For the past two years, the Terminal Tower has been corseted in scaffolding as the grande dame of Cleveland's historic downtown structures undergoes a five-year $40 million-plus makeover.

The corset is slowly slipping, however, in an architectural striptease as the renovation and scaffolding move from the top of the 708-foot structure to the bottom.

The results are bared from the 44th floor up to the crowning cupola, which has been restored to the original gold coloration that had been hidden under gray paint.

A new computerized LED exterior illumination system has replaced the old spotlights with colored gels that took three people three days to change.

Thirty to 50 workers are repairing the ravages of age and weather both inside and outside the 52-floor tower. The restoration is scheduled to be completed in 2010.

Workers also are tuck-pointing seams and replacing deteriorated architectural features with fiberglass forms identical in shape and texture to the originals.