Javier de la Calle is accustomed to working on old buildings.
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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.
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.
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.
The Royal Thai Pavilion, seen here in 2015, opened at Olbrich Botanical Gardens in 2002.
Scaffolding and the Royal Thai Pavilion are covered in waterproof tarps so restoration crews can work away from the elements.
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.
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.
Barry Adams covers regional news for the Wisconsin State Journal. Send him ideas for On Wisconsin at 608-252-6148 or by email at badams@madison.com.
