The House of Delegate’s Chamber renovation was revealed today at 3 p.m. This renovation began in August 2023 and is only the second renovation of the chamber since the Capitol was dedicated in 1932.
House Clerk Stephen Harrison noted some of his favorite parts of the renovation. He said the carpet pattern and exposing the marble walls brightened up the room. The sound technology changes are also a highlight of the renovation. The old electrical system left the voting system unstable with electrical shorts. The microphones and microphone reels have been replaced at each member’s desk and upgrades have been made to the sound system. Additional high-speed internet cable connections have been added to members’ desks.
The new chairs are smaller and a deep shade of blue, similar to the carpet accents. The tall chairs at the speaker’s podium were reupholstered to match. The carpet is red with navy blue studded gold starburst. The black walnut desks, which are more than 90 years old, have been sanded and stained.
The duct work received a cleaning and brass vent covers are accented by a small West Virginia outline in the center. Any damaged pieces of the rock crystal in the chandelier were replaced.
The 1995 renovation provided “modesty panels” at the press table. The 2023 renovation added panels for outlets and USB ports on top of the table. Additional outlets and ports have been added to the rear corner of the Chamber for TV cameras to plug into the House audio feed for clear recording.
Former House Speaker Chuck Chambers, who announced the 1995 renovation, and current House Speaker Roger Hanshaw share the same sentiment that renovations are done “to ensure the preservation of the magnificent and historic building of the people of West Virginia.
You can view a time-lapse video of the renovation here.
