Faculty and students engage eons of time, ancient craft, and cutting-edge technology

HISTORIC PRESERVATION

A collaborative project millions of years in the making – KU students, alumni, faculty, and staff mobilized to preserve KU’s Dyche Hall, the architectural landmark that houses the KU Natural History Museum.

Students in Amy and Keith Van de Riet’s historic preservation workshop were part of a diverst team of artists, preservationists, and researchers who used ancient techniques and innovative digital technology to recreate limestone grotesques which had stood sentinel high on Dyche Hall for over one hundred years. Carved in 1903, the statues depicting various mythical beasts were too deteriorated to return to the façade and had to be replicated.

Students were taught photogrammetry to scan and create digital models of the original grotesques. Utilizing 3D software, students then repaired the models and used 3D printers to create maquettes which were used by stone carvers to create new statues.