Until SGH's study, application of the gold leaf onto the finished building had been seriously considered. A storage building at the Italian fabrication plant was renovated to create the dust-free conditions required for gilding. All tools and brushes were disinfected each morning and gilder Bruno Ricci and his assistant wore white cotton clothing throughout the operation. Ricci carefully ran his hand over every inch of the stone's surface to check for any burrs which might spall off later. Once dry, the slabs were laid across wooden tables, covered with an oil-based varnish adhesive size, and allowed to cure for 12 to 14 hours.
Gold leaf is made by melting solid gold and mixing in other metals to achieve the desired color.
The gold is hammered by hand, until it is so thin that it is nearly weightless and the slightest movement of air will cause it to wrinkle. It will melt between your fingers. To apply the leaves to the stone, Ricci lifted the gold with a sterile stainless steel knife and laid it onto a deerskin pad. He blew lightly onto the gold so that it would lie flat. With a martin-hair brush, he stroked his cheek to create static electricity.