Sheathed in scaffolding, the Capitol Dome looks less like a soaring symbol of American democracy these days than it does some giant Erector Set shining in the sun. That counts as progress, though, and officials announced on November 18 the next installment of a US$ 60 million repair is ready to begin. The 84 thousand of scaffolding pipe and two miles of decking will allow repair crews access to the dome at all levels, from the 36 columns at its base to the Statue of Freedom at its peak. Next, according to the Architect of the Capitol's website, 325 meters of cracked cast iron will be repaired, and more than a dozen layers of old paint removed. Decorative ornaments will be repaired or in some cases replaced. Then 1,215 gallons of paint will be applied in three coats - the last of which is "Dome White." The cast iron dome - actually a pair of them nestled inside one another and connected by cast iron braces - is more than 150 years old. The last restoration was completed in 1959 and 1960. Stephen T. Ayers, the Architect of the Capitol, told reporters invited to a rooftop news conference in cold, blustery weather than he hoped the current job would be good for 75 to 100 years. So far, he said, it is on schedule and on budget, and should be completed in time for the next presidential inaugural, on Jan. 20, 2017.

Donald Trump and his daughter Ivanka Trump unveiled plans to spend US$ 200 million turning the historic Old Post Office Pavilion in the nation's capital into a luxury hotel with 270 rooms and presidential suites with bulletproof windows. Trump International Hotel, Washington D.C. will take up a prime location on Pennsylvania Avenue in between the U.S. Capitol and the White House. Construction will begin in the spring of 2014 and is expected to be completed in late 2015. D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray told the audience at the Pavilion that the neighborhood in downtown D.C. has a shortage of hotels despite having plenty of museums, historic landmarks, federal buildings and offices to draw business and leisure travelers. He said the Trump hotel will help "us to define what the hotel industry, what the hospitality industry will be on this side of Pennsylvania Avenue." The Post Office, built in 1899, has been the source of much consternation among local politicians and activists. There have been multiple attempts to demolish it. Right now, it houses a few nondescript shops and fast food eateries. "They have put to rest the saga of the Old Post Office Pavilion," said Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), who added that she has spent 15 years trying to get the property redeveloped. Trump is leasing the property from the Federal Government for 60 years with the possibility of two 20-year extensions at a monthly rent of US$ 250 thousand. The hotel's 270 rooms will average about 56 square meters. The color palette will feature Federal blues, creams and ivories with soft gold and silver accents and some deep reds. Two presidential suites will be located in the former offices of the Postmaster General. Each will be at least 279 square meters and have three bedrooms. The now-closed 11th Street pedestrian entrance on Pennsylvania Avenue will be reinstated as the driveway to the hotel's canopied grand entrance. Inside, guests will walk into The Cortile, a nine-story atrium with a grand lobby and lounge. Sunlight will filter through a canopy of trees. Furnishings will be in rich jewel tones such as deep red, emerald and sapphire with gold accents. There will be a water sculpture and brass and glass chandeliers. The ground level will also have high-end restaurants and retailers.

As a measure to save energy, the new Molecular Engineering and Sciences building at the University of Washington melts in the heat of day, reported The Tecca. The outer structure of the futuristic building is, of course, structurally sound. But to save energy in cooling costs, scientists have developed a special all-natural phase-changing gel that they've encapsulated inside the walls of the building. As the temperature rises, the gel in the walls will melt, helping to keep the building cool. The brilliance of the vegetable-oil-based gel is that it takes advantage of a basic thermodynamic principle: As a substance changes phases from solid to a liquid, it absorbs energy without changing in temperature. During the day when temperatures are high, the gel in the building's walls will melt, absorbing energy without changing in temperature. At night, the gel in the building's wall will solidify due to the colder air, readying the walls to absorb more energy the next day. The net result: Less air conditioning will be needed, reducing the building's energy needs. The phase changing material is just one of many innovative cooling techniques currently being tried by scientists to reduce energy usage. And though these gels are not widely used today, researchers believe that over the next decade, phase change material manufacturing will grow into a multi-million dollar industry.