The U.S. Architect of the Capitol (AOC) (Washington, DC) recently reopened the Capitol rotunda following the successful completion of its restoration.
Preserving the historic rotunda was a priority, the agency says. Water leaking through the Capitol dome and into the building had caused more than 1,000 cracks, thereby damaging paint, cast iron, stone, and decorative elements in the rotunda.
Beginning in July 2015, and throughout the restoration process, the AOC says it repaired ironwork, upgraded electrical and mechanical systems, installed new lighting, removed hazardous materials, and returned the paint scheme to more historically accurate colors.
Tradesmen and experts from historic preservation officers, as well as engineers, craftsmen, and painters, worked for over a year to restore the space.
“This is an important step in the final phase of the Capitol dome restoration,” says Stephen T. Ayers, director of the AOC. “Work continues in the interstitial space—between the outer dome and inner dome—and the exterior of the Dome. But reopening the rotunda is a milestone for our agency and the country at large.”
The U.S. Capitol building is visited by more than 2 million visitors each year. Since 1824, the rotunda has been a site where the United States has recognized some of its most solemn and celebratory events.
For more details on the Capitol’s full repair and restoration project, visit the AOC’s Web site.