The Virginia State Capitol Renovation and Expansion

AIA Richmond Chapter 2008 Design Awards

 
Building Type: Public/Government Office; Restoration and Expansion
Architect: RMJM Hillier Architecture; Philadelphia, PA
Associate Architect:  BCWH Architects; Richmond, VA
Owner:  Commonwealth of Virginia, Dept. of General Services
Square Footage: 91,000 sf (27,000 new)
Completed: May 2007
Cost: $105 million

Project Narrative:

The Virginia Capitol is a National Historic Landmark designed and constructed 1785-89 by early America’s most significant architect, Thomas Jefferson. The first major public building constructed in the United States after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the Capitol was also the first building to introduce the Classical vocabulary as the architectural expression of the new Democracy; it is modeled after the Maison Carrée in Nîmes, an ancient Roman temple, in southern France.

The Capitol has undergone numerous renovations since the 18th century, the most notable from 1904 and 1909, when John Kevan Peebles, one of Virginia’s most respected architects, added two symmetrical wings for the Senate and the House. The monumental stairs of the south Portico, as Jefferson had envisioned, were also added at this time. By the end of the 20th century, the Capitol had fallen into disrepair with building systems failures, deteriorated materials and finishes, and significant moisture intrusion and migration placing at risk important spaces, materials, artifacts and occupants. It was also ill equipped to handle the needs of a working General Assembly and lacked visitor amenities to accommodate thousands of visitors annually.

Following a national search, the design team was selected to lead the restoration of the Jeffersonian building, create a modern working environment for the General Assembly, and add visitor amenities and much needed program space. Preserving the iconic image of Jefferson’s “Temple on the Hill” was of utmost importance. Archival research, state of the art fabric analysis technology (non-destructive testing techniques such as thermal imaging, infrared, ground penetrating radar, metal detection and ultrasounds), as well as carefully selective probing and destructive examination provided valuable information to understand the building.

The 27,000-square-foot underground extension opens off Bank Street with a small public plaza, set at an angle to the street and the Capitol. The Classical style entry way, with Doric columns and simplified entablature, is modeled after the Temple of Temperance at Bremo (1847), designed by noted architect Alexander Jackson Davis, which is itself modeled after the Thrasyllos monument in Athens, at the base of the Acropolis.

Perhaps the most significant design decision was the placement of the extension/visitor’s center. The firm explored several options, and after a careful investigation of the structure, site topography and the building’s historic connection to the city, the team determined that an addition from the south would have the least impact on the building, it would be fully reversible, and would preserve the iconic image of Jefferson’s ‘Temple on the Hill’ for all visitors.

After entering, the new Extension leads visitors through a series of gradually ascending modern spaces, culminating at a rotunda that connects the Extension to the original building and foreshadows the experience of arriving at the most significant space in the historic building – the original Jeffersonian rotunda.

The restoration followed the highest standards of historic preservation, including the Secretary of the Interior Standards, the Venice Charter and the New Orleans Charter. The introduction of building systems meeting 21st century standards, including mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection, communications, security, audio visual and voting systems, was achieved through carefully identifying pathways to install the new infrastructure, all components and devices in an unobtrusive way and allow for future flexibility for new technology to be introduced without impacting the architectural integrity and historic character of this American icon of democracy. The associate architect worked closely with the House of Delegates, Senate, and Governor’s aides to establish the programming requirements and space planning for all office areas and support spaces within the historic Capitol building and the new underground extension, and led the design and selection for all of the furniture and related fabrics and finishes, resulting in a classic interior that is respectful of the historic architecture yet supports modern office functions.

Jury Comments:

“You’ve got to give this project an award. It is a significant example of scholarly restoration of a major landmark structure. The new rooms in the crypto porticus, in and of themselves, would be an Honor Award winner. The jury struggled with the character of the little tempieto. It is great in section, but the exterior treatment makes it seem like a cartoon in its execution. This could have competed less with the sedate façade of the Capitol had the façade of the tempieto been abstracted – they should have had a better understanding of the “rustic agrarian” side of Classicism.”