Portfolio > Our Civic Work >

Michigan State Capitol

John Canning & Co. projects at Michigan Capitol 1989-92 and 2016 required expert woodgraining matching skills, and innovation in plaster reattachment and distemper paint conservation, and every other decorative painting skill. 

BUILDING FACTS

Location: Lansing, MI
Built: 1847
Original Architect:  Elijah E. Meyers
Style: Neoclassical
Status: National Register of Historic Places & Designated as a National Landmark

SCOPE

michigan_state_capitol
Michigan State Capitol
Lansing, Michigan, USA --- House of Representatives Chamber in Michigan State Capitol --- Image by © Richard Cummins/CORBIS
John-Canning-Michigan-State-Capitol-Restoration-500px
Michigan State Capitol

The Michigan State Capitol project from 1989-92 was a complete restoration of the House of Representatives, Senate Chambers, Adjacent Areas, and Public Spaces, that involved all aspects of the decorative arts with a large quantity of woodgraining – replicating multiple wood species, graining, and color. Approximately 45 elaborately decorated distemper ceilings were conserved and consolidated during that period. All work was carried out while the legislation was in session, with minimal disruption to the occupants.

In 2015-16, our services were requested to address the sagging and detaching corridor ceilings. The 16' x 120' corridors were a consistent run of flat plaster, uninterrupted by dimensional details.

The innovative professionals we have at John Canning & Co. invented a system of raising and reattaching the ceilings causing minimal plaster loss or damage to the fragile distemper decoration. A minimal amount of plaster replacement - matching texture, and direction of graining - and distemper inpainting without moisture discoloration completed the job. The corridors on all three floor received this treatment for a total of 7,000 sq. ft.

Canning was once again called upon to be a part of the 2023-2024 Rotunda restoration project which included conservation cleaning and inpainting of decoration on all 8 levels of the Rotunda.


AWARDS

1990 Michigan House of Representative’s Tribute 1990

1992 National Preservation Honor Award, National Trust for Historic Preservation

RELATED ARTICLES:

Renewing Michigan's Capitol 2014-2016

Michigan State Capitol Rotunda 2023-2024 Restoration