Plans reviewed for Hailey building

ROGERS — Conceptual design plans for the Hailey building, made by architecture firm DeLeon & Primmer of Louisville, Ky., were reviewed by the Rogers Historical Museum Commission on Thursday.

The plans were exchanged during a trip to Louisville, which was paid for by the museum’s foundation.

Images show renderings of the streamline art deco building brought back to its original facade, restored with a light yellow color and a couple of horizontal accent lines, one maroon and another dark blue. A boxy dark gray structure is shown on the back side.

The building was the home of the former Rogers Morning News.

“There’s nothing forced about it,” said John Burroughs, executive director for the Rogers Historical Museum. It looks like the original ‘47 building.”

“They’re not trying to imitate it,” said Jerry Hiett, commissioner. Though another commissioner hoped the gray structure would more closely resemble the original building, Hiett said he preferred the way the rendering had it. “They shouldn’t match.”

Other slides showed the outdoor breezeway that would act as a classroom space, a sleek, modern gallery with exposed steel in the ceiling and a special gallery area.

Commissioner Dani Madison said she liked the horizontal line on the original building aligned with the horizontal line on the new structure.

“It ’ s a line carrying through, continuing over,” Madison said. “I see what they’re doing there.”

Primary among commissioners’ concern was the particular shades of color in the rendering. They expressed hope they could more accurately reflect what they’d agreed upon. Rather than a shade of nearly mustard yellow for the original building, a tan or tope was preferred.

Burroughs pointed out the tower on the original Hailey building would be taller to match how it was historically.

Commissioners agreed a conference call to the architecture firm would be helpful to relay their concerns and hear more about the design choices before going forward. A special commission meeting will be called in coming days for that purpose.

Recent weeks at the Hailey building and Old Lodge have seen asbestos cleanup. The removal of carpet at the Hailey building revealed an intricately patterned, bright colorful terazzo floor Burroughs estimated to be worth $250,000 in today’s expenses.

A little light sanding and wax will restore the historic floor for greater use, he said.