Email #90 – Whoops! Wall Too High

I call 'em as I see 'em, but I guess I shouldn't have seen what I sent you in the previous email (#89), at least if all had gone to plan.

Apparently the drywallers installed more gypsum board than specified on the west wall of the Exhibit Space. Andrew Schilling, the on-site architect for THA, sent me this email as soon as he saw the recent photos of the new drywall in the Exhibit Space:

“John - Don't be surprised to see some changes to this wall.  The Documents call for the top of Gyp Board to align with the head of the tackable panels, exposing 24"+/- of brick between the panels and the Cornice.  The current installation is a contractor miss and they will be back to correct the situation" -  Regards, Andrew Schilling

The bottom line is this: the top 24" of the historic yellow brick will eventually be exposed in the final room, as well as the cornice above.

But meanwhile here's what it looks like now (April 11) in the top two photos. The bottom photo shows the state of the wall on March 30.

Note in the bottom photo that there is NO PLYWOOD behind the drywall in this room, as is commonly installed in all fine arts galleries and museums. Their walls can take bigger nails and heavier art than will our pin-up-only weakling.

Actually, the real pin-up panels will be installed in front of the drywall on a track near the floor. This track can hold the weight of a human, says Andrew Schilling. Not because we might have a human as art someday, but because someone eventually will accidentally step on it. Therefore, for long term viability, it must be built strong enough now so it will survive that future clumsy oaf.

John Stamets
April 12, 2007

See also #89, #95 and #96