What Happened to the Chesapeake Campus Mural?

Step into the entrance of the former Chesapeake Campus building and you were immediately struck by the beauty of the handcrafted mosaic wall and the sense of community it represented. What happened to it now that the building has been demolished to make way for our new Lower School campus? We are pleased to report that the mural--a labor of love that features scenes of Maryland represented through the eyes of the students--has been extracted and will be featured in a special part of the new campus entrance area. The complicated process entailed excavating the backside to below the mural and needling to install a series of tube steel members under it. The team then welded up a lagging cage on both sides and utilized thread rods to sandwich the artwork, keeping the face of it protected by rigid insulation board and plywood. After watching an hour + long video of the original installation, it became apparent that the tile and substrate backerboard were glued and screwed to the wall and removing it with the wall was the best option. The mural is currently staged in the parking lot awaiting installation later in the year.

The History of the Mural
After years of research and planning, the mural was sketched and divided into nine sections back in 2007 and finished nearly a year later. The sections were set in clay and painted by the students, then glazed, fired, and adhered to the wall much like a puzzle. Each grade made different sections at the time, such as fifth grade making the sky and kindergartners glazing those pieces. In addition, every student and faculty member made an original tile that was then placed along the edge to border the mural. The result? A stunning and original mosaic that welcomes every person walking onto campus in a creative and colorful way---and will continue to do so going forward.