I'm sure it was a good idea at the time ...

... but now someone has to deal with the aftermath.

When remodeling the first floor of the Kirksville Arts Center, part of the process was to uncover windows that were boarded up over 20 years prior. We could have easily kept them closed, but the natural light makes the main space feel so much larger.

I don't think anyone thought much of the column between the windows looking like it did. It was simply framed out in the same metal as the new windows rather than replacing the brick. However, one of the former owners reported that the brick was chipped away from every set of windows on the second and third floors, plus this and a second set on the main floor, before they were boarded up. It made for a flatter surface. Which I can understand. Don't get me wrong, it's a tough pill to swallow.

But let's do a quick count ... Yeah, that's 20 columns of brick that were broken out on these two sides alone. While it would be nice to replace the brick once the windows are uncovered, covering the damage in metal would add a sleeker finish to the exterior. Anyway, I've said it before and I'll say again, I hate it when bad things happen to good buildings.

(Oh, I know the windows aren't shown in the bottom photo which is from the 1920s. They were added sometime later, below the fourth and fifth set starting from the left. An exit was added below the sixth set. Oh, and the elevator in the corner, which takes out that first set on the top floors, and possibly some of the ones in the front of the building.)