Separate museum entrance under debate
"If it's a plausible situation, let's put it on paper," - RWS Architect Malcolm Gaus
By SHANNON CRABTREE scrabtree@leader-news.com

El Campo Museum of Natural History supporters aren't sure they want a separate entrance, but may get one as plans for Civic Center renovations continue.

City Council is examining a floor to roof redo of the 1979 building when it closes from August to October which will force the museum to crate exhibits during the construction period.

Aside from the roof over the museum, new ceiling tile and flooring is planned along with painting.

"Other than having more room - that's it," Director Cheri McGuirk said of her wish list.

Affecting the museum is the current lobby redesign which calls for the elimination of the northside display case in favor of the creation of small office.

Eliminating just one display case in the lobby would create a lopsided appearance, Councilman Anthony Collins said.

"I'd rather see a separate entrance to the museum," he added (Please see related story).

The two lobby showcases, Community Service Director Leonard Sternadel said, draw the biggest complaints from Civic Center renters.

The museum would like to keep their southside display case, McGuirk said. Recently a mural was added to surround the case.

RWS Architect Malcolm Gaus, who is acting as the city's consultant on the planning, said they may be able to create a new, separate museum entrance and essentially turn around the display case.

"The board does not want a separate entrance," said Councilman Robert Boone who serves as the city's liaison to the non-profit group.

A separate entrance would eliminate the lobby's staging area for large groups, McGuirk said, but was told the new vestibule (please see related story) may be able to accommodate that need.

"If it's a plausible situation, let's put it on paper," Gaus said, adding no cost estimates were currently available.

The architect also recommended working on the two air-conditioning units above the museum to eliminate startup noise.

Crating and storing the trophy mounts in place could cost between $15,000 and $20,000, according to an expert's estimate, while modifying the dioramas would raise the price to the $25,000 to $30,000 range.

Storing in place could be a viable option, Gaus said, since the Civic Center renovation project would require sections of the roof to be dealt with quickly.

In the contract, each section can only remain open for 24 hour intervals.

"Some of them are not movable," McGuirk said.

"We have no place for them to go," Sternadel said.

The museum has 15 to 20 large animal mounts which are permanently affixed to the concrete floors.

Most of the museum trophies, originally the private collection of Dr. E.A. Weinheimer, were taken between the mid-1960s and mid-1970s, the museum director said, adding changes in hunting as well as import/export laws make it impossible to obtain new samples.

The city is the owner of the animals. The museum board serves as caretakers.