Montana State Capitol Condition Assessment

The Montana State Capitol was constructed in two phases: the central sandstone portion completed in 1902, and the east and west granite wings in 1912. The building was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1981. Despite several repair campaigns during the last 100 years, many of the exterior materials are reaching the end of their life, and the sandstone walls continue to suffer systemic deterioration. Hennebery Eddy’s Historic Resources Group and Comma-Q Studio performed a comprehensive building condition assessment of this landmark building — the first step in developing treatment recommendations and a prioritized preservation plan.

This condition assessment effort merges traditional assessment practices with modern architectural software to streamline the process and generate an Historic Building Information Model (HBIM) that will serve recommended future rehab projects and provide the State of Montana’s General Services Division with a management tool. The model will function as a repository of historical data, current conditions, and a record of work for the Capitol Building. The findings of the condition assessment will inform treatment recommendations and alternatives and help the state prioritize rehabilitation efforts.