Week of February 24, 2025
As we move forward with renovations to enhance accessibility and improve our museum spaces, last week was another milestone in transforming the Museum of Art + History. From painting to plumbing and demolition work, here’s what’s been happening behind the scenes.
Plumbing Updates
The plumbers were on site early in the week, removing several radiators to make way for upcoming accessibility improvements. A total of four radiators were removed from the courtroom, two from the Fire Hall, and two from the basement. One of the basement radiators was swapped with a courtroom radiator to better fit the space.
They returned Tuesday to adjust some pipes that had been left too tall, preventing potential damage. The Fire Hall currently has no heat due to the plumbing work, so staff have been advised to work from home or, if working on-site, to bundle up!
Painting Progress
The painting crew got to work on February 24. They were initially planning to start in the Courtyard but were pivoting to focus on the basement. They quickly completed painting in the Women’s Jail, the Marshal’s Office, and the Ferguson Gallery. Later in the week, they moved upstairs, setting up scaffolding to begin painting in the Courtroom.
Carpentry and Demolition Work
Carpenters focused on demolition throughout the week, making significant strides in key areas:
Fire Hall entrance and stairwell: Crews worked on opening up this area to improve accessibility.
Marshal’s Office doorway: Dry rot timbers were removed, and concrete was poured to support structural repairs.
1970s basement stairwell: Demolition work began, clearing the way for improvements.
Looking Ahead: Electrical Work Starts Soon
The electricians are scheduled to arrive on March 4 to begin their work on the project. We’ll share another update soon as we continue making progress toward a more accessible, engaging museum experience!
Thank you for following along on this journey—we can’t wait to unveil the changes when we reopen in April!