For the past three years, the Minnesota State Capitol has been undergoing a massive, $310 million renovation. Visitors to the 1905 building will be able to see the repaired marble, restored murals and reclaimed skylights, but many of the improvements — including mechanical and safety systems — won't be visible. The reopening celebration includes morning yoga on the Capitol lawn, cocktails on the loggia and a Prince dance party.
Changes you
will see
Senate chambers: The chamber’s facelift included plaster repair, repainting in historic colors, adding acoustic wall panels and installing new lighting. Chairs and desks were refurbished. Senate offices were moved to another building, which allowed for more public meeting space.
House chambers: Along with repainting walls and restoring historic murals, voting tally boards were updated with new electronics, desks and new historic reproduction chairs were constructed and structural repairs were made to the attic.
Dome and atrium: Plaster ceilings, historic hardware and bronze light fixtures were restored. Limestone, granite, marble and pipestone used in the Rotunda walls and floors were refurbished and cleaned.
Quadriga sculpture: The 4-ton quadriga sculpture, titled “The Progress of the State,” was removed from the roof above the main entrance and restored.
Supreme Court: Obsolete light fixtures installed in the 1950s were removed to uncover skylights, which provide natural light. An accessible ramp and wood railing was installed. All historic murals were restored.
Main chambers roof: A new copper roofing system was installed, including over three main chambers.
Roof: Removed 5 layers of previous roofing; completed structural repairs and installed new room.
New dining spaces: Expanded dining has been added in the basement level near the Rathskeller Cafe, in addition to a new grab-and-go lunch counter on the second floor.
Exterior update: About 26,000 exterior pieces of marble were repaired or replaced, most prominently on arches above the main South Plaza entrance.
3D renderings compliments of HGA Architects and Engineers
Changes you
won't see
Energy effiency: Newly installed heating and ventiliation systems now allow engineers to easily raise and lower room temperatures. Historically accurate, energy-efficient windows replaced Gilbert’s original windows.
Heating and cooling: Outside ductwork was rerouted from theground to the roof, which provides cleaner air to the building and adds a measure of safety.
Safety: Ninety percent of the building is now protected by sprinklers, up from 40 percent. A smoke evacuation system, emergency stairwell and elevator shaft have been added.
Utilities: Utilities were moved underground, which created space to update the mechanical systems on the upper floors and allowed for the renovation of the basement.
Restoration by the numbers
750,000Pounds of new ductwork in the Capitol building.
30,000Marble pieces marked and cataloged.
40,000New square footage of public gathering space, doubling the space before the restoration began.
300Average number of workers on site during renovation.
11/14Restrooms before and after the restoration.
800Tons of white marble used, quarried from the same county in Georgia as in 1905.
Sources: HGA Architects and Engineers, Minnesota Department of Administration, Minnesota Historical Society, Minnesota State Capitol Restoration Project, Page Conservation Inc.