Historical support

The General Staff building continues to make surprises to the restorers. In February 2009 an iron pillar which supported the staircase arch created by Rossi was found. In the 60-s of the 19th century the staircase of the Department of taxes and duties (which, as many other public offices, was situated in the east wing of the General Staff building) began to crumble. It was dismantled and instead of the flights on each floor there appeared a small room. On the last 4th floor the room turned out to be decorated with a picturesque plafond painted by Rossi which was "transferred" to its decor from the staircase. Apart from the picturesque plafond as a "memory" of the staircase there remained a 400-kilogram iron pillar (about 3.5 meters high) on the 1st floor which supported the crumbling arch until the 60-s of the 19th century. After the renovation of the staircase arch the pillar remained there till our days although it has no engineering function. Only after the present restoration works it was taken down. Soon the pillar will take its place in the Museum of the Headquarters Restoration.

At the present time the arches were cleaned from moellon (interfloor cleaning). The surface of the arches is puttied with plitonit - a cement and sand grout. The arches are paved with metal net over which the concrete surfacing is laid. The installation of the piles is still going on; these works are due in May. In the 3rd courtyard of the east wing of the General Staff building a ground for the installation of the stationary hoist is being created - right now the process of concrete casting is going on.