Information on the Capitol Visitor Centre
from the Director of Visitor Services, United States Capitol Guide
Service & Congressional Special Services Office (in response
to a letter from the Clerk of the Administration Sub-Committee)
1. When was your visitor centre established
or due to be established?
Preparatory construction activities began in
the fall of 2001. Major construction began in July 2002 and the
project is presently on track for completion in July of 2007.
2. Was the visitor centre a new or separate
building or was existing accommodation used?
The Capitol Visitor Centre is a new structure
located underground, adjacent to and connected with the US Capitol,
for several key reasons:
(a) Most of the US Capitol dates back more
than 140 years. It needs upgrading and modernization that would
be impossible to perform in the structure itself without substantially
altering its appearance and historic architectural integrity.
(b) Building underground allows the visitor
centre to be largely invisible from an exterior perspective, thereby
complimenting and enhancing, but not competing with the existing
Capitol building.
(c) Building adjacent to the US Capitol allows
the aesthetics, as well as the functioning, of the US Capitol
to be improved in the most appropriate manner.
3. What is the scale of your Centre in m2?
The CVC will contain 580,000 square feet on
three levels (approx 177,000m2).
4. What are its main target audiences?
While approximately 50% of our visitors are
students, we are not targeting any specific audience.
5. What are the main aims of your visitor
centre and how do you measure how well you meet these aims?
The Capitol Visitor Centre will make the US
Capitol more accessible, convenient, secure, and informative for
an estimated three million visitors each year.
6. What facilities does it contain?
The project will include space for exhibits,
visitor comfort, food service, two orientation theatres, an auditorium,
gift shops, security, a service tunnel for truck loading and deliveries,
mechanical facilities, storage, and much needed space for the
House and Senate.
A 16,500 square foot exhibition gallery is dedicated
to the story of Congress and the Capitol. The exhibition is organized
into sections, including a thematic look at our nation's ideals
through the display of original documents from the National Archives
and the Library of Congress. Original artefacts, video, and architectural
models illustrate the history of Congress and of the Capitol building.
More specifically:
(a) between 50 and 60 historic documents
highlighting the aspirations of Exploration, Unity, Freedom, Common
Defence, General Welfare and Knowledge, all housed in a long curving
marble wall with historic inscriptions from the Preamble of the
Constitution;
(b) 20 interactive stations offering information
about Congress, and will provide a virtual tour of the Capitol;
(c) 20 plasma screens with images of Capitol
interiors;
(d) a Virtual House and Senate Theatre, each
accommodating 25-30 people, featuring an informational film about
each body, as well as a direct feed into the House and Senate
Chambers when Congress is in session;
(e) a 10-foot high touchable model of the
Capitol Dome including interior and exterior views;
(f) several touchable historic objects like
a Minton tile, the snake door handles on the House Chamber, a
part of a Brumidi-design stair rail, etc;
(g) six historic alcoves featuring a model
of the Capitol campus as it evolved since 1793. The alcoves also
feature video screens that will highlight events and activities
that were driving the workings of Congress during that particular
period in history. Ten key moments in both the House and Senate
will be featured on either side of each alcove;
(h) images showing the Capitol as the Nation's
stage: inaugurations, ceremonies, protests, demonstrations, celebrations,
etc;
(i) images showing the Capitol "behind
the scenes": the staffers, Capitol Guides, Cap Police, landscapers,
maintenance crews, etc;
(j) and the Catafalque, the platform on which
sits the coffins when presidents or other officials lie in state
in the Rotunda.
Two 250 seat orientation theatres showing a
fifteen minute film about Congress to visitors immediately prior
to their guided tour of the Capitol. Additionally, there is a
500 seat auditorium for special events.
In addition to expansion space for the House
and Senate there are two constituent meeting rooms for Members
of Congress to meet with large groups.
Several gift shops and numerous large restrooms.
7. Is there a link to the main Parliamentary
building? Does the public have to go through the Centre to reach
the Parliament?
Yes. The Visitor Centre will serve as the primary
point of entry for those visiting the Capitol.
8. How many staff does the Centre have?
During periods of peak visitation we may have
as many as 200 employees on staff to welcome, inform and guide
visitors. We will also have approximately 30 employees for administrative,
curatorial, technical and retail sales responsibilities. Food
services for the cafeteria and special events will be contract
out to an outside vendor.
9. How much did the Centre cost to establish?
The overall project budget is $522 million.
That includes a base budget of $265 million for the core visitor
centre facility, which includes a new truck tunnel and other functional
improvements inside the Capitol; $38.5 million for security enhancements
(added after 9/11); $70 million added in November 2001 to complete
the build-out and finishes in House and Senate expansion space,
and $33 million added in April 2003 for other security improvements.
In September 2003, Congress appropriated $48 million to accommodate
all of the ancillary costs associated with executing the more
than $140 million in new construction work added after 9/11, including
additional management costs, increases in security requirements
and additional contingencies. These funds also covered additional
costs incurred during the pre-construction phase of the project
and delays related to unforeseen conditions and utility relocation
efforts. Congress appropriated additional funds in FY05 and FY06
to cover AOC administration and construction management fees,
design and construction administration, CVC exhibits, additional
contingency, technical security, equipment purchases, and anticipated
delay costs for the Sequence 2 contract as a result of the 10-month
delay in the Sequence 1 contract.
10. What is its annual running cost?
Unknown.
11. Have you undertaken any research or surveys
of visitors to get their views of the visitor centre?
We have surveyed visitors currently visiting
the Capitol to determine their expectations.
12. Do you advertise your visitor centre,
for example on the Internet, through the media or by leaflets
or posters?
Yes. In fact, much of the information that I
am providing is published on http://www.aoc.gov/cvc/index.cfm.
We will also be posting a web site featuring educational opportunities
and advanced reservations for guided tours of the Capitol.
13. What do you think are the key things
that make your visitor centre successful?
In addition to providing much needed amenities,
our intention is to create an educational venue focusing on the
Capitol and Congress.
14. What could we learn from your experience?
It is never too early to begin thinking about
even the smallest details.
14 July 2006
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