The Virginia State Capitol Building—originally designed by Thomas Jefferson and almost as old as the nation itself—has proudly served as the oldest continuously used Capitol in the U.S.
But more than two centuries of wear and tear put the historical landmark at the head of the line for restoration.
The Building Team—led by the Gilbane Building and Christman Companies—installed entirely new M/E/P systems and added a 27,000-sf underground expansion featuring a visitors' center and ADA-compliant main entrance, office space and meeting rooms, and improved centralized security management.
However, digging near the building's foundation to create the underground expansion was no simple task. To prevent the building from moving, a slurry wall had to be constructed in a six-month process that involved excavating 10-foot sections, pumping bentonite grout to prevent the soil from collapsing, and then replacing the grout with concrete once each section was completed.
With the new entrance, visitors pass through the surrounding landscape, avoid climbing stairs, and are treated to a spectacular view from the south portico—the way Jefferson originally intended for the building to be viewed.
“Getting the tunnel in and making it work was quite a feat,” observed BD+C Renovation Awards judge K. Nam Shiu, P.E., S.E., MISE, VP, Walker Restoration Consultants, Chicago. “This project involved a great degree of discipline.”
To preserve the Capitol's historical splendor, dating back to 1906 when the east and west wings were added, extensive inspection, study, and research had to be conducted. Core samples were taken from the portico columns and key interior locations to assess the building's condition. Radar, metal detection, thermography, and ultrasound were utilized to assess the building's structure and layout. Scientists even chiseled away at the rotunda walls to determine the original paint color.
While working on the building's exterior, it was discovered that the stucco had been sealed with paint that prevented the building from breathing, thereby creating moisture and mold problems. Every speck of paint had to be removed, but due to the building's historical significance, only free-standing scaffolding could be utilized.
The stucco also had to be stripped so that damaged bricks could be replaced. Deteriorated mortar joints had to be tuck pointed with fresh, waterproof mortar. Finally, natural hydraulic lime stucco was applied to allow the building to breathe.
While all of the exterior doors were replaced and the building received a new roof, the original windows were temporarily removed, shipped to Kansas City, and restored. Even the original doorknobs bearing the Great Seal of Virginia were restored.
As for the Capitol's century-old granite steps, they had to be temporarily removed in sections weighing around 1,400 pounds in order to be repaired and restored. Once all the construction was completed, the steps were carefully returned to their original location.
During the meticulous process of restoring the Capitol, some areas of the building were found to be more deteriorated than projected. In addition, extensive testing of historic materials, in-depth historical research, and the application of specialized preservation techniques added to the project's complexity.
Judge Nam Shiu also pointed out the challenge of working on a hill and recognized the team's restoration efforts: “They also preserved all the environments and did not disturb the original entrance.”
The Building Team preserved Jefferson's legacy so future generations can enjoy this important American landmark.
Related Stories
| Jun 4, 2014
Construction team named for Atlanta Braves ballpark
A joint venture between Barton Malow, Brasfield & Gorrie, Mortenson Construction, and New South Construction will build the Atlanta Braves ballpark, which is scheduled to open in early 2017. Check out the latest renderings of the plan.
| May 30, 2014
Riding high: L.A., Chicago working on their version of the High Line elevated park
Cities around the U.S. are taking notice of New York's highly popular High Line elevated park system. Both Chicago and Los Angeles are currently working on High Line-like projects.
| May 29, 2014
7 cost-effective ways to make U.S. infrastructure more resilient
Moving critical elements to higher ground and designing for longer lifespans are just some of the ways cities and governments can make infrastructure more resilient to natural disasters and climate change, writes Richard Cavallaro, President of Skanska USA Civil.
| May 23, 2014
Big design, small package: AIA Chicago names 2014 Small Project Awards winners
Winning projects include an events center for Mies van der Rohe's landmark Farnsworth House and a new boathouse along the Chicago river.
| May 23, 2014
Top interior design trends: Gensler, HOK, FXFOWLE, Mancini Duffy weigh in
Tech-friendly furniture, “live walls,” sit-stand desks, and circadian lighting are among the emerging trends identified by leading interior designers.
| May 22, 2014
No time for a trip to Dubai? Team BlackSheep's drone flyover gives a bird's eye view [video]
Team BlackSheep—devotees of filmmaking with drones—has posted a fun video that takes viewers high over the city for spectacular vistas of a modern architectural showcase.
| May 22, 2014
IKEA to convert original store into company museum
Due to open next year, the museum is expected to attract 200,000 people annually to rural Älmhult, Sweden, home of the first ever IKEA store.
| May 21, 2014
Gehry unveils plan for renovation, expansion of Philadelphia Museum of Art [slideshow]
Gehry's final design reorganizes and expands the building, adding more than 169,000 sf of space, much of it below the iconic structure.
| May 20, 2014
Kinetic Architecture: New book explores innovations in active façades
The book, co-authored by Arup's Russell Fortmeyer, illustrates the various ways architects, consultants, and engineers approach energy and comfort by manipulating air, water, and light through the layers of passive and active building envelope systems.
| May 19, 2014
What can architects learn from nature’s 3.8 billion years of experience?
In a new report, HOK and Biomimicry 3.8 partnered to study how lessons from the temperate broadleaf forest biome, which houses many of the world’s largest population centers, can inform the design of the built environment.
