CREJ

MARCH 2017 \ BUILDING DIALOGUE \

he need for a simple radiator repair within

Colorado’s State Capitol House and Senate

Chambers ultimately set inmotion a complex

restoration project that opened up long-ob-

scured skylights, revealed beautiful hand-painted

stencils and, in the words of Lance Shepherd, the

manager of design and construction programs at the

office of the state architect, “returned the stateliness to

the chambers.”

While the before and after images reveal the dramatic

changes achieved by the design-build team led by Spec-

trum General Contractors, the story of how this incredi-

ble historic restoration was actually accomplished

is yet to be told.

In 2013, state officials selected AndersonHallas Ar-

chitects and anassembleddesign teamto oversee the

restoration, which included the updating of acous-

tics, lighting and audiovisual systems within the two

chambers. Our firm was tasked with delivering an in-

tegrated lighting solution that melds design expertise

with electrical engineering for this 11,500-square-foot

interior restoration project – a 2016 AIA Colorado Award

of Merit for Commercial/Institutional projects recipient.

With History Colorado overseeing the designers’ rec-

ommendations every step of the way, the process evolved

as site walks, findings reports, treatment recommendations, in situmock-

ups and reviews became the norm.

After the original hidden 30-by-30-foot ornate skylights (recessed with-

in the attic space just above the acoustical panel ceilings) were revealed,

the team began to remove the no-frills, 1950s-era acoustical tiles covering

the walls and ceilings. Long-rumoredmagnificent works of decorative art,

dating back to the capitol building’s original 1905 construction, gradually

became visible. With the assistance of Built Environment Evolution, a res-

toration specialist, the panels’ original colors, materials and details were

identified, along with the best process for recreating and restoring them

in the most historic way possible.

Jon Brooks

Founding

Principal,

AE Design

Jeff Mullikin

Founding

Principal,

AE Design