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Show Office Space In Utah Capitol Is Hot Utilized Available office space in the Utah State Capitol Building has not been utilized to the best advantage, it was charged this week by Utah Foundation, the private non-prnfit tax research organization. Utah's Capitol Building, completed com-pleted at a cost of $2,739,528 in 1915, was designed primarily as a monument and a showplace, the Foundation reports. At the time of its construction, the Capitol housed very little other than the constitutional offices, the Supreme Court, and 'the Legislature. State Government has grown in size and complexity complex-ity since 1915, and new agencies and offices created over the years now occupy much of the usable space in the building. Over the years, a number of small remodeling projects have been carried on in various parts of the Capitol, the report continues. con-tinues. Although these projects have had the aim of providing facilities to keep pace with the growth of government, there has been no long-range planning for the development of the building. As a result, many of the past projects have detracted from the beauty of the Capitol and, at the same time have failed to utilize availabe space to the best advantage. Utah Foundation suggests that before consideration is given to any new state office building projects a comprehensive engineering engine-ering and administrative study be made of present state-owned facilities. This study would be designed to' answer several basic questions relating to (1) the extent ex-tent of overcrowding, (2) effect of overcrowding on the conduct of Dublic business, (3) possible improvement for the situation by better allocation and use of present pre-sent facilities, (4) the use of rented facilities, (5) methods of finance, and (6) relationship of office space needs to other urgent ur-gent state needs. The Foundation report examines ex-amines some of the possibilities of reclaiming additional office space in state-owned buildings, including the Capitol, in the Salt Lake City area. An examination exami-nation also is made of the rental arrangements made by agencies leasing facilities in Salt Lake City. |