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<p>Scaffolding now fills the rotunda and some hallways of the historic Luzerne County Courthouse as workers begin a cleaning and restoration project.</p><p>The administration has selected Connecticut-based John Canning Co. to complete the job, although a final written contract and cost are still pending, officials said.</p><p>New York City-based EverGreene Architectural Arts was the only other company to submit a bid to handle this first phase of interior restoration, which primarily covers work inside the dome and rotunda that requires scaffolding, officials said.</p><p>County Operational Services Division Head Edmund O&#8217;Neill said Wednesday that both companies met experience qualifications, and John Canning submitted a lower price.</p><p>Details will be released after the contract is signed in approximately two weeks, O&#8217;Neill said. John Canning agreed to start the project before a contract was in place because it is committed to meeting the target spring or early summer 2018 completion, he said.</p><p>&#8220;We&#8217;re planning for not having use of the rotunda through next summer,&#8221; O&#8217;Neill said.</p><p>The county&#8217;s capital plan earmarked $970,000 for restoration, and county Manager C. David Pedri&#8217;s proposed new capital plan would provide another $1.1 million if it is approved by council. County council members have until Sept. 1 to amend the plan, and discussions about changes have been halted due to an issue over the submission format and compliance with the county&#8217;s home rule charter.</p><p>O&#8217;Neill said he&#8217;s confident the money already earmarked will cover the first phase, even if a portion of work must be removed.</p><p>All high-elevation work will be addressed in the first phase to avoid the repeated expense of scaffolding, O&#8217;Neill said.</p><p>In addition to cleaning finishes, this phase will include the repair of plaster damaged by roof and dome leaks that have been fixed. The circular <a href="http://www.psdispatch.com/top-stories/55872/luzerne-county-courthouse-stained-glass-needs-repairs-report-says" target="_blank">stained glass window depicting the county seal atop the dome also will be repaired to correct serious bowing</a>, officials said.</p><p>Tape marks spots of walls, doors and fixtures where various cleaning products and techniques have been tested.</p><p>&#8220;We&#8217;re being very cautious and trying to be sure we choose products that will be effective but not harmful or with disturbing odors,&#8221; O&#8217;Neill said.</p><p>John Canning has compiled photographs of the courthouse so they can be compared to the post-restoration results.</p><p>&#8220;This is a very high-profile project for this company, and they&#8217;re very excited about doing the work,&#8221; said O&#8217;Neill.</p><p>The 108-year-old courthouse on River Street in Wilkes-Barre was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. Pedri has identified the structure&#8217;s renovation and preservation as a top priority.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Conservator Rachel Gilberti, of John Canning Co., works on restoring artwork inside the historic Luzerne County Courthouse in Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/web1_TTL082417Courthouse-restore1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Conservator Rachel Gilberti, of John Canning Co., works on restoring artwork inside the historic Luzerne County Courthouse in Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday. </caption0><photoCredit0>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/web1_TTL082417Courthouse-restore2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Scaffolding is being erected throughout the Luzerne County Courthouse as part of an interior restoration and cleaning project that will close the rotunda to public access until late spring or early summer 2018. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/web1_TTL082417Courthouse-restore2.jpg</photo1><caption1>Scaffolding is being erected throughout the Luzerne County Courthouse as part of an interior restoration and cleaning project that will close the rotunda to public access until late spring or early summer 2018. </caption1><photoCredit1>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/web1_courthousetoned1.jpeg">
<div class="neCaption">Conservator Rachel Gilberti, of John Canning Co., works on restoring artwork inside the historic Luzerne County Courthouse in Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/web1_courthousetoned1.jpeg</photo2><caption2>Conservator Rachel Gilberti, of John Canning Co., works on restoring artwork inside the historic Luzerne County Courthouse in Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday. </caption2><photoCredit2>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/web1_courthouse2toned.jpeg">
<div class="neCaption">Scaffolding is being erected throughout the Luzerne County Courthouse as part of an interior restoration and cleaning project that will close the rotunda to public access until late spring or early summer 2018. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/web1_courthouse2toned.jpeg</photo3><caption3>Scaffolding is being erected throughout the Luzerne County Courthouse as part of an interior restoration and cleaning project that will close the rotunda to public access until late spring or early summer 2018. </caption3><photoCredit3>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit3></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Jennifer Learn-Andes</p><p>jandes@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Jennifer Learn-Andes at 570-991-6388 or on Twitter @TLJenLearnAndes.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Luzerne County Courthouse interior restoration begins