A massive $300 million construction project is underway at the state Capitol. The entire north wing, including the Senate chamber, is being renovated. A beautiful new feature of the Senate chamber is an 18-foot square stained-glass ceiling with skylight, consisting of 105 individual panels and 6,566 pieces of glass. During construction the Senate met in the Howlett Building. The renovated chamber will be unveiled on inauguration day, Jan. 8, 2025.
Brooks Art Glass of Springfield was hired to produce this magnificent work of art. Steve Brooks is a craftsman who has completed hundreds of projects over his 40 years working with glass. He is a master artisan who designs and fabricates new stained glass windows, restores old stained glass, etches glass and repairs glass windows. He has worked in historic buildings, churches, businesses, schools and residential homes.
Brooks got his start at Melotte Morse Stained Glass in 1984, which was part of the architectural firm now called Melotte Morse Leonatti Parker, Ltd. There he was the lead artisan involved with some very high-profile projects including restoration of the dome of the state Capitol in 1986 and the Dana-Thomas House in 1988. In 2001, he bought the stained-glass business from Melotte Morse Leonatti and established Brooks Art Glass. He currently operates out of a studio at Ninth and Miller streets.
Restoring historical features of the state Capitol has been a priority in recent renovations. The House chamber was restored in 2006. An old photograph revealed there was once stained glass that was later replaced by decorative plaster. Brooks was commissioned to produce a 20-foot-diameter stained glass laylight window (lit by backlighting rather than a skylight) for the House chamber.
Historic photos also revealed that the Senate chamber once had a skylight above stained glass that was also replaced by decorative plaster. The old skylight was removed when the Senate chamber was redecorated in 1938. Now, almost 90 years later, the skylight is being recreated as part of the north wing renovation. Architect Phil Hamp of Vinci-Hamp Architects led the restoration project, with Brooks Art Glass responsible for creating the new stained glass pieces that are a reproduction of the 1880s-era design. Brooks was selected given his past experience at the Illinois State Capitol and unique expertise.
Brooks was provided a CAD drawing of the design for him to fabricate. He buys sheets of glass in specific colors, which he cuts and fits into panels through an elaborate process, which are then installed on site.
"It's a logistical nightmare keeping track," said Brooks. He explains it's like a puzzle, but numbered, with each piece, panel and color numerically coded. Included in the design are more than 300 rondels, which are circular, hand-blown, hand-made pieces of glass with a dimple in the middle. Brooks obtains the sheets of glass from Kokomo, Indiana, and the rondels, which are cut to size, from Monarch Glass in Kansas City.
Brooks was the master craftsman and coordinator for the $300,000 project, but in addition to costs for materials and labor, many other individuals and businesses contributed to the project. This included Bacon & Van Buskirk Glass Co., which assisted with the installation and safety glass covering; Megan Smith and Lindsey Eddington, who assisted with cutting and building panels; Jeff Overright, who built some of the panels; and MMLP, which assisted with CAD work and administrative issues.
Brooks said the project turned out to be a lot harder than he anticipated. What he thought would be a three-month job turned into a six-month endeavor. Nevertheless, he said it has been very rewarding. His craftsmanship is evident throughout the state Capitol. "It's another feather in my cap, for sure," said Brooks.
Visitors to the Senate chamber will be able to see this spectacular new addition when the Senate is back in session in January.
The state Capitol is an impressive building with a rich history. Numerous renovations have taken place over the years, and not all have been sensitive to preserving the historic character of the building. The recent renovations are based on significant historical research and a commitment to modernize and meet the needs of today while honoring the past and recreating the significant architectural features of this remarkable historic building.
Karen Ackerman Witter worked in the north wing of the state Capitol in the mid-1980s as a natural resources policy adviser to Gov. Jim Thompson. She looks forward to seeing the newly renovated Senate chamber.
