Crews repair tornado-damaged Communique building

Paul Falter attaches a board for support of the third-floor vertical exterior wall at Communiqué in the 500 block of East Capitol Avenue. The building sustained heavy damage in the May 22, 2019, tornado.
Paul Falter attaches a board for support of the third-floor vertical exterior wall at Communiqué in the 500 block of East Capitol Avenue. The building sustained heavy damage in the May 22, 2019, tornado.

Ten months after the May 2019 tornado tore through Jefferson City, construction crews are quickly repairing the crumbled sidewall of the Communique building.

Dick Otke Construction Company began repairing the wall at 512 E. Capitol Ave. a few weeks ago, Communique CEO Adam Veile said, but the work has become more prominent in the last few days.

It may take a month still to repair the wall, he added.

"We're excited to see some big-time progress," Veile said. "We can't wait to get back in there."

Along with repairing the wall, Veile said, public relations firm Communique will renovate the interior, install new wallpaper and carpet, enlarge the bathroom and kitchen, and convert the attic into office space.

"We're able to update the cosmetic side of it and improve our efficiency," Veile said.

Veile said he hopes Communique employees can move back into the building by the end of the summer.

Communique had to wait to repair the wall until contractors demolished 514 and 516 E. Capitol Ave., the former home of the Missouri Association of Counties.

Communique employees have been operating out of a neighboring building since the tornado.