Renovated Conservatory of Music Sings an Upbeat Tune

The Wisconsin Conservatory of Music resumed operations at its home June 1st, exactly one year after vacating the historic property at 1584 N. Prospect Ave. for renovation and restoration. Conservatory President and CEO, Joyce Altman, said everyone is very glad to be back home after a year in temporary quarters, and they're thrilled with the results.

Besides restoring the 1903 mansion to its original grandeur, it has also gained some modern conveniences, including a five-stop elevator and air conditioning. Altman said, "I used to have to close the school once or twice during the summer. It was too hot to play the instruments or to keep anything in tune. The air conditioning is a cost savings for us in terms of instrument maintenance."

Two porches were enclosed to accommodate new private offices and free up interior space for classrooms, teaching studios, and performance areas, and expansion of the library.

A major architectural detail, and a significant part of the project, was replacing the copper balustrade surrounding the upper roofline. The roof was also replaced.

Exterior work on the Conservatory included replacement of the upper roof and the decorative copper balustrade surrounding it.

According to Beyer Vice President and Director of Construction, Tom Smith, the biggest challenge was installing the new mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems while preserving as much of the original woodwork and plasterwork as possible. "Opening the walls and matching the original architectural detail was like delicate surgery," he said.

The Ensemble/Board Room, originally the mansion's dining room, overlooks Lake Michigan through large, curved windows at the far end of the room.

Altman commented, "I work with talented and dedicated people every day, but I've learned a new definition for talent in working with Beyer and their subcontractors. They were definitely experts in their field. They were wonderful to work with and they certainly cared about the work they were doing. They made our place beautiful."

The $3.5 million project also included outdoor lighting, re-paving of the parking lot, handi-capped-accessibility, a new deck for the employee entrance, a larger driveway, and landscaping. David Uihlein of Uihlein Wilson Architects led the design team.