The Florida Senate Chamber is finally being renovated. Originally built in early 1970’s, the Chamber has served as the meeting place for over 45 regular sessions and countless special sessions. That is a lot of wear and tear on the Senators’ desks, furniture and carpet. So what will happen to all of the items currently found in the Chamber? According to Katie Betta, spokeswoman for Senate President Andy Gardiner, many items are being reused and recycled. For example, the 40 desks, which have been a part of countless historical decisions, will be sold to new homes. Current and past senators will get the first chance to buy them. Then the general public will have an opportunity to own a little piece of history.
Instead of discarding, additional furniture from the chamber is being used in other locations throughout the Capitol. Paneling on the wall has been saved and a salvage company has been hired to find new homes for other materials. Florida has a 75% recycling goal by 2020. It’s great to see the Senate try and do its part. But the Senate is going beyond just recycling. “Our Senate Chamber has received only minimal updates since its original construction in the 1970s. Our HVAC units were outdated and will be replaced with newer and more energy efficient models. Lighting fixtures will also be replaced and updated with LED lighting that is more energy efficient and cost-effective. Additionally, we are taking steps to ensure compliance with current ADA and other building code requirements and are working to increase ventilation and improve indoor air quality to be consistent with requirements that have been updated since the initial construction,” said Senate President Andy Gardiner.
The Florida Recycling Partnership applauds the Senate’s efforts. They can’t wait to see the new digs (or final product) as the chamber is long overdue for a face lift. They hope to see something with a little nostalgia paired with modern technology. And hopefully the new Senate Chamber will include a few recycling bins too.
For more information, visit www.flrecycling.org.