I love this thread...so much potential for the classic stories of leave it alone, and perhaps wiser heads will address the problem in another ten years, or so.  Here's one example:

Hoping to restore a missing cornice from a mid-block, 3-story commercial building downtown, it's been 10 years since the owner had permission to put up a fiberglass (plastic, yuck!) replication of the original.  Owner finished the entire project, minus the cornice, probably  because it was up there out of sight and he didn't really want to spend the money.  I was the HDC monitor, and it always bugged me that he didn't finish, but I didn't really like the Fipon solution he intended to use.  So, I bided my time...

Now I have a contractor-friend who I trust to know sheet metal and who is certainly capable of replicating the missing cornice in galvanized steel.  Looking up, it is easy to see that the frieze portion of the original assembly is still hanging off the wall, so I know that is what it should be.  I've been trying to set up a meeting to introduce the owner to the contractor, and see if they can seal deal, with or without my being involved.  I just want to see the wall capped properly and get closure.  If I can encourage appropriate treatment using traditional sheet metal, so much the better.

I'll post the results, when something has happened, but I am optimistic.

Happy New Year to all you pinheads!

Ilene R. Tyler, FAIA
QUINN EVANS | ARCHITECTS
219 1/2 N. Main Street
Ann Arbor, MI  48104
ph: 734 663-5888
fx: 734 663-5044



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