Thursday, October 1, 2026
The mechanical Tyrannosaurus rex swung its massive head around and bit into the side of what once was the General Administration Building in Olympia.
Lifting its concrete prey above the diminished structure, the metal jaws opened to drop it to the ground.
“This is pretty good to watch,” commented an elderly bystander at the scene. “It’s better than watching TV.”
Often referred to as the GA Building, it has been vacant since 2018 because it no longer meets current structural, mechanical, electrical and plumbing standards.
Concerns also arose due to the damage done to the structure, which was not seismically sound, during the 2001 Nisqually earthquake.
In 2025, the Washington Legislature provided $4.3 million for the Department of Enterprise Services (DES), which provides centralized business services to state government agencies, to demolish the empty six-story, 283,865-square-foot building at 210 11th Ave. SW on the Washington State Capitol Campus.
Prior to demolition, DES removed and installed the Beall Mosaic in the Helen Sommers Building, ensured the granite and sandstone elements of the building’s exterior were stored for future use, preserved the façade’s bronze seal of the state of Washington, and placed in storage significant signage, doors and wall panels.
The first building constructed on the campus after the Great Depression, it reflected the state government’s growth during the post-World War II period, as well as a court-directed centralization of state functions in Olympia.
The court case that led to the construction of the GA Building began in March 1954, when Thurston County Superior Court Judge Charles T. Wright ordered 13 state agencies to move their headquarters from Seattle to Olympia.
In August 1954, the Washington State Supreme Court upheld the lower court order in a five to four ruling. Two years later, the General Administration Building opened.
The demolition should be completed in December. The Legislature has not yet identified a future use for the site.
“Watching the machinery work reminds me of dinosaurs,” concluded the bystander. “This may seem odd, but it fits.”
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Honestyandrealityguy
I would have remodeled and fixed the roof. Of course, politicians spend more than we have. We have to stay within our budgets. Common sense please.
Monday, August 17 Report this
DudeGuyOly
BobFergs is happy it's gettin gone!
lol jk Bob, just joshing ya. Have a good day Bob
Tuesday, August 18 Report this
CobraCommander
Honestyandrealityguy in early with another post dripping with his lack of self-awareness as republicans hit $40 trillion in debt:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2026/08/18/us-debt-set-hit-40-trillion-months-earlier-than-expected/
https://www.jec.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/republicans/debt-dashboard
Tuesday, August 18 Report this
CobraCommander
And remind me what happened to the West Wing
Tuesday, August 18 Report this
Wesley
If it's replaced, the state should limit the architectural style to the following: Greco-Roman, Neoclassical, Georgian, and Beaux-Arts.
Tuesday, August 18 Report this