Council Chamber to receive an overhaul
Eight firms express interest in project

Jerry Silver, left, and Alan Downer, Ph.D, director of the Navajo Nation Historical Preservation Department, discuss the heating and cooling ductwork for the Navajo Nation Council Chamber during a pre-bid tour for contractors and architects Thursday. (Photo by John A. Bowersmith/Independent)

By Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — Eight firms showed up Thursday for a pre-bid conference and tour of the Navajo Nation Council Chamber, which the Legislative Branch wants to save from further deterioration.

The original hogan-shaped two-story red rock building was constructed as a Works Progress Administration project in the 1930s and has been enlarged twice in the back (west) side to add restrooms, a conference room and a coffee-telephone lounge.

Branch Chief of Staff Leonard Gorman, who has spearheaded the project for two council speakers, and Alan Downer, Historic Preservation Department director, gave most of the explanations and answered questions before providing a brief tour to show what needs to be done.

The historic preservation chief commented, "This is the symbolic cradle of the (Navajo) Nation's government and it is the council's desire for it to remain the legislative headquarters." He added that the project "will preserve the historic integrity of the building, yet allow us to bring the council and its operation into the 21st Century."

Downer said the building is now one of less than 3,000 listed as National Historic Landmarks, chosen by U.S. Secretaries of the Interior from about a million National Historic Places. Ceremonies will be held in the spring to honor the prestigious designation, he said.

If things remain on schedule, work would begin in July and be finished Aug. 16, 2006, on the first phase with most of the work inside, plus replacing some sidewalks and improving handicap access.

This means that two and perhaps three regular council sessions will have to be moved to another location in Window Rock. Other than the gigantic exhibit halls in the Navajo Nation Fairgrounds, the only two tribally owned facilities large enough might be the Education Center auditorium and the Peterson Zah-Navajo Nation Museum Library's resources room.

Responses are due Feb. 25 at the Speaker's Office.

The eight firms are Beleen Builders of Fruitland, Chuska-Sahara of Farmington, TSDG-Southwest of Phoenix, Pinnacle One of Flagstaff, D. Sloan Architect of Albuquerque, Arviso Construction of Fort Wingate, LAM Corporation of Gallup, and Hooghan Development of St. Michaels.

Overall, the almost $3 million effort is a two-phase project which also involves erecting a new Legislative Office Building on the site of the present four pink wooden structures which have housed the Speakers Office, Legislative Counsel's Office, the Council Delegates Office and the Legislative Services Office for years.

Phase one includes stabilizing the existing chamber, improving handicap and safety access, then building a 2,500 square-foot Legislative Office Building for $750,000 (according to a 2003 estimate). The new building is projected to take two years to complete.

Phase two would include cleaning, repairing and enclosing the unique mural of Navajo life on the inside walls of the chamber, covering or removing asbestos and lead, demolishing the conference room (but not restroom) additions, fixing the roof and rehabilitating the masonry, installing a new heating-cooling system, converting the 1940's-era restrooms into an electronic and telephone space, a new speaker's platform and audience gallery with related communications technology, resurfacing the parking lot and landscaping.

The 2003 estimate in the report by Rick Lewis comes to more than $2.9 million, with $2.1 million for construction and the rest for fees and contingency (20 percent of the construction cost). About one-third of the total is for the restoration of the Council Chamber.

— To contact reporter Jim Maniaci, telephone (505) 371-5443.