The mural after installation in the courtyard of 520 Madison Avenue in Manhattan, NY.  Image © Tishman Speyer, 1991
Mural imagery prior to the 2014 graffiti vandalism. Image © Tishman Speyer, 2010
Rear of the mural showing its position in front of an urban waterfall.  Normal 0 false false false EN-US JA AR-SA
Corrosion of the internal rebar. Image Normal 0 false false false EN-US JA X-NONE
Cracking and delamination of the concrete support. Normal 0 false false false EN-US JA X-NONE
Flaking and loss of the paint layers. Image © Kiernan Graves, 2013
(Detail) Flaking and loss of the paint layers. Image © Kiernan Graves, 2013
The mural after the 2014 graffiti vandalism. The words “IT’S LIKE TALKIN TO A WALL” were spray painted across the surface in three different languages and colors: Arabic in red, English in gray, and Hebrew in blue.  Normal
The segments were moved to a warehouse for conservation treatment. Image Normal 0 false false false EN-US JA X-NONE
Transferred ink from a newspaper with the date August 1975 is visible in the concrete of segment 96, confirming a construction date of 1975 or later. (Image inverted for legibility). Image Normal 0 false false fa
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As a result of its outdoor, urban environment, the painted surface was covered by a layer of superficial dirt and dust. It was removed with soft, damp sponges. Image Normal 0 false false false EN-US JA X-
Depressions in the concrete held thicker deposits of dirt and remains of insects. Insect remains were first removed with a sharpe tool to prevent their decay within the Wall and the dirt then removed with cotton swabs.  Image
Results of surface cleaning. Before (left), After (right).  Image Normal 0 false false false EN-US JA X-NONE
Before cleaning (left), After cleaning (right).  Image Normal 0 false false false EN-US JA X-NONE
(Detail). Before cleaning (left), After cleaning (right).  Image Normal 0 false false false EN-US JA X-NONE
Cleaning of a two-inch boarder surrounding the painted edge was necessary to integrate the work of the concrete conservation team (EquipCon) with that of the painting conservation team. Normal 0 false false
Cleaning of the concrete boarder.  Normal 0 false false false EN-US JA X-NONE
Cleaning of the concrete boarder.  Normal 0 false false false EN-US JA X-NONE
Results of the concrete cleaning. Before (left), After (right).   Normal 0 false false false EN-US JA X-NONE
(Detail). Before cleaning (left), After cleaning (right). Normal 0 false false false EN-US JA X-NONE
Removal of the 2014 graffiti was extremely successful. Results of removal: Before (left), After (right).  Normal 0 false false false EN-US JA X-NONE
Detail of graffiti removal: Before (left) and After (right).  Normal 0 false false false EN-US JA X-NONE
Flaking paint was stabilized by feeding a small amount of adhesive beneath the lifting paint layer with a syringe and needle. Normal 0 false false false EN-US JA X-NONE
A heated spatula was used to relax and readhere the flakes. Normal 0 false false false EN-US JA X-NONE
Results of readhesion shown in raking light. Before (left), After (right).  Normal 0 false false false EN-US JA X-NONE
Results of readhesion shown in raking light. Before (left), After (right).  Normal 0 false false false EN-US JA X-NONE
Results of readhesion shown in raking light. Before (left), After (right).  Normal 0 false false false EN-US JA X-NONE
Injection grouting was used to treat areas of delamination and to reattach fragments. Normal 0 false false false EN-US JA X-NONE
Standard field tests were used to identify an appropriate grout. Characteristics such as water-vapor permeability, shrinkage, rheology, hardness and strength were assessed. Normal 0 false false false EN-US
Grout was injected into voids using a syringe and needle. Two fully detached fragments were replaced in their original positions on segments 94 and 92. Image © Katey Corda, 2015
Results of injection grouting. Before (left), After (right) Image © Katey Corda, 2015
Segment 96. Before (left) and After conservation treatment (right). Image © Katey Corda, 2015
Segment 95. Before (left) and After conservation treatment (right). Image © Katey Corda, 2015
Segment 94. Before (left) and After conservation treatment (right). Image © Katey Corda, 2015
Segment 93. Before (left) and After conservation treatment (right). Image © Katey Corda, 2015
Segment 92. Before (left) and After conservation treatment (right). Image © Katey Corda, 2015
Sections 92-96 of the Berlin Wall were reinstalled indoors upon their return to 520 Madison Avenue rather than to their previous, outdoor location. Indoor protection, with the correct care, will greatly mitigate further deterioration and damage.&nbs
Segments 92-96 in their new permanent location after conservation treatment. Image © Meghan McCandless, 2015
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