Major renovation projects to some of the Capital City's iconic structures continue, though the work at the Governor's Mansion is much closer to being complete than at the Missouri Capitol.
Most of the renovation work at the Governor's Mansion was completed Oct. 25, and Gov. Mike Parson and first lady Teresa Parson have already moved back in, Office of Administration spokesman Chris Moreland told the News Tribune.
Renovations at the mansion began in June and focused on structural and mechanical issues, including failing beams and the home's sub-par heating, ventilation and air conditioning system that caused damaging condensation and did not adequately regulate humidity.
As of Nov. 15, the work cost $3.86 million, paid for with state facility bond funds issued in 2015 and 2016.
Remaining renovation work, anticipated to be finished by the end of this month, is the restoration of the mansion's sunporch.
In addition to failing beams, problems addressed in the
sunporch included needs to replace columns, posts and windows, said Sherry Kempf, with the OA's Facilities Management Design & Construction office.
One other minor outstanding project at the Governor's Mansion is to seal the driveway, which will probably be done in the spring, Kempf said.
In terms of the home's furniture, a Marmaduke pool table in the first-floor ballroom is being renovated and will probably be returned to the mansion the first or second week of December, said Rebecca Gordon, executive director of the Friends of the Missouri Governor's Mansion.
The Friends of the Missouri Governor's Mansion group is supporting the restoration of furniture and the replacement of custom-made rugs. Rugs for the mansion's library, parlor, nook, and front door areas will be completed and installed next year, Gordon said.
She described the process for each rug as intensive, taking eight or nine months to complete, and she hoped the parlor and library would get their rugs first.
Public tours of the mansion are planned to resume Jan. 16, Gordon added. The tours had paused during the renovations.
The Governor's Mansion is hosting Christmas festivities Dec. 6, including a Christmas tree lighting at 6 p.m., with doors open until 8 p.m. for Candlelight Tours. Candlelight Tours are also scheduled 10 a.m.-noon Dec. 7.
As for the Capitol, renovations are 73 percent complete, with the target for completion December 2020, Moreland said.
"Currently, the following work is still in progress: stone installation for the dome, columns, drum, west penthouse, which are all at least 80 percent finished," Moreland said. "We are also working on wood window exterior prep, copper roofing, paver installation, (and) waterproofing of pavers along the north portico."
Ceres - the statue atop the Capitol dome that was taken down last year to be sent to Chicago for restoration - will return Dec. 6 to be on public display until the morning of Dec. 9. Ceres will be lifted back to the top of the dome the week of Dec. 16.
The crane on site "is currently being used to help with stone and column work on the dome and the lantern. Because of its size, the crane is able to pick up these heavy stones and columns and lift them to the top of the dome. Once that is completed, then the crane will be used to lift Ceres to the top of the dome for its final placement," Moreland said.
The current phase of the Capitol renovation work was initially budgeted at $29 million, though Moreland said there's been a further $3 million added for additional work not included in the initial estimate: "waterproofing throughout, statue restoration, added stone restoration repairs, joints grout to the west side of the building, dome access, lights and dome windows restoration."
A total of $50 million in bond money was allocated in 2015 to restore the Capitol, and about $15 million was spent in the first phase of renovations completed in 2016 and 2017, "which mainly consisted of waterproofing and the south stairs pavers," Moreland said.