Hall of Architecture

Fine Art Architectural Restoration staff were the caretakers of the Hall of Architecture at the Carnegie Museum of Art from 2006 – 2018.  This is a dated, monumental room containing an enormous collection of monumental architectural plaster casts of famous architectural elements and sculptures from classical times through the Renaissance.  The casts originated from firms in Europe that sold casts of famous monuments and were arranged in pavilions as such that were seen at the World’s Expositions that Andrew Carnegie attended in Paris and London.  These casts are what Andrew Carnegie devised, along with other treasures housed in the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh to “bring the world to the people of Pittsburgh.”  

During that time, the Hall was used primarily as an event space for weddings and catered affairs.  However, the continual movement of large rolling racks of folding tables and chairs frequently caused widespread cosmetic and structural damage to the 100-year-old casts.  Food from buffet tables would be splashed on the casts, and periodically a speaker would topple, crashing into the casts and breaking them.  The casts required constant dusting, cosmetic repair, and monitoring.  

After 100 years, the effects of gravity and the temporary nature of these plaster structures had caused sagging and cracking on some of the casts, requiring the insertion of additional supports and performing additional investigations such as on-site X-raying to ensure the safety of the public and the collection. Fine Art Architectural Restoration was frequently involved in the dusting of the enormous space, working from 30’ scissor lifts to reach the tops of the tallest casts. 

Client:  Carnegie Museum of Art