DENVER - Get a good look at the Colorado capitol dome because the dome is going to be wrapped under a white, protective plastic while it undergoes a major facelift.
In the 100 years the capitol dome has been around, the dome has received minor touch-ups but never has it undergone a major renovation. Contractors will wrap the dome with a protective, white, weatherproof material to prepare for the next stages of renovation and repair.
The renovation is expected to be completed by May 2014. Larry Friedberg is the state architect for Colorado. He says the damage is pretty significant and can even be seen from street level. A century of Colorado's weather has not been kind to the dome.
"It is hot one day, it is cold the next," Friedberg said. "Raining one day, high winds the next day and eventually that metal loses its structural stability, and it can fail."
Friedberg explained what the dome will look like once the work is complete.
"If we do our job correctly, there will be no rust, and you will never know we were here," Friedberg said.
On Thursday, Feb. 2, large banners will be also be added around the capitol to promote Share in the Care Colorado, a public-fundraising campaign to help pay for the dome work. The cost to restore the dome is estimated at $17 million.
You can learn more about the share in the care at www.shareinthecarecolorado.org.
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