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Project
Work includes cleaning of the stone and pediment sculpture, replacement of the mortar and sealants at all of the stone joints, treatment of the carved stone and pediment sculpture, replacement of stone where elements are missing or cannot be repaired, and replacement of the bird deterrent systems
Highlight
A Cascade of Books by Frank Eliscu is a bronze sculptural screen that rises five stories above the main entrance to the James Madison Memorial Building of the Library of Congress. Measuring approximately 50 feet high by 35 feet wide, it consists of 98 open books, with some as large as five feet wide
Behind the Scenes
Article
Hard hats are designed to protect from falling objects, not bumps in narrow spaces. A bump cap resembles an elongated baseball cap with a short brim. Inside are squares of gray foam in a checkerboard pattern. This lightweight cap is the key to head protection in tight spaces at the U.S. Capitol.
History & Discoveries
Article
The night before his assassination, President Lincoln dreamed that he was standing in a ship under full sail, rapidly approaching an indefinite shore. He reported having this dream before every major event of his presidency. Although those dreams were surely symbolic, Lincoln entered and left
Public Notice
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U.S. Botanic Garden and Green Business Certification Inc. proudly announce Bartholdi Park is SITES Gold certified, and is the first Washington, D.C., project certified under SITES version 2. SITES is the most comprehensive system for designing, developing and maintaining sustainable land.
Behind the Scenes
Article
The Capitol Visitor Center serves as the main entrance for visitors to the U.S. Capitol. It is a facility rich with informational exhibits, two gift shops, a cafe and two orientation theaters to enhance the visitor experience. AGE 10-YEARS OLD In December 2018, the Capitol Visitor Center (CVC) will
History & Discoveries
Article
Summer officially starts this week and the weather in Washington, D.C., is getting warmer. While water features on the U.S. Capitol campus look cool and refreshing, they aren't designed for humans to play in. These small areas of urban "blue space" may provide other benefits though, including mental
Project
Mountains and Clouds, installed in the Hart Senate Office Building Atrium in 1986, was the last work of Alexander Calder (1898-1976), one of America's greatest twentieth-century sculptors. This sculpture, his only work with a separate mobile and stabile, consists of four organically shaped clouds
From the Architect
Article
It is human nature to try to find order and balance in our surroundings. One of the ways I do this in my own life is to be as organized as possible. My desk is proof of this as it is always arranged neatly with nothing out of place. This gives me a sense of ease so I can focus on other tasks at hand
Person
Nominated February 24, 2010; Confirmed by the U.S. Senate May 12, 2010; Retired November 23, 2018. On February 24, 2010, President Barack Obama nominated Stephen T. Ayers to serve as the 11th Architect of the Capitol. On May 12, 2010, the United States Senate, by unanimous consent, confirmed Mr
Highlight
In November 2017 a Chair of Honor was unveiled in the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center's Emancipation Hall to commemorate American service men and women who are prisoners of war or missing in action (POW/MIA). This chair is one of the original ordered in 1857 for the new House Chamber.
Doing Good
Article
Although the sign on LaTisha Williams' desk reads, "Solutions Please," it could just as easily say, "Find Encouragement Here." With a ready smile that radiates warmth, Williams is always quick to serve and to praise others, with a personality that draws colleagues, employees and friends toward her
Project
The Ulysses S. Grant Memorial is regularly maintained to keep it in good condition.
History & Discoveries
Article
Since 1863, Thomas Crawford's marble sculptural group " Progress of Civilization" has stood in the pediment above the Senate doors on the East Front of the Capitol. Its details have always been difficult to see from the ground, but the scaffold erected for the recent stone restoration project
History & Discoveries
Article
In March, we celebrate Women's History Month as bursts of bright color spring from blossoms across the campus. Just as these first flowers must be the most hardy to survive the blustery transition from winter into spring, the women represented around the U.S. Capitol are no shrinking violets. Don't
Project
In December 2014, the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) began replacing the roof and 180 skylights and upgrading the fall protection system on the Hart Senate Office Building. The roof and skylights, which were installed in 1982, had reached the end of their useful life and, over time, had allowed
History & Discoveries
Article
Since its founding in 1793, the United States Capitol Building has been an enduring symbol of freedom and the democratic process that happens within its walls. Photos of the building are in no short supply, especially in Washington, D.C., where the 288-foot tall building looms in the skyline. Photos
History & Discoveries
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On March 10, 2018, the Capitol Visitor Center hosted a teacher workshop to think about these issues and learn about Congress' role in time. The "Congress and Time" workshop included a tour of Capitol clocks with House Curator Farar Elliott and a session building a sundial with Lee Coykendall
Behind the Scenes
Article
"This program far exceeded what I expected," said Supply Management Officer Paul Venturella. He was speaking of the pilot program to have college students earn class credit while applying their specialized knowledge and skills to advance the work of the Architect of the Capitol (AOC). The first
From the Architect
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Even after working with this agency for more than 20 years, I continue to discover little surprises in the buildings, grounds and art cared for by our employees. I was recently walking in National Statuary Hall's upper gallery and stopped at the " Car of History" clock by Carlo Franzoni where I saw
History & Discoveries
Article
It is said, "March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb." Many people reference this saying when discussing the weather. And historically, some of our biggest snow accumulations and stormiest weather have pounced the Capitol campus in early March only to be nuzzled out by warm sunshine and
Behind the Scenes
Article
Well before winter, the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) prepares snow equipment, procures rock salt and ice melt supplies, and reviews the emergency and essential personnel snow response plans. And with good reason. Clearing snow around the Capitol complex in January 2018. The AOC is responsible for
Programs & Events
Article
Lying in Honor calls for coordination across the campus, and the solemnity of the event requires a commitment to excellence to ensure no detail is overlooked.
Programs & Events
Article
Found on every continent except Antarctica, orchids showcase a wide spectrum of diversity in color, shape, size, habitat, scent and many other aspects. Beginning this Friday, immerse yourself in the United States Botanic Garden's (USBG) annual orchid show, "Orchid Spectrum," presented in
Project
To properly restore the Olmsted Terrace, a six-phased project is underway by the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) to repair the masonry at the terrace walls.
Programs & Events
Article
"Ladies and gentlemen," the committee chair said, calling to order the newly sworn in senators. "We have important business to consider today. The Chesapeake Bay Watershed needs our help to lessen nitrogen run-off – and its environmental impacts." The chair of the Environment and Public Works
Project
In 2017 the Architect of the Capitol completed a long-term conservation effort to restore the murals of the Brumidi Corridors on the first floor of the U.S. Capitol's Senate wing.
Projects
Article
All around the U.S. Capitol campus, there is something that you cannot avoid seeing as you look at the historic buildings: stone.
Behind the Scenes
Article
This has been a year of many great moments at the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) and on Capitol Hill. Before we dive into 2018, here's a look back at some of this year's highlights. Inauguration The presidential inaugural platform on the U.S. Capitol's West Front had its chance to shine on January
Behind the Scenes
Article
One of the Architect of the Capitol's (AOC) strategic goals is to foster an innovative and empowered workforce. Achieving this goal will ensure that AOC staff will exercise greater responsibility for performance, proactively apply well-informed judgement and innovation, to solve problems with