United States Capitol Visitor Center

Infobox building
building_name = United States Capitol Visitor Center


caption = An aerial view of the CVC.
building_type = Underground visitor's center
architectural_style =
structural_system = Type I - Fire Resistive (Steel and Concrete)
location = Washington, D.C.
coordinates =
start_date = June 20, 2000
completion_date = December 2, 2008
(scheduled opening to the public)
demolition_date =
height =
floor_count = Three floors
main_contractor = Gilbane Building
architect = RTKL Associates Inc.
structural_engineer = Balfour Beatty
(formerly Centex Construction)
services_engineer = Manhattan Construction Company
civil_engineer =
other_designers =
quantity_surveyor =
awards =

The United States Capitol Visitor Center (CVC) is an addition to the United States Capitol which will serve as a gathering point for tourists.

It remains under construction below the East Front of the Capitol, between the Capitol and the Supreme Court building.

The Capitol Visitor Center will contain convert|580000|sqft|m2 of space below ground. Visitors will enter the center on the East Front of the Capitol and immediately go underground. Large glass windows have been installed in the ceiling's center, which will frame a view of the Capitol rotunda seen upon entering the CVC. Once inside, visitors will be able to get a timed entry ticket for a tour of the Capitol. The limiting of tour times is intended to shorten the current long line for tours.

While waiting for their tour, visitors will be free to explore the CVC, which will house a museum with exhibits and statues, a waiting area, and a 550-seat food court, which will will help prevent overcrowding in the cafeterias in the congressional office buildings. [Balfour Beatty Construction; [http://balfourbeattyus.com/portfolio/Government.htm "Government Projects"] ] . The full-size plaster model of the Statue of Freedom (which currently resides in the basement of the Russell Senate Office Building) will be on display in the CVC. There will also be two theaters continuously showing a video on the history of Congress and the Capitol Complex.

The CVC will also have space for use by the Congress, including multiple new meeting and conference rooms. On the House side, there will be a large room which will most likely be used by a committee. There will also be one large chamber with a capacity of 450 people, which can be used for showing films or by either the House of Representatives or the Senate if either of their chambers is unavailable.

Construction is supervised by the Architect of the Capitol. That post was held Alan Hantman (FAIA) until his term expired on February 4, 2007; the Architect of the Capitol position is currently vacant, and Deputy Architect of the Capitol Stephen T. Ayers, FAIA is currently serving as the acting Architect.

Although originally planned to be completed by January 2004, the current completion date (not including the Senate and House expansion space) is December 2nd 2008 [Capitol Visitor Center; [http://www.aoc.gov/cvc/upload/Fact_Sheet_opening_date_07_08.pdf "Opening Date Fact Sheet, July 2008"] ] . The expected cost of the CVC is $554 million. The CVC has caused controversy for being over budget and behind schedule. Much of this is blamed on the rising cost of fuel, post-9/11 security measures, and inclement weather.

The first major construction contract, worth nearly $100 million, was awarded to Balfour Beatty (formerly Centex Construction), in the spring of 2002 [Capitol Visitor Center; [http://www.aoc.gov/cvc/project_info/index.cfm "Project Information"] ] . This contract involved site demolition, slurry wall construction, excavation, construction of columns, installation of site utilities, construction of the concrete and structural steel, waterproofing, and construction of a new service tunnel. By July 2005, Balfour Beatty Construction completed all excavation and structural activities and the roof deck covered the entire CVC structure.

Details

The controversial [Citizans Against Government Waste; [http://www.cagw.org/site/News2?id=8684&page=NewsArticle "Monument to Government Waste"] ] [NBC News; [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15003089/"Is Congress fleecing itself?"] ] Capital Visitor's Center can accomidate 4,000 visitors at a time [The Architect of The Capital; [http://www.aoc.gov/cvc/faqs/index.cfm#CP_JUMP_14719 "Capital Visitor's Center Facts"] ] .

The CVC contains three under-ground levels: a balcony level entrance, the Great Hall second level [The Architect of The Capital; [http://www.aoc.gov/cvc/renderings/gh_balcony_NEW.cfm "Rendering of the Emancipation Hall Overlooking the CVC"] ] and a third restricted level for new Congressional offices and meeting rooms. There is also a fourth Service Level with A/C equipment [The Architect of The Capital; [http://www.aoc.gov/cvc/photos/location_service_level.cfm "Service Level"] ] , duct-work and perhaps the truck service tunnel [The Architect of The Capital; [http://www.aoc.gov/cvc/project_info/index.cfm "Project Information - Project Design"] ] .

The construction of the CVC represents the largest-ever expansion of the United States Capitol [The Committee on House Administration; [http://cha.house.gov/UserFiles/CVC_opening.pdf "Congressional Leaders Announce Opening Date for Capital Visitor Center"] ] .

Its design followed four fundamental goals: security, visitor education, visitor comfort, and functional improvements [The Architect of The Capital; [http://www.aoc.gov/cvc/project_info/upload/CVC%20Fact%20Sheet%20Spring%202008_1.pdf "Capital Visitor's Center Fact Sheet - Design Goals"] ] .

The ceremonial ground breaking for the CVC took place on June 20, 2000 [The Architect of The Capital; [http://www.aoc.gov/cvc/faqs/index.cfm#CP_JUMP_14709 "CVC Ground Breaking"] ] . The overall project's budget is $621 million [The Architect of The Capital; [http://www.aoc.gov/cvc/project_info/upload/CVC%20Fact%20Sheet%20Spring%202008_1.pdf "Capital Visitor's Center Fact Sheet - Budget"] ] .

The CVC's opening date is set for December 2, 2008. This date celebrates December 2, 1863, the day that the Statue of Freedom was placed atop the Capitol building, signifying the completion of construction of its dome.

Abbreviated free Capitol building tours will continue, controlled from a new ticket office in the CVC. Advance reservations are accepted online [As per telephone conversation with CVC staff, September 23rd, 2008;] .

Above ground the CVC sports 85 newly planted trees (68 were removed) that decorate a restored landscape of historic fountains, lanterns and seat walls. These serve to restore the historic landscape designed in 1874 by Frederick Law Olmsted [The Architect of The Capital; [http://www.aoc.gov/cvc/faqs/preservation.cfm "CVC - Historic Landscape and Tree Preservation"] ] .

The CVC's First Street entrance leads to the first level's circular balcony overlooking the Great Hall. Level one contains coat rooms, several of the CVC's 26 restrooms, and two gift shops (House/Senate) [The Architect of The Capital; [http://www.aoc.gov/cvc/renderings/gh_balcony_NEW.cfm "Rendering of the Emancipation Hall Overlooking the CVC"] ] .

The great Emancipation Hall features a grand skylight through which visitors can view the Capitol Dome [The Architect of The Capital; [http://www.aoc.gov/cvc/photos/location_great_hall.cfm "CVC - Great Hall"] ] . The Hall contains information and ticket desks and leads to other facilities, such as such as the 550-seat cafeteria. The ticket desks distribute the free admission tickets for the traditional tours of the Capitol building itself.

A plaster model of the actual bronze Statue of Freedom (atop the capital Dome) stands before the entrance to the 16,500 sq.ft. Exhibition Hall [The Architect of The Capital; [http://www.aoc.gov/cvc/photos/location_exhib_gallery.cfm "CVC - Exhibition Gallery"] ] . This exhibition tells the dual story of the development of representative democracy and the building of the Capitol.It features rarely-seen documents and artifacts from the National Archives and the Library of Congress that relate specifically to the duties and responsibilities of Congress. The hall also features an eleven-foot model of the Capitol.

Two orientation theaters are for tour-ticket holders only only, and present a 13-minute orientation film to prepare these visitors for their tour of the Capitol building.

The restricted 170,000 square foot third level contains a Congressional Auditorium for use by Congress and for special events [The Architect of The Capital; [http://www.aoc.gov/cvc/renderings/cong_auditorium.cfm "CVC - Congressional Auditorium"] ] .

It also houses new House and Senate office space, additional recording studios, storage for the Senate gift shop and curator’s office, an office for the Senate’s closed-captioning service androoms for parties and receptions.

It also contains a "headquarters" for the Office of Senate Security which will handle classified documents and provide extra space for the United States House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

An additional public 200-yard “all-weather access” pedestrian tunnel has been added to the CVC to access the
Library of Congress’ Thomas Jefferson Building across First Street. It also doubles as an emergency escape route from the CVC [The Architect of The Capital; [http://www.aoc.gov/cvc/photos/location_loc_tunnel.cfm "CVC - LOC Tunnel"] ] .

References

ee also

*National Visitor Center

External links

* [http://www.aoc.gov/cvc/ CVC website]
* [http://www.aoc.gov/cvc/upload/FS_Spring_2006.pdf Project Fact Sheet]
*United States Capitol