To help repair and restore the state Capitol's facade, the Missouri State Capitol Commission selected a Missouri-quarried stone as construction continues.
Last week, the commission selected Phenix Marble from Springfield-based company Phenix Marble Company after looking at three stone choices suggested by design firms WJE and Trivers Associates. This stone was the closest match aesthetically to the original Carthage Marble used to construct the Capitol, commission Chairwoman Dana Miller said.
The commission viewed the three stone options in wet and dry settings next to the original Carthage stone. Restoration crews also installed the three stones in different locations on the north side of the Capitol for comparison prior to the commission selecting the Phenix Marble.
Just like Carthage Marble, Phenix Marble will be quarried in southwestern Missouri. Carthage Marble is no longer available to quarry, according to a news release.
The Phenix Marble will be used on the Capitol's facades, dome and rum, as well as the the terrace paver and balustrade replacements, and replacements for the north sidewalk pavers approaching the Capitol.
The new stone may replace about 5 percent of the Capitol's facade - 15,000 square feet - Miller said.
The repairs may begin mid-summer of this year, but the scaffolding will remain until the end of 2019.
The first State Capitol Commission Board selected the Carthage stone more than 100 years ago, and Miller said the Missouri State Capitol Commission was honored to "follow in the footsteps" of the original commission.
"It is exciting that this commission was able to keep that tradition by selecting a stone quarried here in Missouri for these critical repairs to the building's facade," Miller said. "This is a very historical project that is providing tremendous economic development for Jefferson City, as well as the state as a whole."
The renovation project is scheduled to finish in December 2020 and would cost approximately $55 million.
Members of the public can view a live webcam of the Capitol construction at capitol.mo.gov.