After nearly two years and more than $1 million in research, Museum Tower has a proposed solution for the building's glare, but the Nasher Sculpture Center is not embracing the idea.
The two have been feuding over the sunlight that bounces off the 42-story luxury condominium's glass, which the Nasher says could hurt the art inside and outside the center.
Museum Tower said at a Thursday morning meeting of the Dallas Police and Fire Pension System, the building's owner, that it recommends the Nasher change its roof shade system.
The Nasher's roof is laid out with thousands of small, cone-shaped shades called occuli that point toward the north and are designed to diffuse direct sunlight from entering the gallery.
The proposal from Museum Tower's team of consultants involves lengthening the cones, slightly changing their shape and rotating them toward the northwest. Design animations provided by representatives from Museum Tower show that the change would better distribute the ambient light in the Nasher and completely remove the view of Museum Tower from guests visiting inside.
The consultants, who were paid more than $1 million, tested approximately 22 potential fixes.
"We didn't intend for this to happen, and that's why we've taken the time and effort and spent a lot of money to come up with a solution that we're willing to pay for," said Steve Sandborg, Museum Tower vice president of sales.
Local
The latest news from around North Texas.
But the Nasher, which has previously suggested a high-tech louver system for Museum Tower, said the tower's glare is a problem for the entire Dallas Arts District.
"The same grossly inadequate and deeply flawed idea in another publicity stunt is not a way to address the problems Museum Tower is causing for the people of Dallas," Nasher spokeswoman Kristen Gibbons said in a statement. "The bottom line is that the owners of Museum Tower need to fix their building."
Greg Greene, who represents Museum Tower, said he was disappointed by the Nasher's statement.
"This has been an emotionally charged issue, and it's been a very difficult issue for all of us who've been involved in this project for a long time, and I think we should let the experts sort of vet this," he said.
"We're confident this is the right way to do this, and we'd love it if the Nasher would embrace this and let us pay for and fix the problem," Greene said.
