Future Unclear For $120,000 Water Damaged UI Piano

By Mark Carlson, Reporter

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By Aaron Hepker

Story Created: Jan 27, 2012 at 5:54 PM CST

Story Updated: Jan 27, 2012 at 7:23 PM CST

IOWA CITY, Iowa - University of Iowa officials estimate that it may cost up to $50,000 to restore a grand piano damaged by a leaky pipe earlier this week.

The 1979 Steinway piano had been moved into a temporary storage building a short time before flood waters destroyed Hancher Auditorium in 2008.

“The one that was hit really bad is kind of our prize, it’s kind of the favorite one,” said Chuck Swanson, Executive Director of Hancher Auditorium. “We saved them from the flood, and then when we got the call the other day that they were damaged, and by water, how ironic can it be?”

In all, six University owned pianos were damaged, three of which belonged to Hancher, Swanson said. “We’ve lost (Hancher Auditorium), which I think most of us have come to grips with now,” he said. “The fact that it’s water that has caused all this sadness again, it just doesn’t make sense.”

University officials have yet to decide if they will restore the $120,000 piano. The other pianos suffered varying levels of damage, but Swanson said the ’79 Steinway got the worst of it.

“The favorite of all is the one that really got hit by the water,” he said. “It got rained on.”

Editor's Note: The value of the piano was initially reported as $150,000. The actual value is $120,000.

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