T HE N EWSLE tt ER OF T HE C API T OL C OMMISSIO N | V OLUME SE V E N | N UMBER T HREE | A UGUS T 2 0 1 5 Architectural Nebraska Capitol Commission Masterpiece Membership Pete Ricketts ince humans first began to live together in groups, architecture has Governor Splayed a role in how we organize ourselves in communities and how Chairman we represent ourselves to others. Upon completion of the Nebraska State Capitol, in their final report to the Nebraska State Legislature on January 1, Galen Hadley Speaker of the Legislature 1935, the Nebraska Capitol Commission stated, Vice-Chairman “ It is difficult for Nebraska to realize what it has done, but the people of your nation know, and they look to you for careful preservation of what has become Michael Heavican a jewel among Historic Monuments.” Chief Justice Supreme Court Vice-Chairman Nebraska achieved and preserves its monumental Capitol through the hard work and dedication of architects. Frank Lloyd Wright, perhaps the Kim Wilson best known architect in America, described architecture as the mother art, Dean “Without architecture of our own we have no soul of our own civilization.” College of Architecture, UNL The Nebraska State Capitol provides an architectural soul for Nebraska. Nebraska’s first two state capitols were designed by Chicago architects Michael Smith following the standards of the time: columns, pediments, domes. They were Executive Director & CEO designed to be reminiscent of the nation’s Capitol. It was leading Omaha Nebraska State Historical Society architect, Thomas R. Kimball, FAIA, and president of the American Institute Bryce Neidig of Architects, who set the stage for Nebraska to have in Wright’s words “an Congressional District 1 architecture of our own”. As architectural advisor to the Nebraska Capitol Commission, Kimball wrote the program statement for the competition Stan Meradith which allowed New York architect Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue to exercise Congressional District 2 all his talents and create the nation’s first truly vernacular statehouse. The Nebraska State Capitol truly represents Nebraska, its landscape and its Jim Cudaback people. Congressional District 3 The opening words of Kimball’s competition statement emphasize the importance of architecture and architects. Robert C. Ripley Administrator “The Capitol of a State is the outward sign of the character of its people. Their Office of the Capitol Commission respect for its traditions and history, their belief in its importance and worth, and their love of its fair name; all find expression in its Capitol. Of Nebraska highway Secretary of progress, provider of man’s necessities, battle-ground of freedom, distributor of learning, home of the volunteer let the new Capitol be a symbol. Rome’s greatest basilica is not the only legacy left by the architects of St. Peter’s. Michelangelo’s dome was chosen, but to the designs of San Gallo, Bramante, and other unsuccessful competitors, the world owes many of its greatest monuments! Beside a noble Capitol for Nebraska, may not this competition yield to Architecture a wider heritage?” Architect Bertram Goodhue used the opportunity to design something very new and original, a landmark for all Nebraska. Thematic consultant Hartley Burr Alexander explained the goal of Goodhue’s design, that everyone who entered the Capitol would feel blessed for having passed through. Fine architecture has the ability to achieve that goal. 1 T HE C API T OL S OWER | T HE N EWSLE tt ER OF T HE C API T OL C OMMISSIO N | A UGUS T 2 0 1 5 The People of the OCC Office of the Capitol Experience and Service Commission OCC at Work ADMINISTRATION Bob Ripley, Administrator Capitol Administrator Tom Kaspar, Preservation Architect Matt Hansen, Preservation Architect Mark Tonjes, Capitol Manager obert C. Ripley, FAIA, first major interior office renovation Tammy Honnor, Facilities RAdministrator of the Office and restoration project in 1989, Construction Coordinator of the Capitol Commission first the 1990 restoration of the Court Cecilia Curtis-Beard, visited the Capitol as a small child Chambers, the 1995 restoration Adminstrative Assistant and returned frequently as he and upgrade of the East (Warner) ARCHIVE grew up in the neighborhood. Legislative Chamber and the Karen Wagner, Archivist Achieving his architectural degree 2004 West (Norris) Legislative CaRPENTRY at the University of Nebraska- Chamber restoration project. Brett Daugherty, Shop Supervisor Lincoln, Ripley first came to work Ripley supported and led the 1998 Dawn Hickmon, at the Capitol in 1975 as a graduate Exterior Masonry Restoration Furniture Conservation Supervisor architect . During that time the project and is now preparing for Steve Janssen, Furniture Finisher Nebraska State Office Building was the Capitol’s first major heating, Phil Lagoni, Mason completed and agencies moved ventilation, and air conditioning John MacKichan, out of the overcrowded Capitol. upgrade in 50 years. Throughout Hardware Conservator Mike Marshall, Cabinet Maker Much of his early Capitol work his career at the Capitol, Ripley has involved cleaning up and removing developed the Office of the Capitol CUSTODIAL modifications to the original fabric Commission Restoration program Perry Shuman, Capitol Conservation Supervisor of the building. Following his initial into one of the top programs in Richard Mallam, Custodial Leader Capitol work, Ripley returned to the nation with a state of the art Rich Naber, Custodial Leader private architectural practice for Archive to support and document GROUNDS eight years. Historic preservation OCC’s historic preservation work. Don Pracheil, Mechanic was a new field at that time and in At the 2015 national American Heather Dinslage, 1983 the opportunity to return to the Institute of Architects convention Groundskeeper Leader Capitol and manage a restoration in Atlanta, Ripley was inducted into MAINTENANCE and promotion program specific to the prestigious College of Fellows Michael Jordan, Shop Supervisor the building was presented. Ripley for his contributions to historic Kent Bonebright, took the job and has since been preservation and his care of the Sheet Metalsmith Tahir Karimi, Electrician a conscientious caretaker of the Nebraska State Capitol. John Steele, building, overseeing the Capitol’s Maintenance Technician TOURS Roxanne Smith, Tourism Supervisor/ Left, Robert C. Ripley, FAIA, Special Events Coordinator/ Capitol Administrator, Public Information Officer receives his Fellowship Award Daniel Hutt, and Medal from incoming Tourism Aide American Institute of Architects Gloria Witherspoon, President, Elizabeth Chu Tourism Aide Richter, FAIA, and Albert W. Rubeling, FAIA, Chancellor of the College of Fellows, at a ceremony in Atlanta’s historic Ebenezer Baptist Church. Ripley’s Fellowship award during the AIA 2015 National Convention recognizes his care of the Nebraska Capitol and his contributions to historic preservation on a national level. Photo: AIA 2 T HE C API T OL S OWER | T HE N EWSLE tt ER OF T HE C API T OL C OMMISSIO N | A UGUS T 2 0 1 5 Experience and Service OCC Preservation Architects homas L. Kaspar, AIA, began correspondence associated with the This career in architecture at the construction of the Capitol. In his role firm established by Ellery Davis, as preservation architect a Lincoln competitor in the design Kaspar has overseen competition for the current Nebraska the replication of carpet Capitol. After studying drafting at for the East and West Southeast Community College, Kaspar Legislative Chambers, apprenticed with Davis, Fenton, Stange glass globes to replace and Darling. Working and studying, ones broken through the he took the architect’s exam and years, custom upholstery became a registered architect. In 1977 for Governor’s Office he came to the Capitol and began and Legislative Lounge his preservation career. As Kaspar furniture and the original watched numerous pieces of Capitol paint scheme for Capitol original furniture leave the building offices and corridors. He with the move of agencies to the new has been involved with all state office building he initiated a renovation and restoration program to bring those pieces back. projects in the Capitol This recognition of the significance of since his arrival, including the furnishings to the historic integrity the restoration of the 12 of the building formed the basis of the murals on the second floor. Tom Kaspar, AIA, Nebraska Capitol Collections which Kaspar’s knowledge of the on the steps of the Capitol. includes all furnishings purchased for Capitol and his dedication to the Goodhue designed building. Kaspar precise conservation and restoration was instrumental in the development of the Capitol’s furnishings has helped of a state of the art archive to the Office of the Capitol Commission house the thousands of documents, become a model for historic including architectural drawings and preservation in the nation. atthew G. Hansen, AIA, LEED, After two years with a South Dakota Mgraduated from the University architectural firm, Hansen, of Nebraska-Lincoln College of became a registered Architecture in 2000 with a Master architect and returned to of Architecture degree. At UNL his Nebraska to take a position interest in historic preservation led at the State Capitol. Since him to intern with the City of Lincoln returning to the Capitol in Historic Preservation Planner for 2010 Hansen has managed three summers, and to intern for one projects for OCC. In this summer with Capitol preservation capacity he creates design architects. Upon graduation, Hansen drawings, specifications worked with the architectural firm and bid documents for Bahr, Vermeer and Haecker. During office restoration projects. his eight years at BVH he specialized He uses his knowledge in historic preservation and worked and experience in historic on projects across the United States. preservation to research Because historic preservation and manufacturers, methods green building go hand in hand, Hansen and products compatible studied and took the Leadership in with the preservation focus Energy and Environmental Design of the Office of the Capitol exam to become LEED certified.