In addition, approximately 16,000 square feet of meeting rooms was created in the former courtyards by erecting new walls, extending the upper terrace, and installing skylights over the interior corridor.

Elsewhere in the Capitol, White is overseeing the replacement of badly worn 19thcentury Minton tiles in the Senate corridors; because the original manufacturer was no longer in business, a lengthy search was conducted to locate its successor firm and obtain a supply of replacement tiles.

Presently, the East Monumental Stairs on the House wing of the Capitol are being renovated. The marble steps, which had become badly worn after 130 years of use, will be replaced with granite stairs set on a new concrete substructure. The project is scheduled to be completed in April 1996.

In addition to historic spaces, White has also overseen the restoration and conservation of the works of art within the Capitol Complex. Constantino Brumidi's Apotheosis of George Washington, a 4,664-square-foot fresco on the Capitol Rotunda canopy, was cleaned and conserved in 1988; the artist's frescoed Rotunda frieze was conserved in 1986, and water damage to it was repaired in 1994. Other works by Brumidi and other artists in Capitol corridors and rooms are included in an ongoing program of conservation. Because of these projects, and similar work conducted on other paintings elsewhere in the building, the true shapes and colors created by the original artists are now visible for the first time in many decades.

In addition to conserving historic works of art, White has also overseen the creation of new decorations within the Capitol. Muralist Allyn Cox designed historic scenes for three of the first-floor House corridors; two of the corridors were executed between 1973 and 1982 by the artist and, following Cox's death, his assistant. The third corridor was executed in 1993, using designs based on Cox's sketches but modified as a result of new historical research. As in the two corridors that Cox completed, the scenes on the vaults were set amid illusionistic architectural motifs and relief sculpture.

The most widely publicized of White's conservation projects involved the Statue of Freedom, the 192-foot bronze statue atop the Capitol dome. In May 1993, after almost 130 years in place, the statue was removed from its pedestal by helicopter for restoration. The statue was cleaned of disfiguring caulk and corrosion by water blasting, and repairs included the insertion of bronze plugs and patches. The bronze was repatinated to the "bronze green" noted in early records and protective coatings were applied. The cast-iron pedestal, which was repaired and restored in place atop the dome, was primed and painted with a color specially mixed to match the statue. Restoration of the statue and the pedestal was completed in approximately four months. The Statue of Freedom was returned to its pedestal by helicopter on October 23, 1993, amidst the congressional celebration of the bicentennial of the Capitol. The renovation of the Thomas Jefferson and John Adams Buildings of the Library of Congress, begun in 1986 and scheduled for completion in 1995, has been a complex process. It has involved relocation of staff; installation of modern electrical, plumbing, heating, air conditioning, and fire-protection systems; replacement of windows; refinishing of floors, carved panelling, historic light fixtures, and stained glass ceilings; construction of colonnades for staff work spaces; restoration of decorative painting; and conservation of over 100 murals by 20 different artists. The library now offers modernized space and facilities for staff, visiting scholars, researchers, Members of Congress, and congressional staff.

MODERNIZATION PROJECTS

While ensuring the preservation of the architectural and artistic heritage of the Capitol Complex, White has also worked steadily to provide improved facilities and resources required by the Congress. Television coverage of the House and the Senate were initiated during his tenure. Electronic voting in the House chamber was accomplished without disturbing the existing decor.

In the House and Senate Office Buildings, hearing rooms and other spaces have been renovated (including modern lighting suitable for television). White has also examined and resolved electronics engineering and architectural issues, as well as developing designs, for security improvements throughout the Capitol Complex.

White has directed considerable effort toward the management of energy and resources on Capitol Hill. The heating and cooling functions of the Capitol Power Plant were expanded in 1973 and 1980. The new Energy Management and Control System is now operating to optimize energy use in several buildings, and system expansion is under way. A recycling program, which now recycles approximately 50,000 tons of office waste each year, continues to expand with the voluntary participation of congressional offices. An energy-saving lighting retrofit program and

major lighting improvement projects on the Capitol Grounds are now in progress, with several due to be completed in 1995.

Numerous improvements have been made in various building systems. Electrical, electronic, fire-protection, and plumbing systems have been upgraded and brought into conformance with modern standards. Work on transportation systems has included elevator and escalator additions, modernization, and improvement; a major recent project is the new computerized Senate subway, a state-of-the-art peoplemover system that is accessible to the disabled, connecting the Capitol with the Dirksen and Hart Buildings.

Taking advantage of developments in computer technology, White established the agency's Information Resources Management organization and modernized accounting, procurement, and human resources functions. A computer-aided design (CAD) system and the implementation of AOCNET, a local area network that allows computerization of virtually all office functions, further enhance the agency's ability to respond to the needs of the Congress.

In 1976, White began a substantial barrier-removal program throughout the Capitol Complex. With the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, he has updated accessibility standards and guidelines; a survey now under way led to the generation of a computer data base for evaluating the accessibility issues, establishing priorities, preparing recommendations to Congress, and continuing to manage the program of barrier removal. Subject to the availability of funds and the sensitivities associated with modifying historically preserved areas of the Capitol and other buildings, White proposes to make the Capitol Complex a model of accessibility.

PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE

Planning and design work for a Capitol Visitor Center is under way with funds provided for this purpose by the U.S. Capitol Preservation Commission. The Center, subject to authorization and funding, will be located under the East Front Plaza and will contain exhibits, orientation displays, auditoriums, and other facilities to make the visitor's experience in the Capitol more informative and meaningful. A chilledwater storage reservoir planned in connection with the Visitor Center is anticipated to generate energy savings of $1.5 million per year.

In recognition of the need to achieve cost savings and functional improvement in Legislative Branch telecommunications (voice, data, and image), White developed and continues to update an overall plan to satisfy the telecommunications requirements of Legislative Branch agencies (pursuant to the Legislative Branch Appropriations Acts from fiscal year 1987 forward). Created in consultation with the heads of these agencies, the plan uses a common system architecture for maximum interconnection capability and engineering compatibility. The proposed connection to the Internet will make the agency's historical and educational resources available to the world.

In celebration of the Capitol's bicentennial period, White and his staff have developed publications and exhibits to foster greater public understanding of this worldwide symbol of freedom and democracy. The events being commemorated range from the laying of the Capitol's first cornerstone by President Washington in 1793 to the first meeting of the Congress in the new federal city in 1800.

LEGACY

Throughout his tenure as Architect of the Capitol, George M. White's work on behalf of the Congress has been an exercise in balance and proportion. While providing the legislature with the modern facilities and state-of-the-art technology necessary for an efficient work environment, he has also maintained the unique and historic qualities of the Capitol Complex. In planning, developing, constructing, and conserving the diverse buildings, spaces, and works of art entrusted to his care, he has helped to ensure that an important part of the nation's heritage will pass intact to its future caretakers.

REVIEW OF AOC STRUCTURE

Senator MACK. Again, this hearing takes place with the knowledge that there will be a new Architect and that the leadership has called for a task force to review the structure and mission of the Architect of the Capitol's Office.

And this committee will not prejudice the task force but is still interested in exploring suggestions you may have regarding these issues.

As a matter of fact, we talked about these issues during a joint hearing of the House and Senate Legislative Branch Appropriation Subcommittees earlier this year. And I would like to bring just two of those issues to the committee's attention at this point.

And what I am going to do is ask Larry Harris to run through some charts that we have there. But basically, we are going to address the issues of consolidation and privatization.

Senator MIKULSKI. Could you bring that closer to the table? These bifocals need to be almost like binoculars there.

[Pause.]

Senator MIKULSKI. Great. Thank you. What a great chart.

Trade Shops Under

the Direction of the AOC

Mr. HARRIS. Senator, this chart illustrates the redundancy in the trade shops within the Architect of the Capitol's organization.

For each of these trade shops, there is one located in the Capitol, in the House buildings, in the Senate, and in the Library of Congress, all under the jurisdiction of the Architect of the Capitol. They each have their own space, their own supervisors, et cetera. This chart, again, illustrates an individual shop within the Capitol. There are the largest one has 50 staff members. Many have 30. The average is 15 per each of the trade shops.

And this is the current structure. You have many men and women within each of the trade shops throughout the four entities, which are under the jurisdiction of the Architect of the Capitol.

Proposed Structure of AOC Trade Shops

Central Trade Shop

Small, single,
central trade shops

• Emergencies

• Critical arous

• Supervision of contractors

Private Contractors

Central trade shop manages private contractors on an as needed basis

PROPOSED RESTRUCTURE OF AOC

In the joint hearing, you entertained testimony that suggested a proposed new structure for the trade shops within the Architect's office.

There would be a smaller, singular, central trade shop in one location, and they would be there for emergencies, critical areas, such as the Capitol Building and regarding issues of historic preservation, et cetera, and also they would be responsible for supervising outside contractors in the private sector.

There would be long-term contracts with, we have been told, in the Washington area certainly dozens and scores of contractors available, who are more than capable and able to do this type of work.

And again, they would be under the control and direction and supervision of facilities managers and actual trades foremen, within the Architect's office, supervising outside folks, as needed.

Custodial Service Cost
AOC vs. Private Sector

And then the second issue that was addressed at the joint hearing was the comparative costs of cleaning the Capitol complex versus the District of Columbia, commercial and even we had experience, the Architect does, with cleaning the Thurgood Marshall Building at a lesser cost.

On average, within the Capitol, and not just the Capitol, but all of the Senate and House office buildings and other facilities, it costs an average of over $3 a square foot to clean those buildings.