Time to Shine
Golden hour: You’re the first to see a view unlike any other
For the 12th time in University history, the statue of Our Lady and the Golden Dome are being regilded. Come behind the scenes with our creative teams during the unique and complex process of restoring the shine of these iconic structures. Photos by Matt Cashore and Barbara Johnston.
Skilled artisans from Conrad Schmitt Studios work to restore and preserve Our Lady. High above campus, perched atop layers of scaffolding, they gently clean the statue of Mary and prime the surface before applying a very thin sheet of gold. Measuring 3 microns in thickness, the gold leaf is finer than a single strand of hair.
