Several state employees have recently given up their high-rise Capitol offices for something closer to the ground.

For much of this month, 77 state employees have been pushed out of their regular offices while crews work on putting a new fire suppression system in the state's tallest building.

Some of the offices have simply moved down a few stories, because most of the construction work is being done at the top few floors of the building. However, for some employees, there have been temporary offices set up in the Northbrook Mall at 1929 N. Washington St. or in another state office building on the Capitol grounds.

John Boyle, facilities manager of the Capitol, said the 16th and 17th floors have been vacated since July 1 and will be ready by Aug. 12. The Capitol has 19 stories.

Keith Lauer, director of the gaming division of the attorney general's office, said the inconveniences are minor and that the staff likes being in a new location. His office is normally on the 17th floor of the Capitol.

"It's working out really well," Lauer said.

Employees are allowed to go back into their offices twice a week with an escort through the construction zone.

They brought limited equipment to the temporary offices such as computers and chairs. Other office equipment, including phones, were provided in the Northbrook offices.

Tax Commissioner Cory Fong said his employees like being relocated for a while, especially at Northbrook because of the easy access and availability of parking. Other tax employees have been relocated to a state office building on the Capitol grounds.

"It might take some coercion to get them to go back," Fong joked.

The construction began this summer after the 2005 Legislature approved $3.2 million for the project. The project includes installing a sprinkler system, new ceiling tiles and some new lighting in the tower and the legislative wing, which includes the House and Senate chambers.

Boyle said the project came in about 2 percent under what was budgeted.

The contractors working on it are Rapid Fire Protection, Skeels Electric, Advanced Mechanical Inc. and Professional Contractors Inc., which all have offices in Bismarck.

The 18th floor, which is an observation deck regularly used by visitors, will be closed until the project is finished next summer.

Boyle said some state employees will be working in the 18th floor, where temporary offices will be created.

The project involves working on two stories at a time, but when the Legislature meets the project will be scaled back to one floor at a time.

"We want to disturb as few people as possible during the session," Boyle said.

The Capitol has a fire alarm system and access to fire hoses on every floor, but it doesn't have something to automatically extinguish a fire.

The state's first Capitol burned down in 1930.

(Reach reporter Tom Rafferty at 223-8482 or tom.rafferty@;bismarcktribune.com.)