Funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to the tune of $39.5 million has been approved for a complete renovation of the AP Lutali Executive Office Building in Utulei.
According to Director of Administrative Services Tanya Ma’o Aab, this funding will also pay for the relocation of offices now in the EOB to other sites while the renovations are underway.
Approval was given by the ARPA Oversight Office on Tuesday.
Ma’o-Aab says the whole interior of the three-story building will be replaced from floor to ceiling, all mechanical systems will be replaced, new sprinkler and alarm system will be installed along with air conditioning systems and ventilation ducts, and all electrical and plumbing systems will be upgraded.
Since her first day as Director of Administrative Services, Aab says she’s received three write-ups from the Department of Health citing mildew, falling concrete boards on the outside of the building and stench from the walls. “On rainy days, there are constant complaints of water leaks from the ceiling and walls,” she said. Offices are flooded with water, causing problems to air conditioners, and the threat of electrocution from wet electrical outlets. The director also points out that there are constant problems with elevators in the building.
The Department of Public Works has completed a preliminary design for the renovation project. Ma’o- Aab says they are in discussions on the best way to proceed to construction, keeping in mind that the ARPA deadline for contract execution is June 1, this year.
All offices in the EOB have to relocate during the renovations and the director hopes that all would have moved out by mid-summer.
As we reported earlier, offices of the Department of Legal Affairs have moved to the top floor of the GHC building across from Sadie Thompson Inn, and others, to the Pago Plaza.
Now underway is a reroofing project for the EOB which is funded by Capital Improvement Project funds. The contractor for the job which started in November of last year is Happy Trucking. The Director explained that there have been delays in the shipment of building materials so the project’s date of completion has been pushed back to the end of summer.
