California’s main Capitol building in Sacramento was completed in 1874. It is a historic treasure, but after World War II it became obvious it wasn’t large enough to handle the needs of our growing state. An annex attached to the Capitol was completed in 1952, and at approximately 325,000 square feet, the space problem was solved for decades.
But, problems have developed over the years. The annex was designed to last just 50 years for a part-time Legislature. With six floors, the annex doesn’t line up with the historic Capitol, which has four. If you’re in the old building and need to go to a “higher” level in the annex, you have to go downstairs. Safety issues are a major concern since the building contains hazardous materials like asbestos and lacks adequate fire protection.
