[2] In 1959 a commission was formed to guide the construction of a new legislative building[4] to replace the North Carolina State Capitol as the home of the legislature since 1840.

[3] Architect Edward Durrell Stone was selected to design the building in partnership with North Carolina firm Holloway & Reeves.

[5] Construction required 10,500 cubic yards (8,000 m3) of concrete, 145,000 masonry blocks, and 192,000 square feet (17,800 m2) of terrazzo.

Brass chandeliers in the chambers and the main stairway are 8 ft in diameter (2.4 m) and weigh 625 pounds (283 kg) each.

[5] The building entrance features a 28 ft (8.5 m) diameter terrazzo mosaic of the Great Seal of the State of North Carolina.