DuPage County committee pauses Taylor Studios redesign, agrees to dismantle dated heritage-gallery displays and install video monitors

The DuPage County Public Works Committee on May 20 paused further work under Taylor Studios’ contract for a proposed redesign of the county’s Heritage Gallery and agreed to dismantle the existing exhibit, install one or more video monitors and seating, and revisit the project in six months.

Committee members said the current display is dated and that the county should prioritize video content and people-focused material, while others argued Taylor Studios’ concept did not adequately represent DuPage County’s diverse communities. Member Desart voted against proceeding and said the proposed design was “one dimensional” and did not emphasize people from the county’s African American, Hispanic, Native American, LGBTQ, Jewish and Muslim communities. The committee did not record a motion to approve the concept design; a show-of-hands vote produced a 3–3 split and no consensus to continue with Taylor Studios’ concept.

Members and staff described a near-term plan to remove banners and lettering, replace carpeting, cover exposed electrical, and make the solarium-style space usable for gatherings. The committee directed staff to work with the DuPage County Historical Museum and county communications to develop and clear video content; any historical artifacts will be researched for provenance before being moved or returned to lenders. Staff said the project budget is funded from ARPA interest and that no additional spending beyond current authorization will occur without committee direction.

Public Works staff presented the background: Taylor Studios completed concept design for the museum portion of their scope and had summarized public survey responses. Staff said Taylor’s base contract and deliverables remain available but that design-development work is a separate $15,000 phase beyond the base. Committee members discussed two practical options: leave the current display in place or dismantle it and restore the floor to carpet and paint while developing the video-based interim solution. Several members recommended dismantling the dated panels and replacing the area with monitors and seating, then returning to the committee with proposed video content for approval.

The committee also instructed staff to pause further contract activities with Taylor Studios on the county’s portion of the multi-party agreement pending direction; staff said the contract runs through November and could be extended if the committee chooses. Staff recommended researching provenance and consulting potential partner institutions (including the DuPage County Historical Museum and other local museums) about sub-loans or returns of individual artifacts. The committee agreed there was no urgent requirement to immediately box or remove artifacts; provenance research and coordination with potential borrowers will proceed on a schedule and staff expects to have the project revisited by year-end.

The committee’s near-term direction leaves the Heritage Gallery cleared for temporary use with updated flooring and seating and a plan to display county and partner-produced video content, with content cleared by the committee and museum staff before being shown. The item will return to the committee in approximately six months for further direction.