Go see gussied-up Capitol

0 Comments | Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Jan 4, 2008 | by Deseret Morning News editorial

Fellow Utahns;

The honour of your presence is requested Saturday, the Fifth of January through Friday, the Eleventh of January Two Thousand and Eight at a series of open houses to commemorate the restoration of the Utah State Capitol commencing each day at Nine O'clock in the morning until Eight O'clock in the evening and at Capitol Discovery Day Saturday, the Twelfth of January, Two Thousand and Eight at Ten O'clock in the morning until Three O'clock in the afternoon Salt Lake City, Utah

If that's too formal for you, think of it this way: You and your fellow taxpayers just spent $212 million on restoring and refurbishing the Grand Dame. Four years in the making, you've got to be a wee bit curious how this massive "home improvement" project turned out.

Aside from a new color scheme and more natural light flooding the structure, designers have gone to great pains to more accurately replicate the original plans for the building. For instance, the original plans called for large, facing windows on each side of the building not to be blocked by interior walls.

Fittingly, there's a good deal of gold leaf in the Gold Room, a reception area adjacent to the governor's office. Gold and purple fabric specially woven in Italy will be placed on the walls. Gold- colored materials will adorn the walls of the Senate and House chambers.

The new doorway to the Senate Chambers was quite the undertaking. It is framed in onyx found in Afghanistan but shipped to Verona, Italy to be cut by artisans.

The Capitol also features new artwork, including four larger- than-life bronze sculptures representing key elements of Utah culture: land and community; immigration and settlement, arts and education, and science and technology.

Meanwhile, some of the most important features of the retrofit are largely under wraps, such as the "shock absorbers" that will protect the Capitol in an earthquake. Likewise, the fire alarm system.

Anyone who has undertaken a home improvement project can appreciate the pain of hundreds of workers who have been scurrying to complete the job. In truth, the project won't quite be finished when it is reopened to the public on Saturday. Landscaping will have to wait until spring, and the lions that used to grace the east and west entrances won't be replaced with new marble versions until later in the year.

But those fortunate enough to have a sneak peek tell us the restoration is grand and worthy of the people's house. It would be well worth your time to take in the open houses starting tomorrow and ending Jan. 11, or Capitol Discovery Day on Jan. 12. No RSVP required.