1979
- hearings held in March before House and Senate subcommittees requesting $3.5 million to begin planning for the renovation
1980
- demolition of the temporary partitions and utilities on the second floor of the Great Hall in Jefferson Building began July 16; beginning of renovation of Jefferson Building
1982
- during House subcommittee hearings on Feb. 25, testimony given that all drawings would be completed by February 1983, and that by fiscal 1984, a total cost of restoration would be presented
- Arthur Cotton Moore/Associates retained to complete bidding documents for the restoration/renovation of the Jefferson Building (as consulting architects, they were heavily involved in the building until construction started, even into 1986; the colonnades are a signature part of the renovation, among the firm's other contributions)
1983
- LC writes memorandum on Feb. 4 to the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) indicating LC's acceptance of the two-phase renovation concept and citing certain special requirements of the Library during the renovation
- also in February, first overall interim occupancy and final move plan devised.
- July 14, $750,000 approved for restoration of west exterior terrace and steps of Jefferson Building
1984
- during Feb. 1 hearings before House subcommittee, a fiscal 1984 supplemental of $111 million was requested. However, if the AOC performed the work by hiring temporary skilled workers and managed the work in-house, the estimated cost would be $80 million.
- on April 26, the AOC and the Library held the first renovation/restoration coordination meeting
- on June 11, work began on the temporary stairway to be used during the west exterior terrace and steps renovation
- in October, AOC received appropriation of $81.5 million for the LC renovation/restoration project
- Jefferson Building west elevator modernization began in November
1985
- LC officially announced the beginning of the renovation/restoration project with Special Announcement 85-9 on May 17
- the project was announced in Library of Congress Information Bulletin on June 3
- the Library and AFSCME local unions 2477 and 2910 reached an agreement on July 12 with regard to the renovation project and its impact on bargaining unit members
- major reconstruction of the badly deteriorated foundations and supporting brick arches of the Neptune Plaza was completed
- stone curbing and pool of the "Court of Neptune" were restored
- installation of closed-circulation water fountain system and new wiring and lights almost completed
- adjustments made to bookstack sprinkler systems in both buildings
- modernization of elevators on west side of Jefferson Building half completed
- construction work completed on fourth floor of Adams
- received finished project drawings and specifications from AOC in July
1986
- Phase I of renovation began in earnest when Grunley-Walsh Construction Co. Inc., Rockville, Md., selected by AOC as general contractor; contract awarded Feb. 26 with start date of Sept. 30
- on April 17 the Phase I construction ccontractor trailer was placed on the northeast parking lot of the Jefferson Building
- electronically monitored partitions installed at various locations to separate construction area from work space
- Neptune Fountain completed and activated in spring
- LC staff and operations relocated to interim occupancy locations to clear the phase I worksites in both Jefferson and Adams buildings (south half of the Jefferson Building and the south and east sections of Adams)
- European Reading Room moves from Adams Building to Jefferson's Northwest Pavilion and west end of north curtain, second floor, December 1985
- AOC established a field office on southeast lawn of Jefferson Building to serve as construction headquarters
- Hispanic Division and reading room moves to northwest curtain so that its space on southeast side of building can be renovated, December 1985
- exterior construction fencing erected outside both buildings for staging area and storage in May
- Rare Book Division moves temporarily to eastern end of north curtain, second floor, December 1985
1987
- electrical and mechanical systems upgraded
- renovated elevator opens in Jefferson Building
- new hollow metal baseboard electrical and telecommunications distribution system designed for some parts of Jefferson Building
- new under-floor duct system installed in Adams Building
- cable tray installations in bookstacks necessitate moving of some collections
- riser pipes and sprinklers for fire protection systems installed in Jefferson
- core drilling for Adams Building first floor kitchen waste lines begins December 1987
- work on new fire alarm systems began
- old light fixtures removed for repair and refurbishing
- all wooden doors in Jefferson removed and sent out for repair and refinishing
- contractor began installing conduit for new security systems
- contracts awarded to W.G. Cornell Co. for modernization of heating, ventilating and air conditioning system and to Grunley Walsh for construction of colonnade system
- first orders for furnishings placed in December
- asbestos control management plan developed and implemented
- construction of new eating facilities under way in both buildings, December 1987
- Main Reading Room closed in December 1987 for renovation; card catalog and reference collections relocated temporarily to Adams (service provided in Adams reading room and in Local History and Genealogy Reading Room)
- center room on fifth floor of Adams Building with new Computer Catalog Center opens December 1987
1988
- Dr. Billington requests review of plans for use of two older buildings; Jefferson Building will have facilities for members of Congress/staff and for study of every region of world. Exhibits on ground floor; LC treasures on second floor of Great Hall. Adams Building will be focus for scientific/analytic collections; Madison for administrative, CRS, Copyright and multimedia collections
- Arthur Cotton Moore retained in July to revise and update drawings for Phase II of renovation/restoration of Jefferson Building based on conditions encountered in Phase I and LOC needs
- painting and plastering work goes on
- Adams Building closed weekend of 12/19/87 and 1/9/88 to replace electric switchgear
- Bruce Arthur devises method to illuminate glass ceilings in north and south curtains )
1989
- millwork and final cleaning of Main Reading Room
- colonnades installed in Jefferson, along with restored windows and storm windows
- art restoration under way in Jefferson
- Phase II will continue process of renovating, restoring, modernizing the two buildings
- Coolidge Auditorium closed in June 1989
- Phase I of construction finished, December 1989
1990
- west front entrance and Great Hall closed June 29
- Coolidge Auditorium reopened for Summer Chamber Festival, June
- Bibles moved from Great Hall to Madison Hall, June/July
1991
- Main Reading Room reopened June 3
- wiring of Main Reading Room
- card catalog removed
- new carpet; new painting of alcoves
- new Computer Catalog Center, with end panels from original card catalogs modified for use in new computer catalog workstations
- Phase II contract awarded to Grunley-Walsh Sept. 23
1992
- Rare Book and Hispanic Divisions returned to "home" spaces
- Science Reading Room occupied new permanent home in Adams, south side
- restoration work continued on murals, mosaics and marble finishes of Jefferson Building, especially in Great Hall and south curtains and pavilions
1993
- Poetry and Literature moved back to third floor of Jefferson from Adams
- Great Hall reopened for Vatican exhibition ("Rome Reborn"), Jan. 8-April 30
- Congress appropriates $7 million to replace roof of Jefferson Building
1994
- LOC accepted Jefferson and Adams buildings for "beneficial use" on Aug. 22, making buildings available for interim occupancy work; marks the completion of Phase II construction
1995
- AOC completed interior restoration and renovation of Jefferson and Adams buildings
- plans made to begin 20-month roof replacement in 1996 ($7 million)
- Great Hall opened to visitors on public tours in 1995
- Bibliothèque Nationale ("Creating French Culture") exhibition opens in Southwest Gallery and Pavilion Sept. 8-Dec. 31
- additional funding approved for renovation of Coolidge Auditorium and Whittall Pavilion ($2.5 million)
1996
- Dresden exhibition on view in Southwest Gallery and Pavilion April 11-July 13
- repair of Jefferson Building roof and renovation of Coolidge Auditorium begin in June; completion of the roof scheduled for December 1997. Coolidge Auditorium will be available for performances in October 1997, but additional work will be performed after that, which will be completed in spring 1998.
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to May 1997 - Vol 56, No. 9
