When the State of Missouri needed to restore the massive stained glass ceiling above the Capitol’s Grand Stair, they faced a challenge that goes beyond typical construction: How do you remove, repair, and reinstall a $17.3 million piece of art that’s over 100 years old and positioned 85 feet above the floor?
The project required specialized expertise, custom engineering, meticulous documentation, and coordination among multiple expert contractors. It’s the kind of work that demonstrates why historic preservation requires different capabilities than standard construction.
The Scale of the Project
“The Great Window” — the stained glass laylight ceiling above the Missouri State Capitol’s Grand Stair — was created by artist Herman T. Schladermundt from New York between 1920 and 1922. In 2022, it required its first proper restoration in over a century.
The artwork depicts Missouri’s history: development along the river, natural resources, agriculture, and the state’s economic foundations. But after 100 years, it was in poor condition with cracks, broken pieces, missing glass sections, and a deteriorating structural support system.
The total project cost: approximately $3.4 million. The appraised value of the artwork: $17.3 million.
Why This Project Required Specialized Expertise
Historic art restoration isn’t construction as most contractors understand it. The Great Window project demanded capabilities that few contractors possess.
Custom engineering for safe removal. The stained glass sits 85 feet above the Grand Stair. Removing it required custom-designed scaffolding, structural supports, and protection systems to work safely at that height while protecting the artwork and the building.
Specialized rigging and handling. Each section of glass had to be removed carefully, crated for storage and transport, and shipped to specialists. The logistics alone required 18 or 19 trucks, with maximum loads of 27 square feet of glass per truck.
Multiple expert contractors. Pro-Prost Joint Venture from Jefferson City served as general contractor, coordinating work among Judson Studios (California stained glass restoration specialist), Jacksonville Stained Glass (Illinois, handling removal and crating), STRATA Architecture + Preservation, and world-renowned stained glass consultant Julie Sloan from Lake Placid, New York.
Insurance and security requirements. The artwork’s value meant it couldn’t all be stored in one location. Glass sections were stored at three different facilities for insurance purposes. Every piece was numbered, cataloged, and tracked.
Meticulous documentation. 3-D laser scans captured exact curvatures and ripples in the glass, creating archived models for future reference. Every step of the process — from scaffolding construction to glass removal to transport — was documented.
The Hidden Restoration Problems
When the restoration team examined the stained glass up close, they discovered problems from previous improper restoration attempts.
Coins had been tied with metal rods drilled through the glass and fixed to lead supports — an amateur repair that actually weakened the structure. Making the support system sound again became a critical part of the restoration work.
The surrounding steel structure that encases the glass also needed repairs. The lightwell, ornamental plaster frame, and surround all required restoration and repainting.
Why the Glass Survived 100 Years
Despite its condition, Missouri was fortunate. The stained glass used pre-World War I lead, which holds up better than lead produced after the war. This contributed to the glass being in relatively good condition for its age, even though repairs were badly needed.
The 18-Month Process
The project proceeded in four phases:
Phase 1: Design scaffolding and protection systems, then construct them 85 feet above the Grand Stair
Phase 2: Carefully remove 27-square-foot sections of stained glass, crate each section, and transport to restoration specialists
Phase 3: Restore glass sections to original colors and shapes, repair structural supports, restore ornamental plaster
Phase 4: Reinstall the restored stained glass, remove scaffolding, reopen the Grand Stair
The Grand Stair remained closed to the public for two years during the work.
What General Contractors Learn From Projects Like This
Most general contractors will never touch a project like The Great Window restoration. But the capabilities required reveal what separates contractors who can handle complex, high-stakes work from those who can’t.
Engineering expertise matters. Designing custom scaffolding and rigging systems 85 feet above a marble floor requires professional engineering, not just construction experience.
Coordination skills are critical. Managing multiple specialized subcontractors, insurance requirements, security protocols, and state government stakeholders requires sophisticated project management.
Documentation and accountability are essential. When you’re responsible for $17.3 million of irreplaceable art, every decision must be documented and every step must be tracked.
Problem-solving can’t wait. When the team discovered improper repairs from previous restoration attempts, they had to engineer solutions on the fly while maintaining the project schedule.
Quality control is non-negotiable. There’s no room for “good enough” when reassembling a 100-year-old artwork that citizens and legislators will see daily.
Why Missouri Chose Pro-Prost Joint Venture
This was one of six historic renovation and restoration projects Prost Builders has completed at the Missouri State Capitol in recent years. The state keeps returning because historic preservation requires contractors who understand what’s at stake.
When you’re working on the seat of state government, on projects visible to every Missouri citizen, the contractor you choose matters. Generic construction experience doesn’t prepare a contractor for the unique demands of landmark preservation.
Other State Capitol Projects
Prost Builders’ work at the Missouri State Capitol has included:
- The Great Window stained glass restoration ($3.4 million)
- Bronze entrance door restoration (7,500-pound doors)
- Roof skylights restoration (34 skylights)
- Various other historic renovation projects
Each project requires different specialized knowledge, but all share common requirements: respect for historic materials, engineering expertise, meticulous execution, and accountability for irreplaceable assets.
What This Means for Your Historic Building
If you’re responsible for a historic building — whether a courthouse, academic building, religious facility, or commercial landmark — the contractor you choose for renovation or restoration work makes a lasting difference.
Look for contractors with:
- Demonstrated experience with historic preservation (not just old buildings, but actual preservation work)
- Professional engineering capabilities for structural assessment and custom solutions
- Relationships with specialized restoration subcontractors
- Understanding of preservation standards and regulatory requirements
- Portfolio of completed preservation projects with verifiable references
The Result
When The Great Window restoration was completed, a beautiful display of colors again rendered the captivating gaze of school children, tourists, and state legislators passing through the Grand Stair.
The project preserved a $17.3 million piece of Missouri’s history for future generations — exactly the kind of outcome that justifies the investment in proper historic preservation.
Planning renovation or restoration work on a historic building? Contact us to discuss how our experience with landmark preservation projects can help protect your building’s historic character while meeting modern needs. Or learn more about our historic preservation work.