Renovations Ahoy!

Say a little prayer for the White House press corps–they only need to work in a firetrap for the next seven months, and then they’ll be living in the lap of luxury.

Word yesterday from the Post’s Jim VandeHei, who as a White House regular has a certain vested interest in a nicer working space, that the long-awaited renovation of the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room has a timetable–perhaps as early as July.

The briefing room, VandeHei says, “has all the comforts of a 1970s schoolroom: cramped, ergonomically challenged desks and seats for reporters, and no high-speed Internet access. If this sounds like whining from a pampered reporter, here’s more to stew over: The renovation will be paid for largely by taxpayers.”

You might remember that this project was supposed to start in late summer this year, but as VandeHei writes, “like most government projects, the press room’s makeover has been slowed by delays.”

“Our great hope is that what results will be a major improvement in our quality of life,” White House Correspondents’ Association President Mark Smith wrote to his colleagues last week.

The cost of the project is TBD, although the government will bear much of the infrastructure cost and the news organizations are likely to only pay for the assorted specific items they require.

The renovations have wide support among the reporters tired of toiling in terrible cramped conditions–well, except that is, for CBS’ Mark Knoller. He wrote back to the group last week saying that after a few weeks, the press corps will have turned the renovated room back into a dump.

Full WHCA memo after the jump.

All:

Yesterday, we got an update from the White House team planning the press area remodeling project. The proposed timeline has slipped, and lengthened.

The new likely date for moving to temporary quarters on Jackson Place is July, and the construction is now expected to take seven months. That means moving back into our remodeled quarters in February of ’07.

The reason cited for the delay was the need for more planning and preparation. The reason for the lengthier project was that engineering and architectural examination has turned up more work that must or should be done — including asbestos abatement.

However, the White House team — which included representatives from EOP, GSA and RTKL (the architects) — has identified a number of ways to increase the usability and comfort of our space. One in particular will have a major impact: making better use of the dead space in the swimming pool. Right now, the briefing room floor is made of wood. Since that’s combustible, no active electronics are allowed underneath. GSA wants to install a new steel-and-concrete floor. That should enable much TV and other equipment to shift down to the pool, with significant space savings above.

In any event, the next step in the process is for the White House to issue a memo outlining the division of project costs. You’ll be pleased to hear that since this project is at the government’s initiative, the government will bear the great bulk of the cost. GSA expects to take care of all wall and floor demolition and construction, HVAC, plumbing, electrical, seats, carpeting — essentially all the infrastructure.

Booths will be rebuilt essentially as they were before, including cabinetry. A determination has yet to be made whether new furniture will be needed in the common work areas, but as of now we are not being asked to pay for that, either.

I should add, however, that any of us who request GSA to do extra work in our booths or workstations at this time will have to bear that cost.

The main item we are being asked to pay for is wiring, since that’s really something which pertains directly to our work. RTKL is estimating the cost of cable-pulling at the temporary workspace on Jackson Place at $25,000, plus another $25,000 to do the same before we return to our regular digs. All of us who have permanent workspace (or briefing rooom seats) will need to share in this cost.

In addition to the above, TV will have to bear costs associated with terminating fiberoptic cable that will be laid from the White House over to Jackson Place. Also for re-laying fiber inside the White House after the walls are rebuilt. Peter Doherty of ABC, who heads up the White House Wiring Project, is in charge of this — and I’m going to let him address the specifics directly with his TV colleagues.

Peter will also be arranging for the other cable-pulling I mentioned. Your correspondents’ association will establish a formula for dividing the cost. Clearly, organizations that require the most circuit capacity will need to bear most of the burden. For those with just a single phone line or a briefing room seat, I’m hoping the cost will be minimal.

Meantime, the White House expects to start showing us floor plans early in the new year, first for the temporary quarters, then later for our permanent space. We’ll share these as they become available. I expect to convene the construction committee to review the permanent-space plans. We’re also hoping to set up a question-and-answer session with the architects and others.

Both your association and the administration understand that this project will involve much effort and major inconvenience in the months ahead. Our great hope is that what results will be a major improvement in our quality of life. If we keep lines of communications open, I’m convinced that’s what’ll happen.

Rgds,
Mark Smith, WHCA President

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