Gensler's Judy Pesek. Photo courtesy of Rena Hardeman.

One of the most unique elements of the Center is its full-scale, interactive Oval Office exhibit. Visitors are able to visit the Oval Office and walk on a replica of the original rug emblazoned with its Presidential Seal. Visitors can also recline in one of the two federal stripe chairs originating from the Federal Period, which accommodated President Bush and various heads of state during President Bush’s two terms in office. To my mind, the biggest thrill is the chance to be photographed sitting behind the Resolute desk in the same chair that President Bush used himself. That’s where I’m sitting in the image above.

President Bush’s original Oval Office was furnished to residential standards, but our replica had to withstand the visitors that the Center expects to receive each year—and they anticipate 500,000 visitors in the first year alone. We were lucky to be able to work closely over a year and a half period with the rug, fabric and furniture vendors we needed to accomplish our task—a perfect replica of the historic interiors. Many of the original vendors who outfitted the Oval Office for President Bush were able to work with us to achieve our goal—a replica that even seasoned Secret Service officers have a hard time distinguishing from the original.

A special challenge was recreating the tufted Edward Fields’ rug that was created in his facility in College Point, New York. The original rug was designed by Mrs. Bush herself. When we designed the replica, Edward Fields had been acquired by Tai Ping carpets, and they were still creating one-of-a-kind custom rugs. Without the benefit of seeing the original rug, we had to recreate it working from photographs and initial artwork on file at Edward Fields/Tai Ping. We went through more than five mock-ups before getting it just right.

Ron Skipper, Judy Pesek, Rena Hardeman and Dr. Michael Savoie at the opening of the Center. Photo courtesy of Rena Hardeman.

One of the furniture manufacturers we partnered with was Kittinger Furniture, which is based in Buffalo, New York. Kittinger has created furniture for the White House and for other presidential libraries. They do extraordinary work, and their finishes are some of the finest I’ve seen. The hand-carved legs and arms of the Federal Stripe chairs and the intricate inlay detail of the Pembroke tables next to the sofas and card tables on either side of the fireplace are worth special mention.

Design team members Jenna Young and Kelly Moore. Photo courtesy of Rena Hardeman.

Reaction to the space has been overwhelming. Members of George W. Bush’s original administration who were in the Oval Office on a daily basis and who have visited the Oval Office Exhibit have used terms like, “incredible,” “uncanny,” and “exact in every detail” to describe the replica.

The dedication of the George W. Bush Presidential Center is being held today and will be attended by all five living presidents and their wives. The Center will open to the public on May 1, 2013.

Judy Pesek is the co-regional managing principal of Gensler’s southcentral region and a founding member of the firm’s Workplace Taskforce. An interiors dynamo, Judy lends her considerable workplace expertise as an adjunct professor at UT Austin and as a regular contributor to D-CEO magazine in Dallas. Contact her at judy_pesek@gensler.com.