Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum Phase 1

Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum
Phase 1
Description
The Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, located in Wausau,
Wisconsin, greatly anticipated an expansion to the museum in
order to meet numerous needs. The most significant need was
space to display a number of newly acquired works created by the
new Gromme Gallery’s namesake, Owen Gromme.
The new addition is composed of a 1,900 SF art storage vault and a
2,350 SF gallery. New restrooms and circulation spaces also were
included in the expansion. On the lower level of the addition, a
state-of-the-art vault, complete with rolling storage racking and
stationary shelving, holds the museum’s permanent works as well
as supplementary storage for the facility. The new main level gallery
is now the largest single gallery within the museum which not only
allows for the ability to display a large number of works in one
location, but also the capability to host events such as dinners
and lectures. The vault and gallery are both tightly controlled for
temperature and humidity to ensure the artwork is held in pristine
condition. In addition, the lower and main levels now have ADA
compliant restrooms, a desire of the owner for many years. The
circulation upgrades include a new elevator conveniently located
for guests and large enough for the museum’s curators to move
artwork from the vault to the galleries with ease. A new stairwell,
the exterior focal point of the addition, not only allows access
from the lower level to the rooftop of the new addition, but also
provides additional opportunities for sculpture installations.
WHY DESERVING OF AWARD
The Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum is an aesthetically pleasing
addition that met extraordinary challenges. With a tight timeline of
nine months for design and construction, there was absolutely no
room for error or delays. In addition, the site access required extensive
coordination and planning to ensure minimal site disruption and
access for construction teams. Throughout the challenges faced by the
construction team, the existing museum remained open to the public
during the entire construction of the addition.
The relationships that were created throughout the project will
forever remain in the hearts of The Samuels Group and the staff at
the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum. Not only was a professional
relationship formed, but also a personal one. Lastly, the safety record
of this project upholds the astonishing abilities of the construction team
and staff at the museum. With the presence of numerous challenges and
a proactive construction safety program, the team achieved no lost time
accidents for the duration of the project.
Contractors.
Innovators.
Over Achievers.
Specialty Contractors
Acoustic Professionals - Acoustic Ceiling Tile
Appleton Lathing Corp. - Steel Studs and Drywall Contractor
Briese Iron Works, Inc. - Structural and Misc Steel Supplier
Brandenburg Plumbing & Heating, Inc. - Plumbing Contractor
County Materials Corporation - Redi Mix Concrete Supplier
Complete Control, Inc. - HVAC Controls
City Wide Insulation of Green Bay - Spray Foam Insulation
Davis Painting & Decorating, Inc. - Paint and Vinyl Wall Covering
Hardwood Floors by R.J.B. - Flooring
J & L Steel, Inc. - Structural Steel Installers
Londerville Steel Enterprises, Inc. - Concrete Rebar
Macco’s Commercial Interiors, Inc. - Ceramic Tile, Carpet, and
Vinyl Composition Tile
Matzke Excavating, LLC - Excavating
McGivern Masonry, Inc. - Masonry
Precision Glass & Door, LLC - Aluminium Door Frame/Curtainwall
Quality Roofing, Inc. - Roofing
The Sam Corp. - Caulking
The Samuels Group, Inc. - Carpentry, Concrete, and Demo
Schlinder Elevator Corp. - Elevators
Spancrete Industries, Inc. - Structural Precast Concrete
Block Iron & Supply Co., Inc. - Door and Hardware Supplier
Stainless Specialists, Inc. - HVAC
Storage Systems Midwest - Art Storage
Stratford Sign Company - Signage
Trimpac, LLC - Woodwork and Casework
Van Ert Electric Co., Inc. - Electrical
William Heinz & Sons, Inc. - Coiling Doors
Contractors.
Innovators.
Over Achievers.
Sustainable Practices
SUSTAINABILITY
The Samuels Group places great importance on lessening the
impact that structures have on the environments in which they
are built. In adhering to this philosophy, The Samuels Group
implements certain sustainable practices such as mandatory on-site
recycling on all projects. The design of the museum’s addition also
kept sustainability in mind every step of the way, from the envelope
to the lighting fixtures.
EXTERIOR ENVELOPE
The exterior envelope contains a R-15 of continuous insulation
outside of the studs in addition to a sprayed-in-place foam
insulation and vapor barrier to the exterior of the stud cavity. This
design creates a very tight envelope, free of penetrations from
electrical receptacles and other items because the interior side of
the stud cavity is open. In addition to the exterior walls, the roof
membrane is a high albedo material to decrease the amount of
solar heat gain and reduce the building’s heat island effect. These
elements decrease summertime energy demands, air conditioning
costs, air pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions.
LIGHTING FIXTURES
All of the track lighting in the new gallery has LED heads which
use less electricity and last up to two and a half times longer
than fluorescent bulbs and up to 25 times longer than standard
incandescents.
EXTERIOR GLAZING
Due to the large amounts of glazing in the stairwell and corridors,
special attention was given to the selection of a high quality glazing.
The product chosen contained a low-E coating with an SHGC of
.26 and a U-Value of .28.
Contractors.
Innovators.
Over Achievers.
Unusual Design
This project encompasses several unique design features to qualify for
this award.
ARCHITECTURAL STYLE
The museum opened its doors in 1976 after the renovation of a
1931 English Tudor period Cotswold-style residence. The museum’s
architectural style, although remaining strongly rooted in its medieval
feel, has evolved over the years through subsequent additions. For
this latest addition, the museum’s building committee felt that it
was important to expand the architectural vernacular being used
as the museum moved forward. The challenge was to produce a
design solution that would blend a more contemporary style into
the strong historical context. This was accomplished through the
use of architectural lines, materials and the reflection of the existing
museum itself. The architectural lines found within the wood planking
and the gables of the existing facades were echoed within the
exposed structural members of the new glass stair tower. The brick
selection also played a key role in tying the old into the new. More
subtlety, the use of glass across the entrance courtyard from the
original residence, mirrors the old within the new, further blending
the lines between the two.
UNIQUE LIGHTING DESIGN
By their nature, museums do not offer much in the way of
opportunities for fenestration due to the need to prevent solar
degradation of the artwork. This caused the design of the only
areas not affected by the sunlight (the circulation spaces) to become
the only areas to utilize glazing and natural lighting. The lower level
enjoys a wash of light from clerestory windows in the corridor; the
main level corridor has floor to ceiling windows that allows the area
to fill with natural light; and the main stairs between each level of
the museum is a glass tower that allows visitors scenic views of the
museum’s sculpture garden as well as views of the city to the west.
HVAC SYSTEM
The HVAC system of the building was designed to meet tight
temperature and humidity control. In the case that the system
becomes unbalanced, the owner is notified so they can identify the
problem and work to get it corrected. This is not only necessary
for the museum’s permanent collections, but will allow them to seek
out other travelling collections which require tight temperature and
humidity tolerances that the museum could not provide until now.
Contractors.
Innovators.
Over Achievers.
Innovation
SAFETY PROGRAM
The Samuels Group Safety Program was a big part of the
successful completion of this project. With safety as one of
our first and foremost goals, it was very important that our
teams were safe at the end of the day. There were no lost-time
hours from an accident. Daily stretching and pre-task planning,
weekly tool box safety meetings, and constant monitoring of
site conditions were techniques used to accomplish this safety
record.
PROJECT MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
Utilizing Primavera, a web-based project management system,
allowed everyone involved in the project to access a single
source for project communications. The system website contains
the following information: schedules, budgets, meeting requests,
RFI’s, daily progress logs, updated drawings, pay requests,
and other related project materials. Constant communication
between team members assisted The Samuels Group in finishing
this project on-budget and within a tight time line.
Contractors.
Innovators.
Over Achievers.
Difficult Challenges
There were many challenges throughout the duration of the
project. The construction team worked closely with the owner
to shine through all these difficult obstacles.
TIGHT SCHEDULE
The biggest challenge on this project was the tight schedule.
Adhering to the wishes of the client, the project team worked
diligently to complete the work within the tight time frame
of nine months. Starting in the dead of winter and with a
completion date set by the opening day of the Birds In Art
flagship exhibition, there was no room for error in the short
project timeline. This time frame was often termed unrealistic
and unobtainable, but the project team was able to work
meticulously to finish the project on time.
SITE ACCESS
As tight as the timeline was, the site access was even tighter
in comparison. When working with a highly developed site,
there are always challenges and this site was no exception. The
museum itself sprawls almost the full width of the block in which
it is located and is perched on the side of the steepest terrain
in the city. Working with the owner and landscaper, a plan was
devised to minimize site disruption, accommodate the needs
of the construction teams, and keep in good standing with the
neighbors who live in very close proximity to the site access
point and building addition.
PROJECT TEAM COORDINATION
Along with the tight schedule and site access, coordination with
speciality contractors was key to meeting deadlines. Exceptional
team coordination and communication was required on this
project. It was also crucial to keep the museum 100% operational
throughout the construction of the project. Tying into three
different points of the existing building made this challenging but
together with the owner, strategically placed temporary partitions
allowed for construction alongside a fully functioning museum.
COMPLEX HVAC SYSTEM
The HVAC system within the facility required special controls
for temperature and humidity. These controls were necessary to
maintain the prestigious artwork housed within the new addition.
Crucial to this system was programming and coordination. The
Samuels Group worked closely with the mechanical engineer and
contractor to ensure the client’s needs were met.
Contractors.
Innovators.
Over Achievers.
Client Satisfaction
The foundation of The Samuels Group’s approach is experience,
attention to detail, and most importantly, customer satisfaction.
Employees at The Samuels Group are passionate about achieving
100% customer satisfaction the first time. They are over achievers
and this project proves that employees of The Samuels Group are
not only builders of structures, but builders of relationships as
well.
This project has satisfied the needs of the client by meeting their
tight deadline as well as budget. The unique needs of the facility
was also an important aspect to the client’s satisfaction. The
Samuels Group made sure to accommodate the needs of the
client to ensure the artwork would be in pristine condition no
matter the weather outside. In addition, The Samuels Group was
able to work around the daily operations of the facility to ensure
the museum remained open during construction.
The Samuels Group was sensitive to the disruption caused by
the construction and distributed flower baskets with a note of
appreciation for their patience to the surrounding neighbors of
the construction site. This demonstrated to the neighbors the
appreciation of the client for their cooperation and understanding
during occasional disruptive conditions.
“The Samuels Group went above and beyond as our business partner.
They were incredibly organized and completed the project on an
unbelievable tight timeline, with a tight budget. The company also
embraced unique requirements of an art museum that might have
been lost on contractors, such as lighting, humidity, and temperature
controls. In short, The Samuels Group was a pleasure to work with and
did a fantastic job.”
Kathy Foley, Director
Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum - Wausau, WI
Contractors.
Innovators.
Over Achievers.
June 21, 2013
Kurt Burner, Senior Vice President
The Samuels Group
311 Financial Way, Suite 300
Wausau, WI 54401
Dear Kurt,
Not a day goes by that a visitor to the Woodson Art Museum doesn’t ask about our most recent
building addition project or the renovations underway. Of course such questions are well received
because they provide an opportunity for me to sing the praises of The Samuels Group!
From the get-go, you and every member of The Samuels Group Team have been the kind of partners
that defy stereotypes; you have been ideal! From our earliest planning meetings to our on-going
reviews and tweaks of the multiple projects in progress, The Samuels Group has been pro-active,
responsive, attuned to the needs of the Museum, and mindful of both financial constraints and our
timeframes.
There are many aspects of the building addition project that I am enormously proud of. Among them
is the fact that the Museum was able to remain open and serve the community and visitors
throughout the construction and this has been true of the subsequent renovations, which in many
ways are more obstructive, requiring temporary walls and pathways. The need to remain open has
not fazed The Samuels Team; in fact, each and every worker – as well as subcontractors – has been
respectful and mindful of our mission and commitment to the public.
When we began the building addition project and quickly ramped up our program of requirements,
Samuels Director of Design and Architect Jim Jasper went above and beyond to transform a list of
needs and wants into a design that both acknowledged the Museum’s historic structure and looked
forward with style and finesse. The result is a distinctive structure that meets our practical needs,
exceeds our aesthetic aspirations, and is efficient and sustainable, too.
We look forward with great anticipation to the completion of the multiple renovation projects and to
enhanced and efficient visitor flow as well as the meticulously restored decorative arts gallery and
main entrance area boasting craftsmanship and attention to detail worth crowing about.
Please accept my heartfelt thanks for your commitment to the Woodson Art Museum and share my
appreciation with the entire Samuels Group Team.
Sincerely yours,
Kathy Kelsey Foley
Director
Building an
Extraordinary
Relationship
Not only does this project offer a variety of exceptional
accomplishments, but it also established a relationship that both
The Samuels Group and the client would never have imagined.
During the course of the project, the superintendent, Bruce
Bradley, underwent heart surgery. Such a surgery not only
reminds us all of how precious life is, but it also helped to foster
a unique relationship between the client and Bruce.
Bruce continued to oversee the project after his surgery and
even had some help from the client with monitoring his heart.
Stress of construction often made the monitoring of Bruce’s
heart even more critical and vital. The staff at the Leigh Yawkey
Woodson Art Museum helped to keep an eye on Bruce’s heart.
This relationship will forever be remembered.
Contractors.
Innovators.
Over Achievers.