Conservatory of Flowers

Project Details

Built in 1879, the Conservatory of Flowers holds an esteemed position on the National Register of Historic Places. It was damaged beyond repair during a windstorm in 1995, but funds were eventually raised for its reconstruction in 2003. Within 10 years of reopening, building staff noticed that the glazing putty used to seal the wood muntins to the glass panes was failing throughout the building. The design team developed an alternative method of sealing these joints using extruded strips of silicone tape vertically along the muntins for their entire length. The silicone tape is expected to have a lifespan of at least 20 years.

Rainbow was first contracted to complete Phase 1 on the two wings at the East and West of the building in August 2016. Phase 2 at the central pavilion began in July 2017. The main challenge was accessing the work areas over the exhibit halls, while the building was open to visitors. Rainbow’s team worked closely with the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department, along with the Conservatory of Flowers staff, to minimize the impact on the building occupants while maintaining a safe and efficient working environment.