Combining a renovated central utility plant with the Capitol Square Project allowed for economies of scale in construction costs, while also addressing critical replacement of failing equipment and piping. The systems in the CUP had reached the end of their existing life cycles and required extraordinary maintenance to keep operational.
Once the Capitol reopens later this year, one of the most significant structural aspects of the project will be hidden below visitors’ feet. New foundation supports, called micropiles, almost 35 feet below the Capitol’s foundation have strengthened the 130-year-old building to handle the structural changes that were necessary for restoration.
Highly skilled artisans with the Gilders’ Studio have restored the lustrous gold leaf finish on the Capitol dome, which is the culmination of significant restoration work on the dome. The gilding process used one Imperial ounce, that's 28 grams, of gold per 100 square feet, totaling about 7 ounces of gold.
About 225 cubic yards or 900,000 pounds of concrete were poured as part of the construction work to expand the Herschler Building. The two-day early morning concrete pour focused on slabs on the second, third, and fourth floors of the east wing of the building. The three slabs are five and a half inches thick with a surface area of about 18,000 square feet.
The Wyoming Capitol Square Project is starting another progress milestone as the new exterior wall panels are placed on the east wing of the Herschler Building, starting in July. Over 300 panels with a typical size of 10’x14’ will be placed on the east wing.
The Wyoming Rural Electric News (WREN) Magazine published an article on the Capitol restoration efforts in its July 2017 issue. The reprint of the article has been made available courtesy of the WREN Magazine.
Did you know that the upper part of the exterior of the Capitol is made of galvanized metal, not stone? The upper entablature, cornice, pediments and parapet walls above the stone pilaster capitals consist of galvanized metal. Workers are almost finished with the repairs to the entablature on the west side of the building and will start moving scaffolding to the east side.
Behind the scaffolding, restoration of the sandstone and metal entablature on the west wing of the Capitol is almost complete. In April, the scaffolding will be moved to cover the east wing of the building. On the west wing, the repaired and replaced stone will appear lighter in color and will weather over time to match the rest of the building. On the exterior of the west wing, 195 stones have been replaced and 336 stones have been repaired.
Co-chairmen of the Capitol Building Rehabilitation and Restoration Oversight Group Governor Matt Mead and Senator Tony Ross kicked off the groundbreaking ceremony with brief remarks on August 25.
The investigation work continues at the Capitol to preserve our state's historic treasure and will continue through July.
On April 29, 2015, workers removed four historic pendant lights from the second floor of the Wyoming State Capitol.
Last week, workers removed the historic chandelier from Room 302, which originally hung in the two-story high Supreme Court Chamber. The fixture will be restored and returned to its original location in the Supreme Court room.