|
|
| |
| Wed, Dec. 3, 2008 |  |
 |
|
||
| |
Grand opening set for Capitol visitor center Thursday, Oct 11, 2007 By John Lyon Arkansas News Bureau LITTLE ROCK - The secretary of state's office announced Wednesday it would mark completion of a new $542,000 visitor center at the state Capitol with a grand opening next week. On Tuesday, Secretary of State Charlie Daniels will welcome visitors and lead them on a walk-through of the visitor services center in the Capitol's newly renovated first-floor rotunda area, Daniels spokeswoman Natasha Naragon said. The center's features include free Wi-Fi, work spaces where visitors can set up their laptop computers and informational videos which visitors can access on a computer touchscreen. "It's one good-sized touchscreen that's interactive, right there in the visitor center for people to easily access and find where they need to go, who their representative is, what the Capitol cafe is serving for lunch that day and that kind of thing," Naragon said. The project also included renovations of the gift shop, Capitol Police Bureau and U.S. Post Office on the Capitol's first floor. "The area flows much better for traffic, and it's much more attractive," Naragon said. Operating funds in Daniels' budget paid for the project. Maintaining the Capitol building and grounds is one of the constitutional duties of Arkansas' secretary of state. The project was opened for bids in May 2006. The contract went to the lowest bidder, Baldwin & Shell Construction of Little Rock, and construction began in April. The cost initially was estimated at $450,000, but Naragaon said the project grew once it was under way. "We added additional millwork and benches here and touches there to make a complete overhaul of the first-floor rotunda area," she said. Among the other construction projects Daniels has overseen since taking office in 2003 are a $769,735 refurbishing of the Capitol steps and front promenade and a $1.2 million restoration of the Capitol dome. |
