Old state retirement system building undergoing demolition

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) - The state began its demolition of the old Maine Public Employees Retirement System building this week.

The demolition work that began Wednesday will make room for a parking lot and green space for the large new state office building nearing completion behind it. The Kennebec Journal reports the 90 employees of the retirement system moved into a new office space on Jan. 14.

The demolition is part of a larger project involving the construction of a 104,000-sq. foot building that will leased to the state as office space.

The retirement system building was built in 1975. Maine PERS Executive Director Sandy Matheson says her department loves the new building and the old building would have been costly to repair.

Officials say they expect demolition to be complete in two weeks.

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Information from: Kennebec Journal, http://www.kjonline.com/