WASHINGTON — The U.S. Capitol’s dome is re-emerging from behind a jungle of metal pipes and decking. The Architect of the Capitol says the final layer of paint has gone down on the cupola section, or top half of the dome.

The scaffolding begins to come down from the top of the Capitol. Follow updates @uscapitol: https://t.co/B3tsVjBnV5 pic.twitter.com/1GzZSRcRLo

— SenateSergeantAtArms (@SenateSAA) March 23, 2016

The cupola of the 288-foot dome is now completely scaffolding-free, as crews shift their focus to the midsection and bottom half. “There is going to be a renewed sense of beauty, and a renewed sense of the incredible detail that went into building this dome,” said Architect of the Capitol’s Stephen T. Ayers at a House Appropriations Legislative Branch Subcommittee on March 1. The process of tending to the 150-year-old cast iron and repairing more than 1,000 cracks began in November 2014. This is the biggest restoration project on the dome since 1960. When the project is done, the outside of the dome will have received 1,215 gallons of paint. The top coat color is aptly named “dome white.” As the exterior work continues, so does to the work of repainting and repairing the inside of the dome. The goal is to have the project completed in time for the 2017 presidential inauguration, and the Architect of the Capitol says they’ll make it. Check out photos of the final stage of restoration from our sister station, Federal News Radio.