Abele and county board creating dueling committees to address damaged domes.
Abele and county board creating dueling committees to address damaged domes. Back to the full article.
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Could any of this damage been caused from the Falk explosion in 2006 that cracked some of the glass?
I’d much rather spend my tax dollars on repairing this dome than building a basketball stadium.
It is not unreasonable to put tearing the Domes down on the table.
These days public projects like this need private donor support (and leadership).
Maybe they always did.
@Tony B,
I believe there was some damage to the glass following the Falk explosion, which has since been repaired. The current issues are more systemic and relating to a 50-year-old building. Here’s the link to the county’s Domes update page with links to Domes reports going back decades. One addresses the explosion.
http://county.milwaukee.gov/Domes
I was told by several experts that it would make most sense to replace all the glass and framing to create a new, secure “skin” for each Dome, rather than continuing to make piecemeal replacements of glass. They think it’s possible to use better technology while retaining the look and aura of the glass. It could be done over time and would reportedly solve many of the recurrent problems. Upgrading the filtration-drainage system would be another major piece.
I agree with Tom that preservation would likely require private donor support and leadership, not just government funding. Mary Louise Schumacher, the JS art/architecture critic, has pointed that out as well. Having current reports on restoration options and actual costs will be helpful for such discussions.
It’s shocking that Abele has the unilateral authority to waste $30,000 without Board approval.
Why on earth would Republicans in Madison give Abele the power to spend up to $99,999 without approval? It’s literally blank check!
@Tony B,
A report recently said this about the Falk incident.
• Dec. 16, 2006: Graef USA does a limited inspection of the Domes after an explosion at the Falk Corp., located a half a mile from the Domes, and finds no significant structural damage.
http://npaper-wehaa.com/shepherdexpress/2016/02/18/#?article=2705193
Long-term repair needs reflect age mostly, and specifically the need to prevent moisture intruding from cracked glass, etc. Here’s a link to various reports.
http://county.milwaukee.gov/Domes
Experts have said restoration is doable. Greaf recommended about 10 years ago replacing all glass and framing, though not the concrete-and-steel armature. Options for new glass technology would reportedly retain the look and feel of the Domes but be better in other ways. Another cause of moisture is the filtration and drainage system that needs upgrading.
Tom, yes, private donor angels would likely need to supplement governmental investments needed for preservation. And that would require leadership.
@Tony B,
An article recently said this about the Falk incident not being a factor.
• Dec. 16, 2006: Graef USA does a limited inspection of the Domes after an explosion at the Falk Corp., located a half a mile from the Domes, and finds no significant structural damage.
http://npaper-wehaa.com/shepherdexpress/2016/02/18/#?article=2705193
Long-term repair needs reflect age mostly, and specifically the need to prevent moisture intruding from cracked glass, etc.
Experts have said restoration is doable. About 10 years ago Greaf recommended about 10 years ago replacing all glass and framing in each dome, though not the concrete-and-steel armature. Options for new glass technology would reportedly retain the look and feel of the Domes but be better in other ways. Another cause of moisture is the filtration and drainage system that needs upgrading.
Link to various Domes studies: http://county.milwaukee.gov/Dom
Tom, yes, private donor support would likely need to supplement governmental investments for preservation, as is usually the case for major landmarks. And that would require leadership.