According to a media statement released today by Dallas’ Museum Tower, David Haemisegger, President of the Board of Trustees of the Nasher Sculpture Center cancelled a Tuesday meeting to discuss attaching retractable louvers to the outside of the tower as a solution to the ongoing glare problem. No wonder: the results of the Museum Tower’s study of the louver system is a 21-page excuse, listing detailed technical reasons why the louver system they studied will not work. Apparently frustrated by their inability to show their report to Nasher officials at Tuesday’s non-meeting, they released it to the press.
According to the Tower’s aggrieved press release, “Museum Tower’s technical team has worked in good faith to study the louver system and find a viable solution,” but a complete study, modeling, engineering, testing, manufacturing and installation would take about two years. Meanwhile, the Dallas Police and Fire Pension System, the Tower’s owner, is “disappointed that the Nasher has repeatedly engaged in communications designed to harm Museum Tower and the Police, Firefighters, Retirees and their families’ investment.”
The press release came just hours after a public “call to action” from Nasher Director Jeremy Strick asking the public to talk to their representatives in government about making the leadership of the Museum Tower “recognize their responsibility to our community.”
Update: According to the Nasher, the cancelled meeting was an impromptou prelude to a “publicity stunt.” “Yesterday afternoon Richard Tettamant [Administrator of the Dallas Police and Fire Pension System] contacted David Haemisegger to request a stop-by visit with one of the Tower’s architects who was in town from Los Angeles. Mr. Haemisegger learned last evening from a member of the media that the Tower leadership intended to make a media statement and release a report following this meeting today. Mr. Haemisegger then cancelled the impromptu meeting when it was clear that Museum Tower was working publicity stunts rather than working on solutions to the problems they have created for the Arts District. In their telephone conversation last evening, Mr. Tettamant claimed to have no knowledge that a report was to be issued by Museum Tower.”
Update 2 : (from Museum Tower spokesperson Rebecca Shaw) : “The Nasher Sculpture Center’s spokesperson, Jill Magnuson, falsely claims that there was no formal meeting to brief the Nasher on the results of Museum Tower’s Feasibility Study on Retractable Louvers. The meeting was requested by Richard Tettamant, administrator for the Dallas Police and Fire Pension System, and Museum Tower’s technical team. The meeting was scheduled for Tuesday, November 20th at 10 am in David Haemisegger’s Northpark offices as confirmed by phone calls and emails with Mr. Haemisegger. (PLEASE SEE EMAIL EXCHANGE BELOW)
On Monday afternoon, Mr. Haemisegger called Mr. Tettamant to ask that the meeting be delayed to 10:30 am to accommodate the personal schedule of Nasher consultant Rick del Monte. The meeting was suddenly cancelled Monday evening by Mr. Haemisegger in a phone call to Mr. Tettamant. We are baffled and dismayed by the erroneous information being disseminated by the Nasher’s spokesperson. It’s deliberately misleading and designed to harm Museum Tower and the Dallas Police Officers, Firefighters, retirees and their families who have invested in Museum Tower. Given the very public nature of the Nasher’s complaints and their communications, we do not understand how the public release of a feasibility study can be derided by the Nasher as a publicity stunt. We have an outstanding team of experts who are continuing to work to find a viable solution. “
2 comments
Bill – to set the record straight on the so-called “meeting” or publicity stunt from Museum Tower today:
In the media statement released by the leadership of Museum Tower today they falsely accused the Nasher of cancelling an important meeting scheduled one month ago. Yesterday afternoon Richard Tettamant contacted David Haemisegger to request a stop-by visit with one of the Tower’s architects who was in town from Los Angeles. Mr. Haemisegger learned last evening from a member of the media that the Tower leadership intended to make a media statement and release a report following this meeting today. Mr. Haemisegger then cancelled the impromptu meeting when it was clear that Museum Tower was working publicity stunts rather than working on solutions to the problems they have created for the Arts District. In their telephone conversation last evening, Mr. Tettamant claimed to have no knowledge that a report was to be issued by Museum Tower.
For 14 months we have maintained open and honest communication and will continue to do so. But we call upon the leadership of Museum Tower to work in good faith and recognize their responsibility to the community.
There have been many indications along the way that the Pension fund’s leadership is not acting in good faith. Drawing conclusions from what I have read, the Pension fund’s leadership is intractable and arrogant. They made several poor decisions and won’t admit to them. Instead, they seem to think that they can strong arm a great work of architecture, the Nasher Sculpture Center, into making concessions.
It’s ironic that our Police and Firefighters – our heroes and protectors – are represented by Pension Fund leadership that exhibits a stunning lack of good values.