SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A standout professional architect from Bloomington has been named the new Architect of the Illinois State Capitol after a search to fill the vacancy.
Andrea Aggertt took over the position on Wednesday, Oct. 15. Aggertt is a native of Newton, Ill., and was a project architect at Shive-Hattery in Bloomington, Ill. She is a graduate of Southern Illinois University-Carbondale and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Aggertt said she is honored to have the opportunity to be part of preserving the beauty and increasing the functionality of the historic buildings on the Capitol grounds.
“My goal is to continue renovation of the Capitol building. Within the next year I want to finalize the master plan to study the short- and long-term needs of the complex. At the forefront is need to enhance sustainability and preserve most of the buildings and improve the grounds,” Aggertt explained.
Aggertt is the third person to hold the position of Architect of the Capitol.
The Illinois General Assembly’s Joint Committee on Legislative Services oversaw the hiring process. House Speaker Michael J. Madigan chairs that joint committee and announced Aggertt as the new Capitol Architect.
“The position plays a key role in leading the continuing restoration and renovation of this landmark structure and related facilities. Aggertt has the skills and experience to do an excellent job,” Madigan said.
The Office of the Architect of the Capitol (OAC) is responsible for developing and implementing a long-range master plan of development for the Capitol complex. The office reviews and approves all contracts for the repair, rehabilitation, construction, renovation and alteration of all state buildings in the Capitol complex, including tunnels, power and heating plants, and surrounding grounds. The OAC has authority to allocate space within the Capitol complex for the use of the General Assembly and its related agencies, and to acquire land for the operation or expansion of state facilities within the complex.
The OAC also provides professional expertise with regard to the preservation of architectural and artistic elements entrusted to its care, and provides recommendations concerning design, construction, and maintenance of the facilities and grounds.
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