This documentary provides viewers with a look into the New York State Capitol in Albany. Upon its completion in 1899, the Capitol was recognized as an architectural masterpiece. But there was a structural defect: The rook leaked! After more than a century, the complex roof inspired by the chateaux of France was in need of a major overhaul. With sensitivity befitting the importance of a National Historic Landmark, crews set out to preserve this historic jewel for generations to come. The restoration is expected to take eight years with an estimated cost of $40 million, far more than the cost of building the structure in the late 1800s.

The centerpiece of the massive project was the restoration of a monumental skylight over the Great Western Staircase. The staircase, modeled after the grand staircase of the Paris Opera, was obscured by darkness for over half a century. Rebuilding the skylight dramatically transformed the Capitol's magnificent interior--bathing it in a "Flood of Light" as the master builders orginally intended.

"As you look out at the roof you really see what the original architects has in mind, and that was to create a skyline," James Jamieson, the architect overseeing the restoration, said. He views the project as essential to preserving this great landmark.

Flood of Light provides viewers with an window to the extraordinary reconstruction of the Capitol roof. WMHT has assembled more than 18 months of videotape to crate an epic documentary that captures a model preservation effort from above and below, giving viewers an inside look at this crucial project.