As senior project manager with Facilities Management, Design and Construction in Missouri's Office of Administration, Sandra Walther gets to spend her days exploring and preserving the state's historical buildings.
Walther, a registered architect, has been with the state for 23 years, spending the last 14 months managing projects on state facilities throughout Missouri. One of her most recent projects, has been overseeing the removal of a time capsule from the Capitol that was placed within the cornerstone on June 24, 1915.
Walther said her first thought after learning she would be managing the time capsule project was "oh, my word," before turning to how she would accomplish the task ahead. After considering several options, Walther said it was decided the best way to retrieve the 100-year-old time capsule was to go into the cornerstone from the interior of the building.
For Walther, the time capsule project is an example of why she loves her work.
"I'm passionate about historic structures and I'm just passionate about my work in general," Walther said.
Since becoming senior project manager, Walther has managed projects ranging from a restoration and conversion of the CCC lodge in the Roaring River State Park into a small hotel to restoring the windows at the Capitol and overseeing the master plan for the Capitol complex.
Walther said none of those projects are completed without the help of so many other departments and people, especially her co-workers and managers.