Casper residents now have a better idea of what will rise from the rubble along West Collins Drive across from the NCHS football field.
Renderings of the exterior design for the Casper state office building have recently been released. The design is by local architecture firm Stateline No. 7.
According to architect and firm owner Lyle Murtha, the architects were asked to deliver something that both blended with the history of the Old Yellowstone District but also gave a modern approach.
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Red brick will cover much of the building, with glass and angular touches for contrast.
The building replaces several smaller structures lining West Collins Drive. Last year several tenants in the buildings raised concerns about the cost of eviction and relocating. They eventually reached agreements with the state, and demolition started late last year.
The new building will replace an aging office building at Midwest and Center, which was built in 1960 and needs $8.2 million worth of safety updates and differed maintenance, according to Murtha.
The new complex will also consolidate all state agencies under one roof, ending the need to rent various offices around the city. Nearly 400 state employees will be housed in the building.
Overall the building will have 110,000 square feet of space, with room on the third floor for growth. There is also room on the 11 acres of land for building additions or another building in the future if needed.
The interior layout features much use of natural light and open space for both workers and visitors. The third floor features a large flexible conference room that can be configured for small and large meetings. It will be shared by all of the agencies.
The Rails to Trails path will be rearranged and incorporated into the open space of the landscaping, Murtha said during a task force meeting last May. The design is meant to encourage biking and walking to the building.
The state building, now designated with the 444 West Collins Drive address, is scheduled to be completed in 2021.
