FEATURE 

U.S. Botanic Garden Orchids

 Gain 600 New Siblings 

PROJECT UPDATES 

Fire Egress | Library of Congress 

HIDDEN HISTORY 

Brumidi Artifacts 
 

TABLE OF 

CONT 

2 
 

 

 

ENTS 

PROJEC T UPDATE 

4 / FIRE EGRESS 

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

BY THE NUMBERS 

8 / SEVEN THINGS YOU MAY 

NOT KNOW ABOUT CAPITOL 

GROUNDS AND ARBORETUM 

FEATURE 

12 / U.S. BOTANIC 

GARDEN ORCHIDS GAIN 

600 NEW SIBLINGS 

HIDDEN HISTORY 

18 / BRUMIDI 

ARTIFACTS 

SEASON HIGHLIGHT 

22 / OUT AND ABOUT 

ON WALKABOUTS 

THOLOS | VOLUME 11 3 
4 
 

 

PROJEC T UPDATE 

FIRE EGRESS 

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

WRITTEN BY ERIN NELSON 

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAMES ROSENTHAL 

We all recently watched in horrified silence as the famed Notre 

Dame cathedral fire sent dark gray smoke billowing into an 

otherwise beautiful Paris day. I couldn’t help but think of our own 

famous buildings and their significance to our country. That’s the 

reason many Architect of the Capitol (AOC) employees show up to 

work every day — to maintain, preserve, clean, polish and restore 

these historic treasures. Those key roles are often visible to the 

public, but the AOC also employs experts dedicated to improving 

fire protection throughout the Capitol campus, ensuring these 

buildings continue standing for generations to come. 

The AOC Construction Division with the support of the AOC Library 

Buildings and Grounds jurisdiction worked together to complete 

the Fire Door Improvements project in the Thomas Jefferson 

Building, improving fire safety within this historic building. 

THOLOS | VOLUME 11 5 
 

The project required heavy coordination between day 

shift employees with Library Buildings and Grounds 

and the Construction Division teams completing the 

work at night. Teams worked behind the scenes to 

ensure the least amount of impact to Library of Congress 

(LOC) operations. Woodcrafters, machinists, painters, 

refinishers and insulators began their work at 9 p.m. 

long after visitors and staff had left for the day and diligently worked through the night until 5:30 a.m. 

The project included replacing 77 ornate, historically 

significant stair doors with fire-rated replicas. 

Additionally, the project improved egress from rooms 

with high-occupant loads by re-swinging 20 historic 

doors to open in the direction of egress travel. Many of 

the re-swung historic doors were 14 feet tall, weighing 

275 pounds, and at least 120 years old. 

While the stair doors could be replaced with fire-rated 

replicas, the same could not be said for the original historic frames. A solution to keep the existing frames was 

finalized during design; it called for filling the voids 

behind the frames with grout. Upon further investigation, it was determined that the grout would damage 

the surrounding decorative wall finishes. Construction 

Division and Library Buildings and Grounds employees 

worked together to identify an alternative material 

approved by the fire marshal and LOC collection preservation staff. A substantial cost savings was realized 

because the alternative approach was easier to install. 

The project was recently completed on time and under 

budget — a major accomplishment when working 

within historic structures. 

AOC employees often have two things in common — 

an appreciation for the historic items they care for and a 

desire to preserve them for future generations. AOC 

Fire Protection Engineer Matt Harrison is no different. 

PHASE 1 | REMOVING 

(left to right) Woodcrafters Bob Sheya, Nelson Samuels and 

Martin Jones carefully remove one of the 120-year-old historic 

doors, weighing upwards of 275 pounds. 

PHASE 2 | RETRO FITTING 

(left to right) Woodcrafters Bob Sheya and Jose Martinez were 

tasked with reftting new door hinge locations on existing door 

frames. The hinge locations on the doors were altered, and the 

existing locations were flled with wood shims. 

6 FIRE EGRESS | LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 

Harrison managed the project for the Library Buildings and Grounds and echoes that sentiment, “It’s a privilege to 

work in these historic buildings. There are unique challenges when integrating security, life safety and historic preservation requirements into historic buildings, but I find the work is much more rewarding than identifying common 

solutions to conventional office buildings.” 

His fellow Project Manager Bob Bunce from the Construction Division considers himself just as privileged, “This is an 

amazing place to work. It’s easy to lose sight of that when you focus on the day-to-day tasks, but while working on 

this project, I would leave the Library in the early morning and would look up at the sunrise and see the Capitol, 

Supreme Court and Library of Congress buildings. It gave me goosebumps to know I’m part of something much 

larger than myself.” 

PHASE 3 | STAINING PHASE 4 | RE-INSTALLING 

Painter/Re-fnisher Darnell Johnson is shown prepping the door 

surface for stain after the old hinge locations were flled and sanded. 

(left to right) Martin Jones and Nelson Samuels maneuver a 

door through occupied space on its way to being reinstalled. 

The pathways to and from the door locations had to be carefully 

planned to allow for the doors to be moved without damaging 

them or other items along the route. 

Bob Sheya installs new hardware as the fnishing touch on a 

fnished door. The entire process for one door from removing to 

re-installing and applying hardware was about two weeks. 

THOLOS | VOLUME 11 7 
BY THE NUMBERS 

SEVEN THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT 

CAPITOL GROUNDS AND ARBORETUM 

WRITTEN BY ERIN COURTNEY 

The Capitol Grounds and Arboretum jurisdiction is 

responsible for the day-to-day maintenance of the U.S. 

Capitol Grounds, long-term planning and management 

of an accredited arboretum, and preservation of a culturally significant historic landscape originally designed by 

famed landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted. 

This team is one of our most diverse, busiest and most visible on the campus. The Capitol Grounds and Arboretum 

team includes a landscape architect, horticulturalists, gardeners, arborists, mechanics, pipefitters, stonemasons 

and heavy equipment operators. 

 

 

Warmer temperatures have returned to Washington, D.C., 

making this the perfect time to get outside and admire 

the work of this dedicated and talented team. 

8 
 

2 

6 

The six-acre Capitol Reflecting Pool 

undergoes major maintenance in the 

fall. Members of the Capitol Grounds and 

Arboretum team use heavy equipment 

to drain and clean the pool. In addition, 

campus-wide irrigation systems are 

flushed and winterized, and storm drain 

catch basins are repeatedly cleaned to 

ensure proper drainage. 

Smaller water features on the Capitol campus are 

cleaned twice a week in the spring, summer and fall to 

remove particulate matter, maintain water flows and 

clean stains. 

Photography by Luke Walter 

THOLOS | VOLUME 11 9 
286 

The U.S. Capitol Grounds are comprised 

of approximately 286 acres, including the 

U.S. Capitol, Senate and House office 

buildings, the Capitol Power Plant and 

Union Square. This area includes lawns, 

parks, trees, horticultural display beds 

and decorative elements such as statuary 

and water features. 

Photo by Thomas Hatzenbuhler 

Photo by Chuck Badal 

Photo by Thomas Hatzenbuhler 

4,500 

Trees are heavily used to both frame the U.S. Capitol 

Building and to provide shade for visitors. The Capitol 

Grounds and Arboretum team continues to use Frederick 

Law Olmsted’s original design in making landscaping 

decisions today, including the placement and selection 

of trees. There are about 4,500 trees throughout the 

286 acres managed by Capitol Grounds and Arboretum. 

10 SEVEN THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT THE CAPITOL GROUNDS AND ARBORETUM 
 

The team purchases 500 tons of rock salt for road surfaces and 20 

tons of deicer for sidewalks and steps in preparation for the winter. 

The Capitol Grounds and Arboretum team clears snow and ice from 

more than 14 miles of sidewalks, seven miles of streets and drives, 

and 20 acres of parking lots and plazas. 

500 

Photo by Thomas Hatzenbuhler 

110,000 

Each year, gardeners with Capitol Grounds and 

Arboretum carefully select 110,000 flower bulbs to 

provide a vibrant backdrop for the nation’s capital. 

The color palettes in the flower beds are no accident. 

The team carefully selects bulbs based on a theme 

or anticipated event. For example, patriotic colors of 

reds, blues and accents of white are usually selected 

in an inauguration year. Tulips, hyacinths, crocuses 

and daffodils fill 160 flower beds during the spring. 

Photo by Chuck Badal 

Photo by Thomas Hatzenbuhler 

250,000 

Using formulas derived from the U.S. Forest Service’s i-Tree 

Streets model, the trees cared for by Capitol Grounds 

and Arboretum are estimated to create economic benefits totaling over $250,000 per year. The benefits include 

greenhouse gas and energy savings from the cooling 

effects of trees, as well as air quality and property value 

benefits, and the benefits of intercepting over 8 million 

gallons of stormwater that would have otherwise been 

processed in water treatment plants. 

THOLOS | VOLUME 11 11 

 

FEATURE 

U.S. BOTANIC GARDEN ORCHIDS 

GAIN 600 NEW SIBLINGS 

WRITTEN BY DEVIN DOTSON 

PHOTOGRAPHY BY THOMAS HATZENBUHLER 

What would you do if a friend said they wanted to give you an 

orchid? What if they wanted to give you a coveted collection 

of 600 orchids that had grown over half a century? If you’re the 

U.S. Botanic Garden (USBG), you ask for the documentation, 

collection inventory and once it looks like a good fit you start 

making space! The USBG’s collection of orchids was already 

nationally noted, with more than 3,000 specimens. They range 

from temperate to tropical varieties, hail from here in North 

America to around the world in Asia and Africa, and include 

some that grow in bogs and others that grow high in the 

treetops without roots in soil. This donated collection — the 

second largest single donation in USBG history — adds to the 

rich heritage and importance of the USBG’s orchid collection. 

The donation came from orchid grower Joe Francis, who lives 

in northern Virginia. USBG volunteer Mike Bechtold helps tend 

the orchid collection there. He also knew that Joe might be 

interested in donating his large collection to an institution that 

could care for it and share it with the public. 

THOLOS | VOLUME 11 13 
 

 

“Joe has a stellar reputation for 

growing plants in a manner that is 

free of viruses,” said Bill 

McLaughlin, USBG curator of 

plants. “This was an important 

component in our consideration 

of this donation, as viruses are one 

of the biggest problems with 

growing orchids in cultivation. Joe 

was an early adopter of orchid virus 

testing. As soon as test kits were 

made available for the two major 

viruses, he tested his collections 

on a large scale.” 

An initial visit to Joe’s greenhouses 

in June 2017 confirmed the quality 

and virus-free status of the potential orchid donation. The USBG is 

MANY OF THE DONATED ORCHIDS RECEIVED 

AWARDS FROM THE AMERICAN ORCHID SOCIETY, 

WHICH DENOTES THEIR FLORAL QUALITY. 

completing a multiple-year process 

of testing and cleaning up its own 

orchid collection, so bringing in a 

new, virus-free collection was a 

perfect match. 

“I chose to offer my collection to 

the U.S. Botanic Garden because 

they were serious about developing 

a clean collection,” said Joe Francis. 

“I knew that this would give them a 

leg up in peopling their nascent collection, and as a real bonus these 

will remain at hand for many future 

generations of our citizens to learn 

from and to enjoy.” 

The orchids in this donation are 

mostly hybrids developed in the 

1950s up through the 1980s, the 

majority of which are large 

Cattleya orchids. 

“There is an educational aspect to 

this group of hybrids,” McLaughlin 

said. “They represent important 

Rhyncolaeliocattleya Tampico (inset) stands proud among the many donated “corsage type” Cattleyas blooming at the 

Botanic Garden in the spring of 2019. 

14 U.S. BOTANIC GARDEN ORCHIDS GAIN 600 NEW SIBLINGS 
 

 

 

USBG gardener Paula Waltz hauls a cartload of orchids into the 

Production Facility, each individually wrapped to prevent possible 

disease transmission. 

Brassocattleya Binosa, bred in 1950, has become a very important 

parent to many later hybrids. 

American breeding lines during a burgeoning demand 

for orchids in the corsage industry. Corsages originally 

started with species orchids, but the industry began to 

demand year-round production, larger orchids and a 

greater color range. Hybridizers went to work, and 

the results were more vigorous plants, with larger 

and more spectacular blooms.” 

Many of the donated orchids received awards from 

the American Orchid Society, which denotes their floral quality. Many modern Cattleyas are compact and 

don’t need to have their flowers staked. The orchids 

from the Joe Francis collection were developed to 

produce cut flowers. 

THOLOS | VOLUME 11 15 
 

“You need to stake up the flowers 

because they are huge — 7 to 8 

inches across,” said McLaughlin. 

“They are really over-the-top horticultural plants, beautiful and 

unique. While today’s orchid 

hybrids are bred for small hobby 

greenhouses or windowsills, these 

older lines were aimed at floral 

production in expansive commercial 

greenhouses. We can give them 

the expert care and extra space 

they need and share them with 

the public.” 

After the orchids were transported 

to the USBG’s Production Facility 

in southwest Washington, D.C., 

they were quarantined for three 

months. Space in greenhouses 

away from the USBG’s orchid collection was created for keeping 

them separated during this process. 

Additional benches were erected 

to keep them off the ground and 

prevent water splash up, which 

could spread disease. USBG Plant 

Health Care Specialist Jim Willmott 

monitored the orchids, checking 

them throughout this period for 

pests and diseases. 

They’ve been kept together as a 

group as the USBG plant records 

team researches each plant, updates 

names, hand enters each plant 

into a plant database, and creates 

a display label. It’s a multimonth 

process that the Garden has just 

wrapped up. 

Orchid nomenclature has been in 

flux due to continuing emergence 

of new phylogenetic information 

(evolutionary histories reconstructed using DNA sequence data, 

not just structural information). This 

sort of review and naming update is 

something a botanic garden has to 

do on an ongoing basis. The names 

of 50 percent or more of the donated 

orchids have been updated. 

Some of the new orchids have 

already gone up to the USBG 

Conservatory’s Orchids house for 

display there, while others have been 

displayed in the recent “Orchids: 

Amazing Adaptations” joint exhibit 

with Smithsonian Gardens. 

Going forward, the team is photographing each plant as it comes 

into bloom to add to the database 

as well as to verify that each plant 

is indeed properly labeled. The 

Garden’s plant records team is 

currently hand-inventorying the 

entire orchid collection with the 

goal of getting the collection 

nationally certified. 

Make sure to stop by the Orchids 

house over the coming months as 

these new orchids join the 

Garden’s display. With their large 

and colorful blooms, they are sure 

to be a treat to see. 

ORCHID NOMENCLATURE HAS BEEN IN FLUX 

DUE TO CONTINUING EMERGENCE OF NEW 

PHYLOGENETIC INFORMATION 

16 U.S. BOTANIC GARDEN ORCHIDS GAIN 600 NEW SIBLINGS 
 

Joe Francis (seated) with USBG employees and helpers on moving day. 

Kevin Baker, USBG summer intern, hand carries a bulb crate of The butter yellow fowers of Rhyncattleanthe Abbeville ‘Golden 

orchids to a waiting truck. Promise’ represent the more modern breeding among the 

Francis collection. 

THOLOS | VOLUME 11 17 
 

’

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HIDDEN HISTORY 

BRUMIDI ARTIFACTS 

WRIT TEN BY ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL CURATOR S OFFICE 

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAMES ROSENTHAL 

Constantino Brumidi, born in Rome in 1805, 

was fully trained in classical and Renaissance 

painting techniques, including true fresco. 

He painted murals for popes and princes and 

was considered one of the city’s best artists. 

In 1852 he emigrated to the United States. 

In 1855, after painting a trial fresco in the U.S. 

Capitol’s new House wing, he was put on the 

payroll. Brumidi worked intensively at the U.S. 

Capitol through the early 1860s, designing, 

painting and supervising murals in rooms and 

corridors of the new Senate wing. He contin 

ued to add frescoes in the 1870s. His major 

contributions are the monumental canopy 

and the frieze of the new Capitol Dome. In 

the canopy over the Rotunda he painted “The 

Apotheosis of Washington” in 1865. He began 

painting the frieze depicting major events in 

American history in 1878 but died in 1880 

before completing it. 

The artifacts in these photographs were 

passed down through the family of Brumidi’s 

third wife, Lola Germon, and given to the 

Architect of the Capitol by Mildred Thompson, 

Lola’s great grandniece, over a span of years 

beginning around 1961, when she donated 

the Brumidi family Bible. 

18 
 

NICKEL PLATED OVAL BOX -

This container could be used to hold snuff, tobacco or small objects. The scene on the lid depicts a military officer 

grieving for those slain in battle. A patent date of 1860 stamped on the side indicates that Brumidi obtained the box 

in the United States. The patent is for the “dimples” that secure the closure of the lid. 

NAPKIN RINGS 

These two napkin rings, although not a set, would have complemented each other in the Brumidi household. The 

simple, concave cylindrical ring is engraved with the initials “CB” in script; the flattened ring decorated with the head 

of a helmeted female figure is engraved “Lola.” 

THOLOS | VOLUME 11 19 
 

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PRIZE MEDAL, “PREMIO ALLO STUDIO” / “REGIO ISTITUTO DI BELLE ARTI IN ROMA” -

Brumidi’s son Laurence studied art in Rome for five years around 1880; this is believed to be the prize medal awarded 

to him by the Royal Institute of Fine Arts. The front and back of the medal are stamped with the Italian words for 

“First Prize in Studies” and the name of the institute, respectively. 

STERLING SILVER FRUIT KNIFE 

This knife’s folding tools include a cutting blade and a seed picker. The handle is decorated with rosettes and scrolling 

leaves, and Brumidi’s surname is engraved on one of the side panels. Hallmarks stamped into the blade indicate that 

the knife was made by the Gorham Manufacturing Company circa 1863 1890. 

20 BRUMIDI ARTIFACTS 
 

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BRUMIDI’S BIBLE AND A SMALL FRAMED PHOTOGRAPH OF BRUMIDI 

Brumidi was given this Bible September 18, 1852, the day he arrived in New York from Rome; he wrote his name 

inside the front cover. On the family history page he recorded his parentage and birth information and later added 

his own children. 

The small metal frame with designs of beads and rope molding and a fleur de lis crest holds a photograph of Brumidi 

in middle age. 

THOLOS | VOLUME 11 21 
SEASON HIGHLIGHTS 

OUT AND ABOUT 

ON WALKABOUTS 

WRITTEN BY FRANKLIN BRADLEY 

Acting Architect of the Capitol Christine Merdon has been talking 

face-to-face with employees in shops and other work locations 

around the agency in informal gatherings referred to as Walkabouts. 

Employees can ask her questions and have taken pride in showing 

She explained why Walkabouts are a top priority for her. “The AOC 

has some of the most talented and widely admired employees in 

the world. It is important to me that we foster an atmosphere of 

accessibility, safety and transparency to retain and attract talented 

employees who are engaged and passionate about their work.” 

Ms. Merdon said that hearing from employees is not only important, 

it’s also time she looks forward to. “All the work we undertake is 

in service to the American people as the stewards of the Capitol 

campus. It’s always the best part of my day to spend time with 

employees who are providing that service.” 

off their recent work to Ms. Merdon. 

22 
 

 

“EVERY POST IS HONORABLE IN WHICH 

 A MAN CAN SERVE HIS COUNTRY.” 

 —GEORGE WASHINGTON 

Left: In her frst Walkabout, Merdon 

visited the Library Buildings and 

Grounds HVAC shop. The employees 

were proud to show off how they are 

improving efficiency with new direct 

digital control systems. 

Below left: In the Senate 

woodworking shop, Merdon saw 

that the employees maintain their 

tools and workspaces with as much 

care as they take in their craft. 

Below right: The night shift House 

elevator shop employees, who work 

not only behind the scenes, but also 

after hours, were glad to spend time 

with Merdon and show her their 

current work. 

Photo by Dewitt Roseborough 

Photo by Thomas Hatzenbuhler Photo by Luke Walter 

THOLOS | VOLUME 11 23 
 

Communications and Congressional Relations 

U.S. Capitol, Room SB-16 

Washington, DC 20515 

Tholos Summer 2019 

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