GEF-1 fire damage estimated at $15M, up from $350K

Remediation, repair process on track to have employees in building by August

MADISON, Wis. — The Department of Administration said Thursday that a fire at a downtown office building is estimated to have caused $15 million, which is up from the original $350,000 estimate.

GEF-1 on East Washington Avenue has been closed since a May 16 fire on the fourth floor caused damage to multiple floors.

“This is an initial estimate and it may change in the months ahead as repair and remediation efforts are completed,” a DOA release said.

The damage estimate is based on removing smoke damage throughout the building, cleaning and restoring work files, relocating employees to various temporary sites, repairing and cleaning the ventilation system, and repairing the damaged areas of the fourth floor, officials said.

Crews said the remediation and repair process is still on track for some employees to be back in the building in early August, according to the release.

The Department of Workforce Development and the Department of Children and Families offices, which are housed in the GEF-1 building, have continued to operate from alternate locations.