All information provided in press release from Department of Finance and Administration
Jackson, Miss.- Construction that will restore the State Capitol’s terrace located above the Capitol’s north entrance lobby begins on Tuesday.
The terrace, which dates from the building’s construction in 1903, has suffered significant deterioration from numerous long-term leaks. Although leaks have affected only a relatively small area, the project is said to be complicated and time consuming. According to the Department of Finance and Administration, the new terrace will be supported by a new structural system and will be properly waterproofed.
In order to replace the terrace, the north entrance lobby below and its adjacent rooms must also be renovated. New heating and air conditioning, electrical and lighting systems will also be installed.
“The recent designation as a National Historic Landmark speaks to the high quality of the Capitol’s architectural character,” said Lawson Newman, of WFT Architects, a Jackson-based architecture firm specializing in historic restoration and preservation, and the architects for this project. “We plan to take extraordinary measures to protect the original materials and ensure that the renovated areas will be consistent with the Capitol’s original design.”
Paul Jackson and Son, a construction company based in Brookhaven and having extensive experience in historic restoration, will serve as the general contractor for project. Other companies specializing in historic building restoration and working on the project include United Restoration and Preservation, a masonry restoration company based in Fayetteville, Georgia and Robinson Iron, a metal restoration company based in Alexandria City, Alabama.
The restoration job is expected to take one year.
