CARSON CITY, Nev. — A major milestone has been reached in the multiyear renovation of the Nevada Legislative Building, as construction crews installed a newly fabricated cupola atop the structure, signaling the project’s final stages.
.jpg)
On April 21, workers used a crane to lift and position the 5,000-pound aluminum and steel dome onto the building’s new entrance along South Carson Street in Carson City. Despite rainy conditions, crews carefully guided the structure into place, completing a highly visible component of the $48 million remodel project.
Jon Vietti, chief of operations for the Legislative Counsel Bureau, said the newly renovated front entrance is expected to reopen to the public within about a week and a half. Additional work, including stone paneling on the rear of the building, is scheduled to continue through August.
The legislative building overhaul, which began in earnest in 2024, includes both front and back phases aimed at modernizing the facility while improving safety and accessibility.
Upgrades feature the addition of a new secure entrance on the west side, incorporating approximately 6,600 square feet of new construction centered around a “blast box,” or security portal. The project also includes the renovation of roughly 18,000 to 20,000 square feet within the existing structure.
Improvements extend to expanded meeting and briefing spaces, a new eatery, and updates to restrooms to meet ADA compliance standards. Hazardous material abatement, including asbestos and lead removal, was also completed as part of the modernization effort.
Project leaders said the newly installed cupola was designed following research into architectural elements of other state capitols, with the goal of creating a defining feature that enhances the building’s identity.
The dome itself was fabricated in Utah and assembled by contractors involved in the project. The base structure, also exceeding 5,000 pounds, had been installed prior to the dome placement.
Granite exterior panels, quarried from the Sierra Nevada, are currently being installed on the building. These materials replace an older exterior insulation finishing system (EIFS) that had been prone to leaks since its installation in the 1990s. Officials selected granite for its durability and visual appeal.
.jpg)
Local observers noted the significance of the milestone. Steve Funk, general manager of KNVC 95.1 Community Radio, said the cupola is fitting for the scale of the project and represents a point of pride for residents.
The renovation is being overseen by Plenium Builders, based in Sparks. The firm is managing the legislative remodel while additional construction projects continue nearby.
Adjacent developments include a separate Legislative Counsel Bureau initiative to construct an office annex, facilities and operations building, and a parking garage, previously estimated at $138 million. The parking structure is expected to be ready for the next legislative cycle.
Another unrelated project led by the Nevada Department of Administration’s Public Works Division is also underway nearby, involving two office buildings and a parking garage along East Fifth Street, with an estimated cost of $111 million.
As work progresses toward completion, the newly installed cupola stands as a visual marker of the extensive upgrades, reflecting both modernization efforts and long-term investment in Nevada’s legislative infrastructure.
Originally reported by Scott Neuffer in Nevada Appeal.
.png)
.png)
