Re-creation of a Historic Government Chamber

A National Historic Landmark, the Maryland State House was constructed in 1779 and is the nation’s oldest state capitol still in continuous legislative use. In 1876, the building’s House of Delegates Chamber was redesigned and refurbished, reflecting the elegant Victorian style of the era. Subsequent renovations, however, divided the space and stripped away many of the grand details, including period finishes and fixtures.

The Maryland Department of General Services, in collaboration with the Maryland State Archives, the Maryland Historical Trust, and the House of Delegates, sought to restore the historic space to its Victorian-era grandeur. The award-winning project involved extensive research and a design that carefully integrates modern technology and systems to enable the space to be used for presentations, as a break-out room for meetings, and as exhibition space for visitors. Because the re-created space accommodates historic paintings and antiques, the project required meticulous HVAC controls as well as a fire protection system carefully coordinated with the architectural design.