Crews are making progress on the current Iowa Capitol building restoration/improvement projects. .
Legislative Facilities Manager Mark Willemssen says outdoors, workers are cutting out some of the bad tuck-pointing joints, going over stone, patching bad parts of the stone, and scraping and re-painting windows.
Indoors, crews are replacing some of the 1870s brick, way up high, that has gotten soft by 147 years of water leaks and humidity that rises to the top of the dome.
Willemssen says the brick isn't crumbling, but while cleaning, they had noticed small bits and dust, each time they went up into the dome, so it was time to address the problem.
The dome is built of steel and brick, and unless the soft brick is replaced, the structural integrity of the dome could be compromised.
He says as far as he knows, the special attention to the brick is a first, during the building's long history.
The current work began in late March. He says they're hoping to have the exterior scaffolding down by the end of the November.
Interior projects will continue during the winter, including during the legislative session. He says the goal is to have all the projects wrapped up in about a year from now.
The last big Iowa Capitol restoration project was in 1998, when crews re-guilded the dome.
Willemssen says that is holding up well and should last for another ten to 15 years.
The work-areas are fenced off, and will not interfere with tonight's (July 3rd) Yankee Doodle Pops Concert