The West Virginia Capitol Building has been the seat of that state's government since 1930. Located in Charleston, West Virginia, the structure features limestone construction with a soaring dome, bronze windows and doors, 96 columns, and terra cotta cornices. Graciano Corporation performed a thorough masonry and terra cotta restoration program at the Capitol, addressing structural repointing, Dutchman repairs, dome steelwork, and extensive bronze element rehabilitation. The project was completed in 2008.
Scope of Work
The restoration addressed limestone, terra cotta, bronze, and structural elements throughout the building exterior and dome.
- Unit stone replacement
- Stone patching and facade pinning
- Repointing masonry
- Parapet and coping reconstruction
- Dutchman repair
- Removal of 480 lineal feet of terra cotta
- Terra cotta repair and replacement
- Installation of stainless steel anchors
- Bronze window restoration
- Bronze hardware replacement
- Bronze railing rehabilitation
- Bronze pocket door rehabilitation
- Bird netting installation on all 96 columns
- Dome steelwork repairs
- Lead cap replacement
About the Project
The West Virginia Capitol's dome and colonnaded exterior represent one of the most ambitious Beaux-Arts government buildings in the eastern United States. The limestone facade and ornamental terra cotta cornice work required careful assessment and methodical repair to address decades of freeze-thaw weathering and biological growth without disturbing the building's historic character.
Terra cotta removal and replacement at this scale requires extensive scaffolding, precise documentation of existing conditions, and careful fabrication of replacement units to match original profiles. Graciano's craftsmen removed and replaced 480 lineal feet of terra cotta cornice elements and installed stainless steel anchors to ensure long-term stability. All stone patching and Dutchman work was matched to the original Indiana limestone.
Bronze restoration at the Capitol included windows, railings, fixtures, and pocket doors -- a scope requiring both metalwork expertise and careful coordination with the building's stone and masonry elements. The project also addressed dome steelwork and installed bird netting across all 96 exterior columns to prevent future biological damage.
