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One area of the Scarritt Building
that had been virtually
unused since the early 1980s was the 5,500-square-foot area
called the Grand Avenue Ball Room.
"It
was our intent to maximize on a good idea and renovate the ball
room to be used for special events," said Susan Richards
Johnson, architect for the Scarritt renovations. "Because
of the previous work that Goens Brothers Painting, Inc. had done
in the Scarritt Building lobby and the Arcade, they were the
perfect contractor for involvement in the ball room
project," stated Richards Johnson.
"We also worked with Goens on the old historic Kansas City
Public Library building located at 500 East Ninth and also owned
by Ozark National Life." (Note: see Modern Builder article on
the library renovation, July/August 1989 issue). In 1985, Goens
Brothers Painting, Inc., was recognized by the Kansas City Chapter
of the American Institute of Architects with the presentation of
the Allied Arts and Craftsmanship Award for decorative ceiling and
plaster restoration in the Scarritt lobby.
The
process of renovation in the Grand Avenue Ball Room began with the
restoration of the deteriorating column capitals. A plasterer was
brought on site to create molds from the original ornamentation.
The pieces were then cast and feathered into place. A series of 60
wall sconces was created from originals for placement on the axis
of the columns. Four of the 14 plaster chandeliers had to be
replicated.
A
glazing/stippling technique was used to enhance and heighten
intricate portions of the column capitals, chandeliers and trim.
The palette in the Scarritt lobby determined the hues of
blue/green accents, ranging from light teal to very dark green,
used to provide a rich contrast to the light gray walls and
ceiling.
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