Art World
Pérez Art Museum Tarnished by Construction Accident Lawsuit
Sarah Cascone
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The opening of the Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) may have been a success, but an accident during the construction process has led to a lawsuit for the fledgling institution. As reported by the Miami Herald, the museum stands accused of failing to prevent the collapse of a number of concrete beams supporting the building’s exterior gardens.
Engineering firm Arup USA is suing the museum and Florida contractors John Moriarity & Associates and Gate Precast Co. for nearly $7 million. According to Arup, the contractors should have noticed that the beams were being secured by faulty bolts and corrected the problem before the collapse.
After the November 2012 accident, a major section of the construction had to be redone. Arup fronted the cost of the additional work, but now seeks restitution from the institution.
In a statement, the museum contested the legitimacy of Arup’s claims, saying that “PAMM was included in the lawsuit based on its role as owner and in no way bears responsibility for a any monetary damages claimed by the engineer.”
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