State Capitol Committee to review second building naming proposal at Dec. 7 meeting

Proposal would name Natural Resources Building the Jennifer Belcher Building

For inquiries:
A photo of the Natural Resources Building on the Washington state Capitol Campus.
OLYMPIA – The State Capitol Committee (SCC) will discuss a proposal to name the Natural Resources Building the Jennifer Belcher Building at its Dec. 7 meeting.

The proposal was added to the SCC meeting agenda after the Capitol Campus Design Advisory Committee (CCDAC) held a special meeting Dec. 1 to consider the proposal. CCDAC tabled the matter at its Nov. 16 meeting to seek additional information and consider written public comment that came in after the comment deadline. At the Dec. 1 meeting, CCDAC voted to recommend the proposal to the SCC.

SCC will also consider a second proposal to retain the Newhouse Building name, which CCDAC recommended to the SCC at its Nov. 16 meeting.  

Information on the proposals is found in the SCC meeting packet

Submit comments

Public comments can be sent to SCC-CCDACPublicComments@des.wa.gov for consideration by 4 p.m. Dec. 5. People can also sign up to comment during the meeting.

While the Legislature has ultimate naming authority, RCW 43.34.090 calls for recommendations that come from the CCDAC and SCC.

Next steps

After any SCC recommendation to move a naming proposal forward, the proposing entity works with legislative sponsors to bring a concurrent resolution and funding package forward. The Legislature would need to appropriate funding for the necessary elements to support a name change such as signage and wayfinding. 

About building naming

Under RCW 43.34.090, buildings on the Capitol Campus are eligible for naming or renaming when constructed, after significant renovation, or when there is a change in the main tenant agency headquartered there. Buildings can be named after:

  • People who have played a significant role in Washington's history.
  • The building’s purpose or agency using the building.
  • Significant Washington places.
  • Native American tribes.
  • Groups or types of people.

When naming or renaming buildings, the Legislature must consider:

  • Gender disparity,
  • Diversity of human achievement, and
  • Diversity of the state’s citizenry and history.