Guggenheim Museum – Exterior Restoration / MEP Upgrade

Sciame was the Construction Manager responsible for the exterior restoration of the Guggenheim Museum. For the five decades that the museum has been standing, exterior maintenance has consisted mostly of painting. In March 2005, sensors were placed on the building’s exterior to measure contraction and expansion. Detailed monitoring of the movement of selected cracks, laser surveys, and other studies were used by the restoration team to formulate an appropriate methodology to repair the cracks and ensure the building’s long-term health. In December 2005, the paint was stripped off to reveal the concrete walls underneath: approximately 80,000 SF of wall surface.

The goal was the full exterior restoration of the museum – including the waterproofing of the exterior, patching and painting, hidden structural stabilization, replication of original windows and skylights to improve thermal and conservation needs, and extensive mechanical system upgrades for the museum environment – all this work was accomplished while the museum remained open to the public.

The major construction challenge at the Guggenheim was the careful planning required which allowed the Museum’s gallery and office space to remain 100% operational throughout the duration of the project. Sciame’s team closely coordinated all interior and exterior work with the Museum team, so that normal operations could continue while the full restoration efforts were completed.