From the Rotunda, the barrel vaults open to a height of four stories and extend into the wings through the grand marble stairs that ascend to the second level. Spatial hierarchy, conveyed through proportion, materials and decorative finish, is evident throughout. Elegantly appointed public spaces house the Supreme Court, the Senate, the Assembly and the offices of the governor. The meeting rooms dedicated to the Senate and Assembly contain large public galleries and monumental murals. The Supreme Court Hearing Room, also at a scale that accommodated public hearings, was finished with a series of four murals based on subject matter provided by the then-seated justices. The North Hearing Room, originally designed for the use of the Railroad Commission, was finished in marble and furnished with murals on the theme of transportation.The clear demarcation between public and private space is central to the development of architect George B. Post’s scheme. The public spaces, such as the Rotunda, chambers and major corridors are characterized by ornate decoration, rich materials and lavish details. The private offices, designed to be adaptable through the use of interior non-load-bearing walls, were constructed at a smaller and more intimate scale, although even the smallest offices were finished with wood trim and ornamental stencil work.The spatial hierarchy Post established architecturally was reinforced through the furnishings installed and by the decorative finish paint applied throughout by the New York firm of Mack, Jenney and Tyler.
