Utah State Capitol

Designed by architect Richard K.A. Kletting and completed in 1916, the Utah State Capitol is one of the country’s finest examples of Renaissance Revival civic architecture. Perched atop Capitol Hill overlooking Salt Lake City, the building is distinguished by its monumental granite exterior, soaring rotunda, richly ornamented interiors, and expansive decorative painting program. After nearly a century of service, the Capitol underwent an extensive restoration and seismic rehabilitation completed in 2009, modernizing the landmark to withstand major earthquakes while preserving its historic architectural character.

As part of this comprehensive restoration, EverGreene was selected to conserve and restore the Capitol’s decorative painting throughout the building. Before treatment began, EverGreene conservators conducted extensive paint analysis, archival research, and field testing to identify original decorative schemes and develop treatment recommendations that balanced historic authenticity with long-term durability.

Once the conservation approach was approved, EverGreene restored decorative finishes throughout the Capitol, including the monumental dome located 165 feet above the rotunda floor. Approximately 90 percent of the iconic skydome mural was recreated to faithfully match the original design, including its blue sky and flock of California gulls—the Utah state bird and a symbol deeply rooted in the state’s history. The team also restored the building’s two monumental metal laylights, each measuring approximately 40 by 100 feet, by carefully scraping, priming, and repainting the decorative metalwork. Throughout the Capitol, artisans completed extensive hand-painted ornament, intricate stenciling, and decorative finishes, returning one of Utah’s most important civic landmarks to its original grandeur.