THOLOS | VOLUME 25 1

THOLOS

VOLUME 26

USBG 

HIGHLIGHT

A Career Fusing Art, 

Design and Plants

EMPLOYEE 

SPOTLIGHT

Honoring 50 Years of 

Historic Service 

FEATURE

Built to Last 
2 THOLOS | VOLUME 26 THOLOS | VOLUME 26 3

FEATURE PROJECT UPDATE

14 20

TA B LE O F CO N T EN T S

14 FEATURE:

Built to Last

20 PROJECT UPDATE:

The AOC Never Paints Itself Into a Corner

26 MEET THE TEAM:

AOC University

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT

TA B LE O F CO N T EN T S

USBG HIGHLIGHT

4 10

 4 USBG HIGHLIGHT:

A Career Fusing Art, Design and Plants

10 EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT:

Honoring 50 Years of Historic Service
4 THOLOS

| VOLUME 26 THOLOS| VOLUME 265

Nick Nelson combines 

diverse passions 

into a landscape 

architecture career.

A CAREER 

FUSING ART, 

DESIGN AND 

PLANTS

When Nick Nelson was hired at the United 

States Botanic Garden (USBG) 15 years 

ago, he became its first landscape architect. 

While Nelson is the USBG’s first landscape 

architect, the specialized career that is his 

passion today wasn’t something he had 

previously envisioned. 

“I was a bit of an artist in high school,” 

Nelson said. “I enjoyed drawing, and my 

art teacher recommended architecture as a 

practical use for art. I figured maybe I had 

just found my career.”

But Nelson also happened to be a golfer and 

even worked at a golf course in high school. 

He learned that the professionals who 

design golf courses were a different type of 

architect — a landscape architect — and he 

was intrigued.

When looking at college degree programs, 

Nelson found his parent’s alma mater West 

Virginia University offered a landscape 

architect program — and did not offer a turf 

grass science degree that he was also pondering. “I decided that settled it,” Nelson said. “I 

figured landscape architecture would let me 

combine my enjoyment of art with a way to 

connect with nature and the outdoors that I 

also wanted.”

WRITTEN BY DEVIN DOTSON

PHOTOGRAPHY BY THOMAS HATZENBUHLER

USBG HIGHLIGHT

Nelson reviews 

designs he created 

for an upcoming 

project at the USBG.
6 THOLOS | VOLUME 26

Nelson entered the public gardens sector 

via a suggestion from his mother, a master 

gardener, who told him about a Planning 

and Design internship at Longwood 

Gardens in Pennsylvania. Not only was 

Nelson accepted into the yearlong internship program, but was hired as a contractor by the garden six months in.

“The four years working at Longwood 

gave me many valuable experiences with 

major projects, like designing parts of 

the indoor Children’s Garden, and also 

expanded my understanding of worldclass gardens through visits to other 

gardens around the world,” Nelson said.

Nelson first learned about the USBG 

while working at Longwood; he and 

some others from Longwood did some 

consulting for the USBG on a potential Terrace Gardens renovation. Soon, 

Nelson oversaw 

fabrication of these 

copies of a previously 

unused urn design 

created for the 

Capitol campus by 

renowned landscape 

architect Frederick 

Law Olmsted.

Nelson was driving between eastern 

Pennsylvania and Alexandria, Virginia, 

to spend time with his fiancée. He left 

Longwood and began working at a firm 

in Tysons Corner, Virginia, when he 

learned about the new landscape architect 

position at the USBG. 

“I was very excited to apply to join the 

USBG as a landscape architect,” said 

Nelson. “It was a great combination of 

my training with my art background and 

my experience in public gardens. Being a 

full-time position solidified that this was 

the job for me.”

So what does a landscape architect 

do at a public garden like the USBG? 

Nelson designs and helps bring to life 

physical spaces in the USBG. If you’ve 

enjoyed the Terrace Gardens outside the 

Conservatory entrance, you’ve walked 

“I was very excited 

to apply to join the 

USBG as a landscape 

architect ... It was a 

great combination 

of my training with 

my art background 

and my experience 

in public gardens.”
THOLOS | VOLUME 26 7

through a garden space that Nelson 

helped bring to life. 

“The very Terrace Gardens renovation 

project we had consulted on while I 

was at Longwood was coming to life 

when I joined the USBG,” he said. 

Nelson oversaw the completion of 

the design work and then managed 

the implementation.

“I feel good about the final product 

— making the Terrace Gardens more 

inviting and providing more of a feel like 

you’re entering a garden. I do love how 

the huge urn turned out — the scale 

of it provides some excitement while 

approaching the Conservatory,” Nelson 

said. “A benefit of having been here 15 

years now, is that I also have gotten to 

see this and other projects mature and be 

fully realized. A garden is a living space, 

so that also means sometimes we revisit a 

portion or an element years later to either 

maintain it or update it.”

Other major projects Nelson has helped 

design and manage include the Children’s 

Garden renovation with new elements 

ranging from a Conservatory-inspired 

climbing structure to motion-activated 

misting poles and new raised beds to 

allow kids to plant and water. Nelson 

collaborated with USBG Horticulturist 

Adam Pyle to transition a Conservatory 

house into a Mediterranean theme, with 

new structural and decorative elements like Mediterranean-tiled stepped 

planting areas and a Mediterranean wall 

mural to evoke that sense of place. He 

also designed the USBG’s new, large 

name and logo signs working with 

the Architect of the Capitol’s (AOC) 

Architecture Review Board for approval 

of those projects before later joining the 

board as the USBG’s representative.

Nelson’s first project as landscape architect for the USBG was to oversee completion of this redesign of the Terrace Gardens north of the Conservatory.
8 THOLOS

| VOLUME 26

One of Nelson’s 

latest projects was 

designing and 

implementing a new 

bridge for the USBG 

Conservatory’s Tropics 

house. The design 

at right, is wider and 

more accessible. The 

photos above show 

the project completed 

and in use by visitors.

Nelson’s job requires him to design with 

both people and plants in mind. You can 

explore one of his most recent projects 

when visiting the Tropics house. Nelson 

designed a new bridge to cross the central 

waterway. It’s not only wider for more 

accessible use but also incorporates a 

plant-centric design. Nelson took a palm 

leaf shape and worked it into a railing 

that is safe and structural — and reflective of the environment around it.

“I enjoyed getting to work with other 

AOC specialists on this project,” Nelson 

said. “The AOC Structural Engineer 

helped ensure the design met all load 

requirements, an AOC Electrical 

Engineer provided guidance to tap into 

existing power for lighting, and the 

AOC Construction Division worked on 

the stonework and electrical. We have a 

wealth of expertise throughout the AOC.”

Through the years, Nelson’s eye for 

design and contracting skills have led 

him to manage many exhibits ranging 

from the popular annual holiday exhibit 

to the annual orchid exhibit offered in 

collaboration with Smithsonian Gardens. 

“Everyone I meet seems to have been to 

the holiday show,” Nelson said. “It’s an 

instant connection and source of pride 

for me to have been able to help make it 

come to life for many years.”
THOLOS | VOLUME 26 9

Nelson’s impact on Capitol Hill extends 

beyond the USBG through consultations 

he does with other AOC jurisdictions. In 

2016, Supreme Court Justice Anthony 

Kennedy reached out to Stephen Ayers, 

the Architect of the Capitol at the time, 

to ask if someone could help come up 

with design ideas to improve the landscape on the north side of the Supreme 

Court of the United States. Mr. Ayers 

reached out to the USBG, and Nelson 

met with representatives from the 

Supreme Court team.

“Justice Kennedy wanted an inviting 

landscape design with more color, and 

the others especially wanted to keep the 

major hardscape elements the same,” 

Nelson said. Nelson developed three 

landscape design proposals — one more 

formal, one naturalistic and one that was 

a hybrid of the two. The more formal 

layout was chosen and has been implemented to update the landscape.

“I love the diversity of this job. I never 

stop learning and growing because I’m 

always involved in new projects and 

exhibits that challenge me in new ways,” 

Nelson said. “Also, the people here make 

the job really great. I love getting to work 

with so many other professionals at the 

USBG and the AOC.”

Nelson’s work is never done. From supporting the upkeep of previous projects to 

overseeing designs and implementation 

to keeping the USBG landscape designs 

functional and inviting, there is never a 

shortage of projects.

“I feel lucky to get to do work that I 

love,” Nelson said. “It’s great to be able to 

blend art, science and nature into garden 

spaces that showcase the diversity of the 

USBG plant collection for visitors to see 

and explore.”

Nelson’s design for updated landscaping at the Supreme Court of the United States adds more variety and color into the landscape while keeping some 

of the requested formality.

“ I love the diversity 

of this job. I never 

stop learning and 

growing ... Also, 

the people here 

make the job 

really great. I love 

getting to work 

with so many 

other professionals 

at the USBG and 

the AOC.”
10 THOLOS

| VOLUME 26 THOLOS| VOLUME 26 11

WRITTEN BY ERIN NELSON

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAMES ROSENTHAL

Honoring 

50 Years 

of Historic 

Service

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT
12 THOLOS | VOLUME 26

n today’s fast-paced, instant culture, few things seem to 

last, including career tenures. Perhaps it’s the charm of the 

historic campus or the weight of the symbolism it carries 

around the world, but at the Architect of the Capitol (AOC), 

it’s not hard to find an employee who has spent their entire 

career serving this treasured institution. 

One such employee is Donald Ward, Building Services 

Coordinator for the AOC’s House Office Buildings. 

His journey to Capitol Hill began in Newport News, Virginia, 

at Booker T. Washington Elementary School in Mrs. Campbell’s 

fifth grade geography class. He was intrigued after reading a few 

short paragraphs about the House Page program in a chapter 

on Washington, D.C. Although Ward had never heard of the 

program, it lit a fire within him. At 11 years old he declared his 

dream of becoming a House Page, “That’s what I’m going to be.”

He went to local libraries and read everything he could 

about the Page program, when it began, why and how it was 

started, and he never missed an opportunity to share his 

dream with others. 

At school he met a woman named Jessie Rattley; she was 

running for city council and wanted young people in the community to work on her campaign, canvassing neighborhoods, 

passing out brochures and informing the public about the 

importance of getting out to vote. Ward supported her ideas and 

was asked to join her campaign. He spent the summer working 

for her and was delighted when she won, “She went down in 

history as being the first Black member of the Newport News 

City Council. I was very proud to be part of her success in that 

small way.”

Ward was 14 years old at the time, but he had not forgotten about the House Page program. He would often talk 

to Rattley about being a Page. He also shared his dream 

with John Fitzgerald, who worked with Rattley on the city 

council. Fitzgerald happened to know Virginia Congressman 

Thomas N. Downing, whose district included Newport News. 

Fitzgerald promised Ward that he would talk to the congressman and give him Ward’s address so they could exchange 

letters. As promised, when Fitzgerald returned from D.C., he 

gave Ward the congressman’s address and the two began a 

yearslong correspondence. 

Downing’s first letter to Ward informed him that he was very 

pleased to hear from him and glad to know that he was interested in the Page program. However, the program required participants to be 16; Ward was too young. The congressman asked 

Ward to keep him updated on his activities and to work hard in 

school. “So, for two years I worked feverishly to keep my grades 

up. I was a member of the Junior Honor Society. I kept myself 

involved in the community and just tried to be as involved and 

positive as I possibly could,” Ward said.

“On April 29, 1972, I turned 16, sat down at my desk and wrote 

a letter to Congressman Downing, letting him know that I had 

just turned 16 years old, and I was ready to come to D.C. and be 

a Page.” 

In July, Downing called Ward’s mother to tell her that he 

wanted Ward to come to Washington and be his Page. Ward 

was overjoyed, “I was so excited, so ecstatic. I had prayed every 

night for God to let me be a Page and sure enough that came to 

pass. That’s how I came to D.C. From one little dream and that 

one dream has lasted over 50 years.”

Ward arrived in Washington, D.C., on July 17, 1972. He served 

as the first Black Page from Virginia, and for him, that was 

quite an honor. He attended the Capitol Page School, which 

was in the Library of Congress at the time. Classes began at 6 

a.m. and ended at 10 a.m., from then until Congress adjourned 

for the day, Ward and other Pages worked on the House floor, 

delivering messages and other items for Members across the 

Capitol campus. 

Ward’s time as a Page was also filled with experiences outside of 

Capitol Hill. He returned home to Newport News, which is also 

known for having the nation’s largest privately owned shipyard 

and the only one in the United States capable of building a full 

range of nuclear-powered ships. Congressman Downing invited 

Ward and other staff to attend the commissioning of the newly 

completed USS Dwight D. Eisenhower. It was there that Ward 

met Mrs. Bates — her son was a classmate of Ward’s at the 

House Page School — the two discussed the Page program and 

how much Ward had enjoyed his experiences in D.C. When 

he returned to Washington, Congressman Downing asked 

Ward if he remembered meeting her and if he knew who she 

was. Ward remembered their conversation but did not know her 

connection to Capitol Hill. He soon learned that she was the 

I

I was so excited, so ecstatic. I had prayed every night for God to let me 

be a Page and sure enough that came to pass. That’s how I came to D.C. 

From one little dream and that one dream has lasted over 50 years.
THOLOS | VOLUME 26 13

Ward prepares a room 

in the Cannon House 

Office Building, often 

used for congressional 

hearings and meetings.

wife of the AOC’s House Superintendent 

C.M. Bates.

Ward had impressed Mrs. Bates so 

much that she had mentioned him to 

her husband. She thought he would be 

a wonderful asset for the agency. Ward 

met with the House Superintendent and 

was offered a position, becoming the first 

Black person to work in the Front Office 

of the House Superintendent. It was 

another honor for Ward, and he knew he 

needed to do his best, “I wanted to make 

sure that I set a good example because I 

knew that there were others that would 

be coming behind me; I wanted to make 

the road a little smoother for them in 

the process.”

That was 1976. Nearly 47 years later, 

Ward is still working in the Front Office 

for the House Superintendent, taking 

calls from Members of Congress and 

their staff, submitting work orders to 

House shops, and assisting staff however 

he can. “We also function as ambassadors 

to Capitol Hill. Many times, my coworkers and I are among the first people that 

new Members or congressional staff 

meet on the Hill. I always try to be a 

great, positive face for the organization 

and serve as an example of being kind, 

gracious and helpful,” Ward said.

That is no small task. The House Service 

Center can receive up to 250 requests a 

day, serving 435 Members of Congress 

and 5,000+ congressional staff.

As the many calls and work orders come 

and go, so too have his coworkers. While 

some have stayed longer than others, 

none have the tenure to match Ward. 

While it may be hard to see coworkers 

leave, he has been pleased to see a greater 

diversity among more recent hires, “We 

are all learning to be more considerate, kind and thoughtful of individuals’ 

backgrounds and where we come from. 

We’re learning how to show love and 

compassion. We’re learning from all of 

our differences, which is a good thing, 

and when you do that, you help the world 

become a better place to live.”

After 50+ years on Capitol Hill, some 

might wonder what has kept Ward here. 

“I enjoy what I do, number one. And 

number two, I realize that your job is 

more than a job or work. Many times, 

God places you where you can be a blessing to others. That’s what it’s all about.”
14 THOLOS

| VOLUME 26 THOLOS| VOLUME 26 15

BUILT 

TO LAST

WRITTEN BY MADELEINE LUCCHETTI

COVER PHOTOGRAPHY BY THOMAS HATZENBUHLER

PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY BY SEAN GREENE

FEATURE

From Project Mastery to People Skills,

Women in Construction Build Up the AOC
16 THOLOS | VOLUME 26

Lisa Thompson, an Architect of the Capitol (AOC) 

Construction Representative working on the Capitol Exterior 

Preservation — Stone and Metal project, likes to start her tours 

with a deceivingly simple question. “What color is the Capitol 

Building?” she asks. The answer seems obvious — white? — but 

Thompson knows there’s more there than what meets the eye. 

Once guests have donned the proper protective equipment 

and climbed the stairs built into the scaffolding, Thompson 

pulls back a thick sheet of vinyl protection to reveal the building’s 19th-century façade. The original Aquia Creek sandstone 

is unveiled: rich in soft browns and grays, with rust-colored 

mineral deposits running in jagged lines across the blocks. In 

some areas, reddish deposits make the stone look pink. 

Thompson is well acquainted with the U.S. Capitol’s West Front 

stone. She can show you burn marks from the library fire of 

1851, a mason’s mark discovered on a windowsill and foundry 

marks stamped into the metal railings, all uncovered throughout the restoration process. She’s been working on the Capitol 

Exterior Preservation — Stone and Metal project with a focus 

on repairing and preserving the existing stone that encompasses 

the West Front. Many visitors and even Capitol Hill savants 

might not guess the meticulous efforts it takes to identify and 

repair cracks, spalling and disintegration. Once repaired, the 

stone will be repainted to match the white marble extensions. 

The project is a significant undertaking, but the West Front 

phase will wrap up before the end of this year. Thompson has 

loved every minute of it. She’s been with the AOC for nearly 

eight years and says that the people around her feel like family. 

Though the fields of construction and engineering are often 

male-dominated, many women across the agency lead or are 

involved in construction-related projects, each necessitating 

technical expertise and collaborative experience. 

The substantial representation of women in these sectors 

makes it easier for Bonnie Holod, Assistant Superintendent, 

to approach progress in the field as a working professional. She 

comes from a long line of working women — and thanks to the 

presence of strong female role models, she’s confident in her own 

skin, no matter the environment or challenge.

“When I approach a construction site at the AOC, I don’t alter 

my behavior because I’m a woman,” Holod says. “If we are facing 

[figurative] barriers on-site, I find that humility breaks them 

down: trusting our tradespeople and their expertise. The ‘gender 

piece’ hasn’t come into play — and I think it’s because of our 

culture at the agency.”

Holod is pleased to see more women studying architecture, 

construction and engineering, especially as the work picks up. 

Inspired from a young age by architecture like Frank Lloyd 

Wright’s Fallingwater and Richard Morris Hunt’s Biltmore 

estate, she became a professional architect working on everything from schools to law firms before taking a position 

at the AOC in 2014. Ever since, she’s watched the AOC’s 

work expand into new plans and projects. Each, she says, is a 

gratifying challenge.

LISA THOMPSON

Construction Representative 

BONNIE HOLOD

Assistant Superintendent
THOLOS | VOLUME 26 17

DEATRA TRINIDAD

Deputy Facilities Manager

“It’s an honor to be a steward of these 

buildings, to maintain the integrity of 

these buildings and make sure they’re 

functionally flawless,” she says. “These 

structures will be here longer than all 

of us!"

So, what’s the best way AOC staff can 

preserve the Capitol campus’ timelessness? Deatra Trinidad believes it’s by 

staying current. As a Deputy Facilities 

Manager, she’s involved in several projects 

at the Supreme Court of the United 

States and Thurgood Marshall Federal 

Judiciary Building. She makes it her goal 

to stay abreast of best practices and technologies that can accelerate and innovate 

the agency’s work. 

As a child, Trinidad dreamed of being a 

roller coaster designer. Her talents led her 

to another sort of thrill — working on 

highly detailed, public-facing projects that 

involve diverse groups of stakeholders.

Trinidad studied mechanical engineering and came to the AOC in 2007 after 

several years in the private sector. She 

was looking for opportunities that would 

support a healthy work-life balance and 

Find a mentor you 

trust, someone you 

can share challenges 

with. Don’t let the 

pressures of a predominantly male field 

get to you — your 

voice is important! 

There’s always great 

diversity of thought 

if different people are 

brought to the table.

offer chances to grow her skill set. Thanks 

to her hardworking attitude and the guidance of mentors, including other women 

at the agency, Trinidad quickly became 

a go-to resource for her colleagues. She 

hopes to encourage other women to chase 

similar dreams. 

"Find a mentor you trust, someone you 

can share challenges with,” she says. 

“Don’t let the pressures of a predominantly male field get to you — your voice 

is important! There’s always great diversity 

of thought if different people are brought 

to the table.”
18 THOLOS | VOLUME 26

Christine Dillen, an Assistant Superintendent of Tenant 

Services, agrees heartily with Trinidad. Mentorship is her favorite part of her AOC leadership duties; she aims to empower her 

team and colleagues, giving them tools they need to be successful at work. As her family has grown, she has learned the value 

of a sustainable work-life balance and aims to lead by example 

by balancing her responsibilities.

Through the challenges, successes and failures that her 

day-to-day work presents, Dillen continually finds inspiration 

and motivation working alongside her team inside the beautiful 

buildings. Dillen’s purview spans multiple renovation and restoration projects across different areas of the Library of Congress 

and its offices. As an Assistant Superintendent, she’s often 

focused on the rehabilitation of the Thomas Jefferson, James 

Madison Memorial and John Adams Buildings. There, she 

spends much time focused on the development of office fit-outs, 

the restoration of ornate ceiling rosettes, and the challenging 

rehabilitation of building façades and roofs. She names communication as key to being a successful architect and leader.

“Being able to communicate effectively — whether you’re speaking or writing to someone — is critical,” Dillen says. “If I were 

to give future architects a word of advice, it would be to focus on 

communication skills and to take courses in technical writing. 

You can spend so much time formulating an idea, but you need 

to be able to convey it successfully, in order to have it executed.”

CHRISTINE DILLEN

 Assistant Superintendent of Tenant Services
THOLOS | VOLUME 26 19

Jennifer Rheaume, a Senior Project 

Manager, takes this advice one step 

further — to her, good communication 

is also the best way to make connections, which have been instrumental to 

the success of her career. Even in the 

most hands-on fields, she says, soft skills 

are invaluable.

Rheaume has been involved with several 

restoration projects throughout her six 

years at the AOC, including recent rehabilitation to the historic Russell Senate 

Office Building exterior façade stone 

and windows. Soon, she’ll begin work 

on the Dirksen Senate Office Building 

egress and accessibility project, bronze 

restoration and Russell Building interior 

stairwell upgrades.

Just as Thompson knows what’s needed 

to keep the U.S. Capitol façade in 

tip-top shape, Rheaume knows how to 

build collaboration. Unlike other jobs, 

construction and engineering positions 

often require teams to come face-to-face 

on-site, creating prime opportunities 

to bond, whether over a new project or 

simply a quick coffee. Connections made 

in this daily environment are essential, 

Rheaume says, and she strongly believes 

that women in the field must support 

other women.

“Years ago, I realized that one of the 

hardest parts about being in a male-dominated field was trying to build professional relationships with upper management and be noticed for your work. Take 

JENNIFER RHEAUME

Senior Project Manager

advantage of those social opportunities 

outside of work to interact and grow your 

professional connections as those can 

be invaluable,” Rheaume says. “At the 

AOC, you have so many opportunities to 

advance your career and taking advantage of those has been instrumental in 

advancing my work. I think the women 

at the AOC have so much to say and so 

much to offer.”

Now, she and others are continuing to 

uphold a legacy of women leaders at the 

AOC — united by their passion for the 

historic fabric of their work in fields that 

they love.

At the AOC, you have 

so many opportunities to advance your 

career and taking 

advantage of those 

has been instrumental in advancing 

my work. I think the 

women at the AOC 

have so much to say 

and so much to offer.
20 THOLOS

| VOLUME 26 THOLOS| VOLUME 26 21

Legislative and Public Affairs (LPA) often tasks me 

with providing project updates for Tholos. If you’re a 

frequent reader of this publication you are aware I try to 

include a fun metaphor or throw in a few jokes (I throw 

in a lot, but LPA wisely edits the bad ones out). Every 

time I start writing the articles, the pressure of how to 

make the article fun and entertaining stops me in my 

tracks. As someone whose main tool is a keyboard and 

not a brush, I’ve done an amazing job of painting myself 

into a corner.

The same is not true for the numerous trades of the 

Capitol Building jurisdiction working on the Second 

Floor Plaster and Paint Repairs, which started in the 

spring of 2022. If you have not had the opportunity to 

roam the halls on the Senate side of the U.S. Capitol 

before June 2022, the plaster from the north, south and 

west corridors (adjacent to the Senate Chamber) was 

delaminating, which means its top layer was beginning 

to separate from the subsurface, causing cracks to appear 

and sections of plaster to fall.

The AOC Never 

Paints Itself 

Into a Corner

WRITTEN BY JUSTIN KIEFFER

PHOTOGRAPHY BY THOMAS HATZENBUHLER

PROJECT UPDATE
22 THOLOS | VOLUME 26

This project’s purpose was to repair the plaster in these areas 

and repaint; however, it is not as simple as it sounds. The project 

team had to consider corridor width limitations, hazardous 

materials, other workers, Senate sessions, etc. and that makes 

improvisation nearly impossible. This endeavor requires an 

in-depth plan to determine all the requirements, prepare documents, develop a budget, acquire funding, award contracts and 

create a schedule.

Before starting the main scope of plaster repair and repainting, 

a contractor was hired to temporarily relocate second floor 

historical artwork, including a Daniel Webster painting, several 

vice presidential busts, benches and the Ohio Clock, which 

has stood in the Senate halls since 1859. Additionally, the 

Capitol Building jurisdiction took the opportunity to remove 

and refurbish 10 chandeliers in the areas where scaffolding was 

used. The repainting was not as simple as covering the Capitol 

Dome with Dome White paint. A team including representatives from the Office of the Senate Curator, the Architect 

of the Capitol (AOC) Curator Division, the AOC’s Historic 

Preservation Officer and Capitol Superintendent’s Office as well 

as paint conservators had to complete a paint analysis to be used 

as a road map on how the space has been decorated since the 

Senate Wing Extension opened in the 1850s. Architect Marty 

Shore, who provided information on the paint analysis for this 

article states that, “the report researched 19th- and 20th-century 

archival documents such as Annual Reports of the Architect of 

the United States Capitol, receipts of paint and photographs of 

that era for any clues to the corridor’s entire paint history. Highpowered microscopes were used to determine when each of the 

paint layers were applied. The report provided a summary that 

organized the paint schemes into five periods of time.”

The five different time periods included: Period 1: 1851–1865, 

after the north extension was constructed but before the earliest 

complete decorative painting scheme was installed; Period 2: 

1865–1896, when the earliest known decorative painting scheme 

was in place; Period 3: 1897–1904, a short period of time 

when the corridor was finished in a simplified version of the 

earlier decorative painting scheme; Period 4: 1904 – early 20th 

century, the first campaign of nondecorative finishes phase of 

the corridor began sometime around 1904. The paint finishes of 

this period represent the first complete set of preserved finishes 

on all architectural elements studied; and Period 5: early 20th 

century to present, this period includes succeeding finishes, 

all nondecorative, after Period 4. The scheme selected by all 

parties is a modern interpretation of the Period 2 1865–1896 

color scheme. 

Larry Sizemore of the Capitol Building jurisdiction stated, 

“During preplanning we identified the multiple trades, including 

the Carpentry Division, Electrical Division, HVAC Division, 

Insulation Division, Mason Division and Paint Division that 

needed to be choreographed with one another throughout the 

project’s schedule to make it cohesive and simple. A major 

Historic artwork and furniture were moved out of the corridors during 

the restoration work and returned once the area was finished.
THOLOS | VOLUME 26 23

Along with the 

scaffold, lifts were 

used to reach 

portions of the work.
24 THOLOS | VOLUME 26

challenge was scheduling the scaffold installation during times 

that would not interfere with the Senate while in session. The 

team was able to complete the majority of this during six different recesses (the covered walkways were built during each phase 

of the project) because of how well the contractors and in-house 

trade shops worked together.”

The scaffolding design had to serve the needs of four different 

trades during the project, requiring a huge, coordinated effort. 

After a contractor erected the scaffolding and the Carpentry 

Shop built the covered pedestrian walkway, the in-house 

Insulation Shop used containment areas to abate the lead paint 

on the corridor walls and ceilings. The Mason Shop then used 

the scaffolding to replaster the areas and then ceded the area to 

allow the Paint Shop to apply the decorative paint. 

A covered pedestrian walkway was needed so building occupants 

and visitors could safely pass through the work areas. This was 

also a more complex walkway compared to some others in that 

it required drywall, lighting and fire alarm devices, including a 

smoke detector so that the area would remain code compliant.

As the phases progressed, the team got better and faster at 

completing the work even when the employees had to work in 

tighter corridors, while still maintaining a 44-inch passage width 

for egress and accessibility. With the scaffolding in place limiting access to the lower portions of the corridor walls, areas below 

the scaffolding deck could not be reached and were addressed 

after the scaffolding was removed. Basically, the team had to 

visit each area twice, performing abatement, plaster repair and 

painting on the upper portions of each area while the scaffold 

permitted accessibility and then revisited the lower portions of 

the area once the scaffolding was removed. 

As I prepare to submit this article the project team is close to 

completing the sixth and final phase of the project and will 

move on to minor paint touch up and detail work. Members 

of the media are gleefully tweeting that the Ohio Clock and 

benches are back in the corridor. I know I am not painting the 

project team into a corner by saying work is anticipated being 

fully complete this summer — this team is always working in 

each other’s corner, not because they were painted into one. 

The almost-finished work carried out by the highly skilled artisans of the AOC.
THOLOS | VOLUME 26 25

Decorative 

Plasterer 

Raymond Andrew

applies new 

plaster to replace 

the older, 

delaminated 

version. 
26 THOLOS | VOLUME 26 THOLOS | VOLUME 26 27

AOC 

UNIVERSIT Y 

MEET THE TEAM

WRITTEN BY CAROL CAMPOS 

PHOTOGRAPHY BY KALEENA DWYER, SEAN GREENE, 

THOMAS HATZENBUHLER AND LUKE WALTER
28 THOLOS | VOLUME 26

Last fall, the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) established 

AOC University under the Office of the Chief Administrative 

Officer to better align workforce training needs with current 

and future agency work requirements. The new organization 

was created by restructuring the former Training and Employee 

Development Branch (TED), formerly under the Human 

Capital Management Division. The goal of AOC University 

is to provide employees with a one-stop-shop for professional 

development and career growth, and to support the AOC 

Human Capital Strategic Plan to encourage a culture of continual learning and development. 

AOC University encourages learning through a variety of teaching materials that make learning easy and accessible anytime, 

anywhere, in a variety of formats. AOC University learning tools 

are found in AOC Learn under “Training Opportunities.” AOC 

Learn is a learning management system that includes online 

courses, informational videos and agency-sponsored training. In 

addition, AOC employees also have 24/7 access to a large suite 

of on-demand personal and professional development online 

training courses, books and other resources through Percipio, a 

comprehensive learning platform provided by AOC University. 

Both learning platforms are easily accessible and contain a vast 

array of courses that allow employees to guide their own personal and professional development to achieve success in their 

present and future. 

The AOC University team has a clear sense of purpose to make 

learning fun, increase employee engagement, encourage retention of valued talent and attract the next generation of AOC 

leaders. The talented and diverse AOC University team is led 

by Chief Learning Officer Peggy Almanza and is supported by 

newly hired staff and former members of the TED branch. The 

team took time out from their busy schedules to talk about their 

work and their goals for this new organization.

Peggy Almanza welcomes participants to the AOC University Aspiring Leaders Program. 
THOLOS | VOLUME 26 29

Peggy Almanza

CHIEF LEARNING OFFICER

CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT A 

CHIEF LEARNING OFFICER DOES?

As the Chief Learning Officer, I am dedicated to providing strategic guidance to 

develop, support and maintain high-quality 

learning and development opportunities 

that foster the growth and development of 

the AOC’s workforce. 

Q:

A:

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB AT THE 

AOC AND WHAT BROUGHT YOU HERE? 

I started at the AOC in September 2010 as 

the TED Branch Chief within the Human 

Capital Management Division. I came to the 

AOC because I wanted a new challenge in 

my career, and I was eager to collaborate 

with employees of many different areas 

of expertise all in one agency. I served in 

that role until transitioning into the Chief 

Learning Officer (CLO) position in 2022 

within AOC University. It has been an exciting time to lead the former TED Branch into 

the newly created AOC University, and I am 

thrilled to be serving in this new role as AOC 

University’s first CLO.

Q:

A:

WHAT IS THE BEST ADVICE YOU 

CAN GIVE TO SOMEONE WHO IS 

JUST STARTING AT THE AOC?

Ask questions and learn from others, network 

with your colleagues, and get involved 

wherever you can. AOC employees have a 

wealth of knowledge and experience, and I 

learn from others each and every day. Asking 

questions, networking with others, and 

getting involved can provide an opportunity 

to experience the camaraderie and encouragement that comes from being a part of the 

AOC team.

Q:

A:

CAN YOU SHARE A FUN FACT 

ABOUT YOU THAT MANY PEOPLE 

DO NOT KNOW? 

I am a Texas girl that LOVES college football. Gig’em Texas A&M Aggies!

Q:

A:
30 THOLOS | VOLUME 26

Betsy Johnson

TRAINING PROGRAM DIRECTOR

TELL ME ABOUT YOUR ROLE AT 

AOC UNIVERSITY? 

As the Training Program Director, I am 

responsible for the Training and Employee 

Development Operations, which include 

all aspects of training development, 

delivery, evaluation and management 

including Leadership and Management 

training, Career Development and General 

Skills training. 

Q:

A:

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF 

THE JOB? 

There is nothing else more rewarding 

than seeing someone else succeed, and 

it means so much to me to know that we 

play a role in helping them succeed and 

develop. We recently relaunched the Career 

Development series, which consists of two 

workshops that assist employees with the 

AOC’s application process, resume writing 

and interview preparation. Additionally, AOC 

University recently announced the pilot 

Aspiring Leaders program, which provides 

training and development opportunities for 

nonsupervisory/non-lead AOC staff at all 

levels to grow and succeed. 

Q:

A:

WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT BEING 

PART OF THE AOC UNIVERSITY TEAM? 

Being part of a team that supports employees in achieving their career goals. We 

have a great team that supports each other 

and are happy to assist in empowering 

employees to grow and succeed. As a new 

organization, we are a small team that 

supports the AOC, and every day I am in 

awe with the hard work and commitment to 

excellence our team displays. They truly go 

above and beyond to help and support all 

AOC employees. 

Q:

A:
THOLOS | VOLUME 26 31

Bessy Plaza 

TRAINING SPECIALIST

DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE CLASS OR 

BOOK AVAILABLE AT AOC UNIVERSITY 

THAT YOU RECOMMEND? WHY IS IT 

YOUR FAVORITE?

There is a course “Telling a Business Story” 

in the AOC Learn Percipio platform I would 

recommend to anyone that wants to present 

data or business concepts in a different 

way. It has been quite some time that “Who 

Moved My Cheese? An A-Mazing Way to 

Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your 

Life” came out about change with the characters Hem and Haw. I recommend “I Moved 

Your Cheese: For Those Who Refuse To Live 

as Mice in Someone Else’s Maze.” This is a 

short read but now you question the maze. 

Q:

A:

CAN YOU SHARE A FUN FACT 

ABOUT YOU THAT MANY PEOPLE 

DO NOT KNOW? 

A fun fact about me is I study and practice 

permaculture, which is the design of food 

gardens to support the local ecosystem 

by utilizing available resources and the 

environment in a manner that does not 

produce any waste. 

Q:

A:

WHAT DO YOU FEEL IS YOUR TEAM’S 

BIGGEST STRENGTH? 

Our biggest strength as the AOC 

University team is the experience and 

talent we bring to the office. You can 

see this in a brainstorming session or in 

a working meeting. The ideas and outof-the-box thinking can be a refreshing 

pace to work on a concept or situation. 

Q:

A:
32 THOLOS | VOLUME 26

Jessica Garcia

TRAINING AND LEARNING COORDINATOR 

WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS AS 

THE TRAINING AND LEARNING 

COORDINATOR FOR AOC UNIVERSITY?

As the AOC’s first ever Training and Learning 

Coordinator, I am excited to see how the position can expand. My first goal is to continue to 

make the learning management system, AOC 

Learn, user-friendly and robust with courses 

and development opportunities. I truly believe 

as we continue to customize AOC Learn, we 

will be able to accommodate the unique needs 

of our AOC workforce. My goal is to ultimately 

have an online system where employees can 

explore and recognize their learning needs and 

aspirations at-a-glance and intuitively. 

Q:

A:

WHAT IS THE MOST POPULAR CLASS 

OR CLASSES AT AOC UNIVERSITY? 

Many employees have taken a liking to the 

Career Development series, once known as 

the CareerPath series. The series features 

two live courses centered around the AOC 

application process and interviewing as an 

internal candidate. I have assisted in producing for both courses through webinar and 

can certainly say they are a fan favorite.

Q:

A:

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF 

THE JOB? 

I can honestly say the people. I really 

enjoy helping others and feel fulfillment 

when I am able to impact a person’s training and experience in a training. As we 

continue to develop AOC Learn and other 

systems, I feel through my experience 

here and the relationships we have developed, we are continuing to advocate 

and express needed content and system 

services for the workforce. I am so proud 

of the work we have accomplished thus 

far and feel genuine happiness for the 

impact it has had on helping employees 

with their training needs. 

Q:

A:
THOLOS | VOLUME 26 33

Suzanne Mead

COMMUNICATIONS AND OUTREACH SPECIALIST 

IF YOU COULD GET A NEW SKILL IN 10 

MINUTES, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

Painting. All you have to do is look around 

our buildings and be in awe of our painters. 

They are so talented and take such pride in 

their work. 

Q:

A:

WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE THE 

TOP THREE SKILLS THAT EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE TO SUCCEED 

IN ANY JOB? HOW CAN YOU USE 

AOC UNIVERSITY TO WORK ON 

THOSE SKILLS? 

Communication, time management and 

computer skills.

1. Communication: Employees must be 

able to communicate in a clear, effective 

and efficient way.

2. Time Management: Employees need 

to have the ability to use their time 

productively and efficiently.

3. Computer Skills: Employees should 

have the capability to utilize computers 

and technology effectively. 

Percipio provides many types of 

training to improve these skills. An 

employee could listen to an audiobook 

like, “Mastering Communication at Work, 

Second Edition: How to Lead, Manage, 

and Influence,” while they are commuting 

to and from work. An employee could 

also take a course, “Expert Insights on 

Time Management,” when they have 

approval from their supervisor to take the 

course during their tour of duty. Lastly, 

an employee could take a skill benchmark for Word 365. This evaluates their 

proficiency and recommends courses for 

knowledge gaps. 

Q:

A:

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE AOC 

UNIVERSITY IN THREE WORDS? WHY 

DID YOU CHOOSE THOSE WORDS?

1. Innovative: It is a new way to 

approach organizational development for both the individual 

employee and the organization.

2. Empowering: It provides employees 

with the opportunity to improve their 

current skills, develop new skills to 

make a career change, and prepare 

for future challenges in their current 

position as the AOC moves forward.

3. Personal: It enables the employee to 

select the type of training that best 

suits their learning style. 

Q:

A:
34 THOLOS | VOLUME 26

Jeremy Wiles

SAFETY TRAINING SPECIALIST 

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH 

THE AGENCY AND WHAT BROUGHT 

YOU HERE?

I have been with the AOC for two and a 

half years. Prior to coming to the AOC, I 

worked at the Department of Health 

and Human Services, where I served as 

the Operations Director at the Federal 

Occupational Health (FOH) Training 

Center for 13 years. At FOH, I conducted 

Environmental Health and Safety 

classes, Occupational Safety and Health 

Administration (OSHA) office inspections, 

and General Services Administration food 

inspections for various government clients, 

including the AOC. When the opportunity 

to come work at the AOC became available, 

I could not pass it up.

Q:

A:

WHAT DOES A SAFETY TRAINING 

SPECIALIST DO? 

I provide OSHA and environmental training 

classes to AOC employees, which helps the 

AOC meet regulation requirements. I also 

assist jurisdictions with scheduling training 

that I am unable to provide.

Q:

A:

WHY IS SAFETY TRAINING IMPORTANT FOR THE AOC? IS THERE A SAFETY 

TRAINING, BOOK OR CLASS IN AOC 

UNIVERSITY THAT YOU RECOMMEND 

FOR ALL STAFF? 

Safety training is not only important for 

AOC employees, but also a requirement. It 

provides employees with knowledge and 

skills needed to perform their jobs safely. It 

also provides employees with information 

on how to identify and report hazards in the 

workplace. If I were to recommend one class 

that I feel all AOC employees would enjoy 

and benefit from, it would be the Adult 

First Aid/CPR/AED class that the AOC offers 

through the American Red Cross. 

Q:

A:
THOLOS | VOLUME 26 35

Martha Little

PROGRAM SUPPORT SPECIALIST 

IF YOU COULD GET A NEW SKILL IN 

10 MINUTES, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

I think I would like to have a complete 

understanding of Excel, such as knowing 

all the shortcuts and being able to use 

the program to its full potential. There are 

216 courses and 2,414 results for Excel in 

Percipio making it easier for anyone to start 

learning at any time. 

Q:

A:

WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE THE 

TOP THREE SKILLS THAT EVERYONE 

SHOULD HAVE TO SUCCEED IN 

ANY JOB? 

I think the top three skills to have in any 

job are effective communication, the 

ability to work with a team and organization. These three skills can make working 

and transitioning into new positions 

smoother and create a smoother path 

for future interactions. Communication is 

usually a starting point that will set your 

work performance. Being able to be clear 

about your expectations and being able 

to convey what you need clearly is very 

important no matter what position you 

are in. 

Q:

A:

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE AOC 

UNIVERSITY IN THREE WORDS? WHY 

DID YOU CHOOSE THOSE WORDS?

New, exciting and potential. As a new 

organization I think it is exciting to be in 

the building stages and be able to see 

how my input and work will shape it. 

Q:

A:
36 THOLOS | VOLUME 25

Legislative and Public Affairs

U.S. Capitol

Washington, DC 20515

THOLOS VOLUME 26

The Architect of the Capitol strives 

to meet its mission 24 hours a day, 

365 days a year to serve Congress 

and the Supreme Court, preserve

America’s Capitol, and inspire 

memorable experiences for all who 

visit the buildings and grounds.

Tholos is distributed by the Architect 

of the Capitol primarily for AOC 

employees. Questions regarding 

content and publication should be 

directed to AOC Legislative and Public 

Affairs at communications@aoc.gov 

or 202.228.1793.

JOIN AOC ONLINE:

Twitter.com/uscapitol 

Facebook.com/architectofthecapitol 

Instagram.com/uscapitol 

YouTube.com/uscapitol 

www.aoc.gov

Front Cover Photo By: 

Thomas Hatzenbuhler

Back Cover Photo By: 

Sean Greene