anticipated for the Thomas Jefferson Building, principally related to the essential improvements in the life-safety systems in that building and estimated to cost between $5,500,000 and $6,000,000, but also requiring up to $500,000 over a period of a few years to restore that building to modern conditions following the overcrowding during the past fifteen years. The Library's priorities among these several projects would be

as follows: (1) remove the existing temporary offices in the main Library of Congress Building and develop specific designs for its full renovation and restoration--$3,500,000 requested in the 1980 budget; (2) begin on the phased restoration of the principal public spaces in the main Library

2

Building and effect the improvements in the life-safety systems in that building--an estimated minimum of $10,000,000 (if feasible, the life-safety improvements in the Coolidge Auditorium would be included in this phase); (3) make the changes in the life-safety systems in the Thomas Jefferson Building and carry out minimal building improvements--an estimated $6,000,000; (4) complete the architectural restoration work in the main Library Building in the secondary spaces in that building--an estimated $8,000,000 (to include any remaining work in the Coolidge Auditorium considered desirable).

March 9, 1979

Mr. BENJAMIN. Any questions on the general budget.

CAPITOL DOME ILLUMINATION

Mr. MICHEL. I remember a number of years ago. I don't know it was Tom Steed or whoever it was mentioned the cost of $4,50 illuminate the Capitol Dome in the course of a year.

Would that be right?

You know when we turned it off at one time and then decided to light it up again and it was kind of an odd figure for me and somehow that stuck in my mind.

I would be just kind of curious, particularly with the increase power rates, et cetera, what it costs just to keep the Dome of the Capitol uminated at night. I frankly think it is a symcci of this city that ought to be, but it is amazing when you come down to one line item.

Mr. BENJAMIN. That ought to be in the Architect's annual report Mr. Raymond Carrol. We worked it all up and we covicusT have it. I must admit that I don't remember.

Mr. BENJAMIN. Bring that up to date.

The information fcLcws:

The estimated cost of lluminating the Capital Dome annually s apprimatery $12,000.

PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR LLUMINA MON

Mr. WHITE. I might say, in corroboration of what you just mentioned in terms of its symbolism, that when we cut the m tien down during the 1973 energy crunch

Mr. MICHEL. I guess that is when it was, right?

M- WHITE. —and we made some computations at that time. which we will update, we had a lot of letters come in. act cry from congressmen, but from constituents and visitors. net lang that very much. The attitude expressed was that if you were going to save energy someplace, it ought not to be at the expense of the symbol of freedom and democracy.

BOTANIC GARDEN

Mr. BENJAMIN, Botanic Garden.

Requesting $1,473,000 and 57 positions for fiscal year 1980. The budget schedules, summary page, and pages 121 through 113 be inserted in the record.

The information flows:

Within-grade Promotions, Wage Board

employees...