“The existing globe is no longer accurate as to political boundaries and names of numerous countries; it takes up a significant amount of square footage; and it is unlikely that the globe could be successfully moved, stored and reinstalled without damage,” Wagner said.
So instead, the leadership committee for the project — which includes representatives from the geography and geology departments, the dean’s office, and the architect — decided to install a globe that does not feature political boundaries at all.
“A digital-style globe is planned that will be located in the new museum space adjacent to and visible from the new lobby. The possibility of an exterior metal globe is also being discussed as an option for the ‘Percent for Art’ program. Neither of these options are finalized at this point,” Wagner said.
Ohio’s Percent for Art legislation provides funds for original works of art for new or renovated public buildings that receive state appropriations of more than $4 million. The law provides that 1 percent of the total appropriation be allocated for artwork, according to Wagner.
As for the current globe, it will be removed from Shideler when the building is vacated this month, Wagner said.
As it stands now, Shideler Hall was designed around the globe. University spokeswoman Margo Kissell researched its history and found it is a custom-built, fiberglass geophysical globe that is 75 inches in diameter. The globe was a $15,000 gift in 1965 from Andrew S. Iddings, a Dayton lawyer and explorer, in memory of his grandfather, Daniel W. Iddings, who had been part of Miami’s class of 1842.
The globe moved to Shideler after it was built in 1967. Shideler had received very little work since then, Miami officials said.
David Prytherch, a geography professor at Miami, who works in Shideler, estimated that the 49-year-old globe would be worth $104,000 today and said he would be sorry to see it go.
“They literally built the building around it,” he said.
About the Author