Architectural Cast Iron for the Virginia State Capitol Restoration
OK Foundry provided reproduction architectural cast iron for the Virginia State Capitol Restoration. Two open-newel staircases were re-built using cast iron newel posts, cast iron caps, and cast iron stringer panels. Cast iron capitals and column cladding were used to renovate the open elevator shaft ironwork. While modern structural steel supports were used to shore up the staircase and elevator shaft structures, architectural iron from OK Foundry ensured that the decorative ironwork was accurately restored.
The underground expansion and Classical entry addition designed by RMJM Hillier, Philadelphia, PA won a 2008 Palladio Award for Sympathetic Addition from Traditional Building magazine.
Patternmaking is the Key to Accurate Restoration
By using traditional foundry pattern making techniques, OK Foundry is able to reproduce ornamental iron to the finest details. Even broken and partial pieces of original ironwork can be used to re-create cast iron elements of a design. Our pattern makers are master craftsmen skilled in mold making, fine carpentry, and iron founding.
The capitol restoration project required all of the pattern maker's skills. To reproduce the ionic capital decoration for the elevator stairwell, plaster molds were made from broken fragments of the original ironwork then recast into complete patterns for reproduction. Artisinal mold making captures the finest details of original architectural cast iron for restoration.
The larger elements like the cast iron stairway stringer fascia and cast iron stairwell fascia required fine carpentry and custom profile millwork to make foundry patterns to architectural and as built prints. Once the millwork profiles were created and the basic design parameters approved by the architects, patternwork for the variations in length, stairway slope, right, and left hand stairway turns could be made promptly as the project requirements unfolded.
In house pattern making reduces the leadtime for architectural and as built changes.
Architectural Iron for Stairway and Elevator Shaft
Cast iron newel post in State Capitol Stairway.
Descending newel post extension and stairway fascia.
Cast iron fascia in State Capitol Stairway.
Cast iron column cladding of elevator shaft structure.
Cast iron capital decoration.
Cast iron capital decoration.
Making the Cast Iron Newel Post Cap
Original cast iron newel post cap.
OK Foundry reproduction cast iron newel post cap.
Cast iron newel post cap pattern.
Cast iron newel post cap pattern.
Making the Cast Iron Ionic Capital
Original cast iron capital fragment.
Back of cast iron capital fragment.
Cast iron capital pattern.
Cast iron capital pattern.
Cast iron capital reproduction.
Cast iron capital reproduction.