The iconic atrium at West Baden Springs Hotel in Indiana has reopened to guests following a temporary closure due to storm damage.
A release from the hotel said coverings have been installed under glass panels of the hotel dome that sustained damage when baseball-sized hail hit the area on June 25. The protective coverings will remain in place until all 12 of the glass panels can be replaced.
In the meantime, guests can visit the atrium once again. Chuck Franz, CEO of French Lick Resort, said that was a priority given how the atrium has been “the hub of activity and focal point of the hotel” since it opened in 1902.
“There’s just a pride that comes with working here at the resort,” Franz said. “… This dome and those glass panels are 121 years old, and we want to return it to its glory.”
The hotel’s architecture required a creative solution, according to Franz.
Following the storm, the initial step was adding waterproof patching on the dome where hail created holes or severe cracks. Last week, the resort’s engineers and facilities team fabricated and installed coverings to fit the unique dimensions of the dome. The 12 damaged glass panels are trapezoidal in shape, measuring 42 feet long, 22 feet on the long end and 12 feet on the short end. In total, the dome contains more than 12,000 square feet of glass panels.
Given their intricate design. it will take some time for the replacements to be custom made and installed, Franz said.
“In each one of those 12 panels, there are 77 glass panes, and they’re different sizes and shapes,” Franz said. “Each one of them is going to be modified and manufactured to be able to fit the structure and the membrane that’s already up there – and that was not damaged. There are some clay tiles on the roof that broke and need to be replaced as well, but the girders and everything else on the dome is structurally sound.”
The atrium’s temporary closure was the only business interruption resort-wide following the June 25 storms.
“As beautiful as those atrium skylights are, they’ll remain covered here for a while until repairs are completed. The coverings are in place to ensure the safety of everybody inside, and also so we can work quickly on the solution,” Franz said. “The experience of West Baden will be as close to normal as possible. Walking in that structure is just awe-inspiring. It’s still going to be awe-inspiring. It’ll have a different look at the top here for a period of time.”