Battling budget constraints: GSA’s Herbert Hoover Building restorations cancelled

We see this problem time and time again – government administrations struggling to complete renovations while meeting tighter and tighter budget constraints.

The latest example of the battle between building and furniture asset upkeep and cost management comes out of Washington, DC, where the eight-phase, $750 million renovation of the 80-year-old Herbert Hoover Building has been indefinitely delayed.

According to the Federal Times, the restoration project originally scheduled to be completed in 2021 has been postponed until an additional $454 million is collected to cover costs. The project, which began in 2008, was intended to fix up crumbling interior and exterior fixtures, while updating the building’s IT structure.

The recent and all-to-common dilemma emphasizes the need for government bodies to begin searching for and investing in cost-efficient, yet effective, refinishing and renovation alternatives. Fortunately, in the past few years, we’ve certainly seen a rising trend in such methods – with government administrators at buildings like The White House, Federal courthouses and military bases calling on The Refinishing Touch to refinish, remanufacture and re-upholster existing furniture assets, eliminating the costly need to buy new.

With the New Year underway, we hope to see more government agencies wisely investing in cost-effective restoration strategies throughout 2013 – a solution that delivers like-new, modern results. For more information on better management of government furniture assets as a means to improve quality of life, reduce pollution and cut expenditure by up to 80 percent, please read our whitepaper here.

Also, keep an eye on this space for updates on the renovations at the historical Herbert Hoover Building, as the General Services Administration (GSA) will continue its fundraising efforts to restart the project.