Posted: Thu, 19 Aug 2010 11:16 AM - 11,422 Readers

By: Erin Mulvaney

Construction workers can be seen on the Texas Capitol building's iconic dome, trying to finish restoration work before lawmakers return in January. The project – the first major work to the building since 1992 – includes repainting the dome of the Capitol and the surrounding rooftops, fixing decades of weather damage, and refinishing the ceiling in the House chamber.

Scaffolding surrounds the state Capitol dome in Austin as restoration work is done with completion set for the end of this year.

TIMELINE

Construction began in May, and workers plan to be finished by the end of December. The next legislative session starts Jan. 11.

COST

The project will cost $3.5 million. There are between 75 and 80 workers on the construction site at a given time.

DOME

There is a common misconception that the top of the dome is made of the same pink granite that flanks the bottom of the structure, but it is actually made of sheet metal. The workers are smoothing out dings and dents from years of wind and hail damage that can be seen on the surface, and they're repainting the outside with the same dark pink finish as before. There is some rot on the windows and there are holes in the structure to fill in. And the "goddess" statue that's been atop the dome since 1986 is also being stripped and repainted.

ROOF

The mostly metal rooftops are green and curved with copper cupolas and elaborate trim that rests above the House chamber. The workers are painting the trim, sheet-rock and metal, caulking openings that may be susceptible to rain, and doing any repair on the metal lining, some of which has rotted. During the last restoration, glass coverings replaced sheet metal on parts of the roof so sunlight would shine into the House chamber. Little work will be done to that part of the roof or the trim that rests above it.

HOUSE CHAMBER

The ornate ceiling of the House chamber, which has more than 200 pendants sitting between windows, is being stripped of lead-based paint, sanded and repainted in the original gold and white. The interior work is expected to be complete by mid-November.

HISTORY

Construction on the Capitol began in 1882 and finished in 1888. It was Texas' fourth building for the state government. And at 999,000 square feet, it's the largest state Capitol in the country. After a fire caused extensive damage in 1983, the last major restoration was launched. It included construction of the underground Capitol extension.