Here’s the other side of the story regarding the Nasher clash over the glowering tower.
Rebecca Shaw, executive vice president for Spaeth Communications, responds to Reflective Invective: Nasher’s Jeremy Strick Glares Back at Condo Tower’s Glare, Reacts to DMA’s Free Admission:
A feasibility report for a retractable louver system to remediate the reflected light [from the new Museum Tower condo] was to be presented to [Jeremy] Strick [director of the Nasher Sculpture Center, Dallas] on Nov. 20. Unfortunately, the meeting was canceled
by the Nasher the night before the presentation.Mitigating reflected sunlight is an incredibly complex technical and engineering
challenge. For more than a year now, an outstanding team of architects, engineers,
experts in optical science, construction, building materials, and landscaping have
studied the issue and have explored more than 20 concepts and ideas. The team
studied the potential solutions, one by one, and found that they either failed to
fully remediate the reflection or created more problems than they solved. These
efforts have not been without significant cost, and to date, Museum Tower has spent
nearly $1 million searching for a solution.Contrary to Strick’s assertion, made without the benefit of engineering studies,
the louver system is not a 100% solution. Most notably, according to the
manufacturer’s own engineers, the current stainless steel louver system reflects
sunlight in the range of 33% to 44%, or very similar to the glass curtain wall on
Museum Tower. Louvers are designed to reflect solar heat and keep interior cool, not mitigate reflection. According to the manufacturer,
efforts to fabricate a non-reflective louver system have not been successful.At this time, the only engineered solution that has proven, through computer
modeling and peer review, to completely remediate the reflection in the Nasher
galleries is a recalibrated oculi treatment to the Nasher’s roof. However, Museum
Tower’s team of engineers and scientists continue to explore some very sophisticated
nanotechnology and are open to any new creative idea that would address this issue.Also, contrary to Mr. Strick’s assertion, Museum Tower was not named for the Nasher
Sculpture Center, but reflects the activity of the performing arts and museums in
the Dallas Arts District.Please be assured that work continues, and that the Museum Tower team is committed
to being a good neighbor and a resolution. Museum Tower is an important project,
not just for the 9,200 police officer, firefighter and their families, but to the
City of Dallas and its citizens. It will generate millions of dollars in new tax
revenue and bring residential living and the accompanying economic growth in
services and amenities to the Dallas Arts District.