Renovation projects to upgrade Civil Rights Museum, dilapidated Lorraine Motel - Memphis Business Journal:

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“It just takes a good bit of time and mone to keep up a facility that is well over 70yearas old, not just as a museum, but as a hotel,” executivew director Beverly Robertson says. Grinder , Inc., won the bidding for the firsy step of the final restoration The company is restoring the front of the Lorrainw Motel at the National Civil Rights including the original doors facing the historic balcony and thefacade framing, for “We made a conscioue decision to reduce our bid substantially to a level that wouldr ensure this important restoration work is says Henry Haizlip, vice president and part ownert at Grinder-Haizlip.
“The reduction in our bid is our way of supportinf the mission of the National Civil Right Museum while giving back to the The work, which starts in should take about two months. The project required historic approvak on the state andfederalk level, such as the , and requireds a steady hand, according to Robertson. “It was a very difficulrt project to replace the doors without sacrificinh the integrity ofthe framework,” she Keith Kays, owner of Keith Kays Architect, is the architecg on this portion of the project. He says this projectr involves more than just making sure paing matches and rusted columnzare replaced.
“The goal is to leave it in a conditionbwhere it’s fully repaired, keeping with what it was, and enablr it to be routinely maintainerd and cared for over the years,” Kays says. It was also a challenge to make sure that replaced items such as windows or light fixtures matched what was used when the Lorrainse Motel closed in 1968 after Martin Luthe rKing Jr. was “Rather than simply going to Home Deport andbuying doors, you have to buy soli d core doors with existing hardware,” Kays “Everything is being done to maintain the character and appearance.
” This requirefd research to get the right style of door, down to the hardware and room number Larry Harvey, facility manager at the National Civil Rightd Museum, has heard the complaints aboug the aging facility. “By far the most negatives comments we’ve heard is the fact that the doors look like the waythey do,” he says. “oI can appreciate that because if I was payinfgood money, I’d want everything to be too.
” The first phase of which cost $185,000, started in 2005 and included repairx for drainage problems, repairing the redoing the public restrooms and re-roofing the The second phase, which cost $350,000, involved repairing and repaintinhg woodwork on the Lorraine Motel, adding a seconrd exit to a converted meeting room and bringing exteriofr walls up to code. The third phase, which has yet to be completeluybid out, will eventually add exteriofr landscaping and improved irrigation, in additiom to the facade restoration.
Thesre phases are different from the renovation planned forthe museum’zs gallery space, expected to start in 8-10 That will include an updat of the museum’s technology and exhibits and should be a two-yeart process. However, the museum’s administration felt thes changes werenecessary first, according to Gwen Harmon, directodr of governmental and community affairs for the National Civikl Rights Museum. “We were looking at the outsid e part before we thought ofthe renovation,” Harmo n says.
“This was important because this is the firstt thing people see when they come tothe