Construction on the East front for the CVC

The United States Capitol Visitor Center (CVC) is an addition to the United States Capitol which will serve as a gathering point for visitors and tourists. It remains under construction below the East Front of the Capitol. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (3264x2448, 1233 KB) Summary C. John Chavis Licensing I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (3264x2448, 1233 KB) Summary C. John Chavis Licensing I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... The United States Capitol is the capitol building that serves as the location for the Congress of the United States, the legislative branch of the U.S. federal government. ...

The Capitol Visitor Center will completely change visitors' experience of the Capitol. It will serve as a museum, waiting area, and food court. Visitors will enter the visitors center on the East Front of the Capitol, and immediately go underground. To give it a more open feeling, large glass windows have been installed in the ceiling's center, which will frame a view of the Capitol rotunda as one enters the CVC. Once inside, visitors will be able to get a timed entry ticket for a tour of the Capitol. The limiting of tour times is intended to shorten the long line that currently exists for tours. While waiting for their tour, visitors will be free to explore the CVC. The CVC will have exhibits and statues. The full-size model of the Statue of Freedom (which currently resides in the basement of the Russell Senate Office Building) will be on display in the CVC. There will also be two theaters showing a video on the history of the Senate and the House. The film will be shown on a continuous basis. There will also be a food court in the CVC where members of the public can eat. This will help prevent overcrowding in the cafeterias in the other office buildings of the Capitol Complex. Aerial view of the United States Capitol Complex from the northweat The United States Capitol Complex is group of about a dozen buildings and facilities in Washington D.C. that are used by the Federal government of the United States. ...

Speaker Dennis Hastert and Architect of the Capitol Alan Hantman tour the CVC during the early stages of construction

The CVC will also have space for use by the Congress. It will have many meeting and conference rooms. On the Senate side, there will be a large room which will most likely be used by a Committee. Finally, there will be one large chamber with a capacity for up to 450 people, which can be used for showing movies, or as a chamber for either the House or the Senate if either of their chambers is unavailable.

Construction is supervised by the Architect of the Capitol, Alan M. Hantman, FAIA. Although originally planned to be completed by January 2004, the current completion date (not including the Senate and House expansion space) is September 2007. The expected cost of the CVC is 554 million USD. The CVC has caused great controversy due to its being over budget and behind schedule. Much of this is blamed on the rising cost of fuel, new security measures due to 9/11, and inclement weather. Many suggest that because of the continued project delays and cost overruns, Mr. Hantman has removed himself for reappointment to another 10 year term as Architect of the Capitol. His current term expires in February 2007. United States Capitol The Architect of the Capitol is responsible to the United States Congress for the maintenance, operation, development, and preservation of the United States Capitol Complex, which includes the Capitol, the congressional office buildings, the Library of Congress buildings, the United States Supreme Court building, the United States... This page meets Wikipedias criteria for speedy deletion. ...

External links

• Homepage
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• United States Capitol