Picketralian Capitol

The Picketralian Capitol, also known as the New Capitol, is a building in Stimpton and the seat of government for Picketralia. It was originally built in 1370, with major additions in 1372, 1384, 1395, and 1396, and is continually being added on to.

Additions

1372 addition

After the building was finished in October of 1370, with the government moving in later that year, there were complaints of tight spaces and cramped office area. Compared to the original Picketralian Capitol, the building was 41% smaller and much shorter, with positions such as the Director of Communications being relegated to small cramped offices on the third floor of the building, only accessible via a ladder. This lead to the construction of the addition in 1372, being finished in record time thanks to the availability of materials.

On the exterior, it is almost identical to the original building, with a hallway connecting it through two cobblestone courtyards with four oak trees each. The new addition also featured a large hall, named the Tabularium, because of the large map presence, with a secondary name of Stanley Hall, named for architect Lind Stanley. Most importantly, it contained many offices, which proved important after the passage of the Counties Act of 1373, splitting the country into eight counties.

1384 addition

In 1384, a major underground addition was constructed, which built a large new senate chamber, as well as six offices, with one becoming a common area with a cafe. This would be the first of many new additions to the basement of the Capitol.

1395-1396 additions

The basement of the Capitol had long been a functionally useless space, although the 1384 additions had improved it. Separated into the "A Basement" and the "B Basement," the A Basement was home to vaults for items of national importance, the treasury deposit system, and the Postmaster's office, all located in a cramped area below the original building. It is not known when the basement was dug but most evidence points to the Summer of 1371.

On the other hand, the "B Basement" was a far larger space, the result of the 1384 addition. The names come from the format of room numbers, with all rooms in the original building featuring an "A___" room number, and all rooms in the additions featuring a "B___" room number.

The additions were staggered and were originally not well received, being described as a "maze" and "confusing array of hallways." The additions were constructed of spruce for the floors, ceilings, and walls, and while they were not nearly as aesthetically pleasing as the above-ground building, they were instrumental in alleviating crowding upstairs for various departments.

The 1395-1396 additions included:

• Many new offices and office space for various departments and officials
• Two fire-proof and blast-proof emergency shelters in the event of an emergency
• Dedicated space for shipping & receiving, featuring a 5-horse stable and room for chariots, carts, and buggies
• 4 new committee rooms for meetings
• Connecting the A and B Basements via a staircase
• A chapel, named for deceased representative Morgan Korkin, who is buried inside the chapel.
• An auditorium

The additions also included a kitchen on every floor to satisfy the needs of the employees, a fire marshal on every floor, and renovated the records library in the original building to be able to contain tax documents from counties without a dedicated assessor's office, as well as a permit office to request a copy.