Officials overseeing the project were originally not expecting to replace the roof but discovered unexpected leaks and decided on a full replacement after they conducted a more extensive assessment.
The replacement will take bout 18 months, but the new copper is expected to last should last 60 years or more.
"By the end of the project, we'll have a 100-percent complete new roof on the Capitol," said project manager Trait Thompson. "The great thing about the copper roof is that it's historic, it's what was originally on the building and it will also be a very long-lasting roof."
Construction of the state capitol began in 1914, four years after the state capital was moved from Guthrie to Oklahoma City. The building was completed in 1917. The building is made from Indiana limestone with a base of pink granite from Oklahoma. A dome included in the original plans was skipped because of cost overruns, but was added later.
Workers are now restoring the exterior and interior of the building, with exterior improvements expected to be finished next year. Interior work isn't scheduled to be complete until 2022. In addition to a new roof, the building will get upgrades to wiring, plumbing, and HVAC systems.
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