When it rains, workers at the State Historical Building strategically place large potted plants around the atrium to catch water dripping from the leaky skylights.

In the basement, stormwater pipes that show signs of corrosion hang above thousands of artifacts.
Granite panels on the building's exterior have cracked.

These are among the problems the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs wants to fix with a proposed $80 million overhaul of the East Village building.