AIA New England Regional Council Design Award and Engineering News-Record MidAtlantic Award of Merit

When the U.S. Capitol was expanded in the 1850s after multiple construction and reconstruction efforts beginning in 1793, the original wood-frame dome of 1824 was replaced by a cast-iron dome three times its size. With nearly 4,500 tons of iron, the dome, designed by Thomas U. Walter, has made the Capitol arguably the most recognizable building in the United States.

Suspended at the interior is a shell containing Brumidi’s fresco, Apotheosis of Washington, visible through an oculus in the inner layer of the double-dome construction. Thomas Crawford’s colossal bronze Statue of Freedom, nearly 20 feet tall and 15,000 pounds, crowns the apex of the dome.

Charged with the preservation and maintenance of the Capitol building, the Architect of the Capitol has worked with Hoffmann Architects since 1990 to ensure the longevity of this national architectural treasure.

Beginning with an award-winning water penetration study, Hoffmann Architects developed a master plan for restoration of the Capitol dome. The comprehensive document addresses maintenance, repair, modification, and restoration for all systems, spaces, and finishes from the floor of the Capitol Rotunda to the Statue of Freedom. Hoffmann Architects used pilot tests and field studies to refine the restoration strategy and to provide the most accurate cost estimates possible.

Prior to the dome restoration project, Hoffmann Architects also provided design consultation to the Architect of the Capitol and to design professional of record Ammann & Whitney for the reconstruction of the Capitol building’s vast West Terrace. Hoffmann Architects advised on waterproofing, stonework, planters, and pavers to resolve deterioration and water infiltration conditions.

For some twenty years, Hoffmann Architects has been instrumental in the effort to ensure the enduring presence of the U.S. Capitol, architectural monument and symbol of the United States.