Sunday, January 11, 2015

NAPERVILLE, ILLINOIS MUSEUM TO CLOSE FOR 'SEVERAL WEEKS' TO DEHUMIDIFY THE BUILDING AFTER FLOOD DAMAGE CAUSED BY PIPE BURST AS A RESULT OF THE DEEP FREEZE.



NAPERVILLE, ILLINOIS MUSEUM TO CLOSE FOR 'SEVERAL WEEKS' TO DEHUMIDIFY THE BUILDING AFTER FLOOD DAMAGE CAUSED BY PIPE BURST AS A RESULT OF THE DEEP FREEZE.








The DuPage Children's Museum in Naperville will remain closed for "several weeks" following water damage caused by a burst pipe, officials said Saturday.
Employees opening the museum Friday morning found water flowing from out of the front door. Senior staff members immediately called the Fire Department and contracted a local remediation company.

"It was a small water pipe that ran on the inside of an exterior wall on the second floor," said Dee Dee McDevitt, director of marketing and sales for the museum. "Unfortunately, the water affected not only the upper level but also the main floor and the lower level."
The resulting cleanup will be a massive effort that appears will take some time to complete.
"We are very sorry that this happened," said Kimberly Stull, director of operations. "We're working to open our doors as soon as possible, but what we want is to make sure everything is safe."

Cory Hansen, president of Spectrum Restoration Services of Aurora, said he and other professionals will assess the extent of needed mitigation in the coming week, after which they will have a better idea of when the museum might reopen.

"I have a vested interest not only for what we do professionally but for my connection with the museum," Hansen said. "My family's been a part of the museum for years."

For now, a dehumidification process is being used in which massive blowers on a semitruck are moving air throughout the 48,000-square-foot building.
McDevitt said officials were not immediately sure why the water pipe was run along the inside of a cold exterior wall.

"Anytime you have water damage, time is of the essence," Hansen said. "Thankfully, the leak was found quickly, and we were able to get started right away."

In addition to its resident displays, the museum currently is hosting "XOXO," a traveling exhibit from the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh. The display provides hands-on education on the concepts of love and forgiveness, inspired by the philosophy and teachings of late television host Fred Rogers.

"Right now we're just looking to dry things out and get the building to a point where it's safe," Hansen said.

McDevitt said the current estimate is "several weeks."
Officials said updates would be posted on the museum website, dupagechildrensmuseum.org.