Garrison Klein had a simple message to leave for the decades to come on the Royal Thai Pavilion at Olbrich Botanical Gardens.
People are also reading…
Freshly signed tiles sit on display at the Olbrich Botanical Gardens on Sunday. Residents will be able to sign tiles for the new roof of the Thai Pavilion throughout this week.
In the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, residents signed tiles with messages of peace and hope for the newly arrived pavilion. More than 20 years later, some residents are using their tiles to call for solutions to climate change and an end to armed conflict in the Middle East.
Photos: Restoration of the Royal Thai Pavilion
Royal Thai Pavilion
Scaffolding and the Royal Thai Pavilion are covered in waterproof tarps so restoration crews can work away from the elements.
Royal Thai Pavilion
Scaffolding surrounds the roof of the Thai Pavilion at Olbrich Botanical Gardens as it undergoes restoration in Madison.
Royal Thai Pavilion
Hundreds of the old clay roof tiles contain messages of peace from community members who helped assemble the pavilion in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Royal Thai Pavilion
Thai Pavilion at Olbrich Botanical Gardens during roof renovations in Madison.
Royal Thai Pavilion
Javier de la Calle, managing director of Kalam, shows where new, nonporous, clay roof tiles will be placed on the Royal Thai Pavilion at Olbrich Botanical Gardens. Some of the pavilion's tiles absorbed water and cracked over the years. The new tiles, made in Spain, are designed to be impermeable.
Royal Thai Pavilion
Protective lead is wrapped around pieces of wood that will be used on the roof peaks of the Thai Pavilion at Olbrich Botanical Gardens.
Royal Thai Pavilion
The main floor of the open air Royal Thai Pavilion has been transformed into a workshop as the roof tiles and lead coverings are replaced.
Royal Thai Pavilion
Javier de la Calle, left, managing director with Kalam, and Tanya Zastrow, Olbrich Botanical Gardens executive director, walk on scaffolding during a tour of the restoration of the Royal Thai Pavilion. Clay tiles made in Spain will eventually hang on the black, wooden slats.
Royal Thai Pavilion
Scaffolding surrounds the roof of the Thai Pavilion.
Royal Thai Pavilion
Detail of the Thai Pavilion at Olbrich Botanical Gardens that is being restored in Madison.
Royal Thai Pavilion
Scaffolding surrounds the roof of the Thai Pavilion at Olbrich Botanical Gardens as it undergoes restoration in Madison, Wis., Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024. AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL
Royal Thai Pavilion
Scaffolding surrounds the top of the Royal Thai Pavilion to provide access for restoration work. Each clay roof tile has a nub that allows it to hang on the horizontal wooden slats.
Royal Thai Pavilion
Katy Nodolf, public relations and marketing at Olbrich Botanical Gardens, walks on the bridge across from the Thai Pavilion that is being restored in Madison, Wis., Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024. AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL
Royal Thai Pavilion
Fernando Aranda, Kalam's senior site manager, wraps pieces of wood with protective lead that will be used on the roof peaks of the Royal Thai Pavilion.
