Virginia State Capitol

Alongside French architect Charles-Louis Clérisseau, Thomas Jefferson designed the Virginia State Capitol, drawing inspiration from the classical Roman temple Maison Carrée in Nimes, France. As the “first Roman temple style public building in the New World,” the capitol diverged from Britian’s Georgian architecture. Construction of the capitol started in 1785 and required more than a decade to be fully finished.

With centuries of history to its name, the capitol was in need of significant repair. EverGreene entered the site in 2007 to contribute to the capitol restoration project. The original brick-and-stucco exterior, with granite, has had many interventions in the coatings over the years. An epoxy coating applied in the recent past had trapped moisture and caused failure of the stucco and stone. Following thorough testing of materials and methods, along with mockups, EverGreene executed epoxy paint stripping from all surfaces of stucco, stone trim, and ornamental terra-cotta capitals. We then applied a truing coat to prepare a level surface over areas of irregular brick and stone masonry, followed by a traditional lime stucco rendering on all facades, including flat surfaces and molding profiles. Finally, we applied a layer of KEIM Granitol mineral coating for protection and longevity.

Our foremen worked closely with the construction manager and architect to assess conditions and adapt approaches to meet the project objectives and schedule. Consultation and communication with materials suppliers were essential to choosing the best systems and application methods for the project.

As the United States’ second oldest working statehouse, the Virginia State Capitol is a National Historic Landmark.