… and Underground

A grand gala takes guests into the tunnel entrance of the renovated state Capitol.


The black ties were on again at the Virginia Capitol Preview Gala April 30. Governors, state politicos and other VIPs marveled at the $104.5 million restoration of the Capitol, most notably its new sweeping, dramatic 27,000-square-foot underground entrance and extension from Bank Street. One delegate kidded another about measuring for drapes in the speaker’s new office. Sonja Bijelic, an associate with Hillier Architecture who designed the extension, was asked what it was like being in charge of adding on to Thomas Jefferson’s masterpiece. “No pressure there,” she said.

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