90 80 6
OHIO STATE EDITION
A Supplement to:
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6 80 24
6
4
71
76
199 30 30 75
68
30 77
71 23 22 68
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70 70
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70
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February 11 2017
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Vol. XVIIII • No. 3
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“The Nation’s Best Read Construction Newspaper… Founded in 1957.” Your Ohio Connection: Ed Bryden, Strongsville, OH • 1-800-810-7640
National Historic Landmark Undergoes $212M Restoration By Irwin Rapoport CEG CORRESPONDENT
The Turner Construction Company (TCC) started the $212.7 million restoration and renovation of Cincinnati’s historic Union Terminal in July 2016, the home of Cincinnati Museum Center (CMC). The project, which is receiving $175 million from a .25 percent sales tax increase over five years, is expected to be completed in October 2018. GBBN Architects is behind the design plan. Turner is serving as the construction manager and the general contractor, and is being supported by project consultants Ellington Management Services Inc. and John G. Waite Associates, Architects. The 500,000-sq. ft. (46,451 sq m) Art-Deco terminal, a national historic landmark that was built in 1933 and designed by Fellheimer & Wagner, has suffered from serious water damage that has led to major deterioration. The National Trust for Historic Preservation placed the building on its 11 Most Endangered Historic Places list. The work will focus on preserving the exterior and interior space, and making the museum more userfriendly for visitors. Crews are working to make the space environmentally sustainable via new electrical, plumbing and IT systems and providing more space for exhibits. This includes repairing the dome and marquee, repairing and cleaning the brick and stone exterior walls and restoring windows. The building houses the Duke Energy Children’s Museum, the Museum of Natural History & Science, The Cincinnati History Museum, the Cincinnati History
The Turner Construction Company (TCC) started the $212.7 million restoration and renovation of Cincinnati’s historic Union Terminal in July 2016, the home of Cincinnati Museum Center (CMC).
Library and Archives, the Robert D. Lindner Family OMNIMAX Theater and additional exhibit space for visiting collections. There also is a research center for science and engineering. Several exhibits will be closed temporarily during the upgrade. Amtrak has been using the station as a terminal since 1991. In 2015 1.4 million people visited the building. The Center for Holocaust and Humanity Education will move to CMC in 2018, where it will occupy nearly 12,000-sq. ft. (1,114.8 sq m) of space on the mezzanine and lower levels. A temporary lobby has been installed and Amtrak is now using a temporary station on the north end of the structure. The rotunda is being used as an access point for the construction crews and their equipment.
“This is a 100-year fix and it’s needed,” said Elizabeth Pierce, the CMC’s president and CEO. “The building has been a local and national icon for over eight decades and has left its mark in the hearts, memories and minds of millions of visitors. This restoration gives us the opportunity to protect the building for the future. By updating mechanical systems and renovating spaces inside the building, it will also give us an opportunity to expand and refresh many of our exhibits. When the building fully reopens we hope to have a model science and history center that is more interactive and offers a much more personalized experience for each guest. We hope that, in turn, increases visitation both locally and regionally and further boosts the city’s incredible cultural offerings.”
Cody Hefner, CMC’s media relations manager, said that the rotunda will essentially remain the same. “It’s being thoroughly cleaned and when all is done,” he said, “it will be brighter and will let more light inside. We’re removing the large air defusers on the ceiling that were added well after it was originally built. We want people to see the original splendor of the design, which is having what some called a chandelier but more closely resembles a very ornate Art Deco-style light placed back at the top of the ramp to the Cincinnati History Museum.” Between the summer of 2015 and last July when construction began, CMC and Turner were engaged in serious planning to identify the issues and establish a work schedule.
“The restoration requires a keen understanding of science, technology, engineering, mathematics and history as modern construction and engineering techniques blend with early 20th century materials and design to save iconic Union Terminal,” said Hefner. The first step was to secure the site and ensure the safety of all workers and visitors. This included placing fencing around the exterior of the building and protecting the larger pieces of the collection and exhibits that could not be removed. A temporary lobby was constructed in the Rotunda to allow visitor access while the building undergoes restoration, with scaffolding forming a framework for the lobby before walls and a ceiling are added. Limestone that is severely cracked or damaged will be removed and replaced with limestone of the same color and finish. “Stair towers have helped crews access Union Terminal’s various roof levels in preparation of limestone and masonry work, which began in September,” he said. “The limestone work commenced on the wings of the building. Plywood barriers were also constructed to protect the historic metal railings in the Museum of Natural History & Science and Cincinnati History Museum. The former meeting space on the lower level is being converted to expand Westheimer Hall II, part of our special exhibits gallery. This will add extra square footage to our special exhibits gallery, which will allow us to continue to bring blockbuster exhibitions to the region.” A key milestone was reached last October with the replacement of the aging electrical switchboard see MUSEUM page 2