Crystal Bridges Awards Pre-Construction Contract
October 10, 2005 – 4:45 pm
Nabholz Construction and LINBECK Form Joint Venture to Provide Services
BENTONVILLE, Ark., Oct.10, 2005 – Taking a major step forward in the construction process, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art has hired two experienced companies to provide pre-construction services for the museum and cultural center project.
Nabholz Construction and LINBECK will work together for approximately 12 months to ready Crystal Bridges to begin breaking ground, which should be sometime during fall 2006. Construction is expected to be completed in 2009. LINBECK is a cultural facilities specialist based in Texas, and Nabholz, which has offices in Arkansas, is a regional specialist in earth work and concrete.
The two companies will work closely with world renowned, Boston-based architect Moshe Safdie, who created the concept for the museum’s unique glass-and-wood building design. Crystal Bridges takes its name from this design, which features a generous amount of glass and latticework as well as two unique bridge structures housing galleries and public spaces, which span a spring-fed ravine and form two great ponds on site.
To perform the work, the two companies have formed a joint venture. The LINBECK/Nabholz joint venture will provide a variety of pre-construction services including:
- Coordination of project team (client, architects, engineers, consultants)
- Technical research on soil, excavation and utility construction
- Site utilization and construction sequencing guidance
- Protecting and saving the natural terrain;
- Cost-estimating
- Project scheduling
- Work plan development
Pre-construction work began this summer and will conclude approximately around the time of groundbreaking next year.
“We are pleased to bring together the talents of two great construction companies,” said Bob Workman, Crystal Bridges project director. “Their combined experience will provide critical information to assure Crystal Bridges can be built to the stringent requirements of an art museum within an achievable schedule and on budget. Combining Nabholz’s knowledge of Northwest Arkansas with LINBECK’s experience building world-class buildings designed by leading architects makes for a winning combination during a critical phase of this major project.”
Both companies have more than 50 years of experience in construction. Some of the companies’ major projects are:
LINBECK
- The Modern Art Museum, Fort Worth
- Amon Carter Museum, Fort Worth
- Space Center, Houston
Nabholz
- Winrock International, Little Rock
- Bentonville High School, Bentonville
- Acxiom Office Tower, Little Rock
“Nabholz is delighted to be associated with our joint venture partner, LINBECK, and the world class design team on the Crystal Bridges project,” said Don Greenland, chief operation officer, Nabholz. “This is a wonderful opportunity for us to participate in the design, planning and pre-construction phase. Most importantly when this unique project is complete, it will enhance the lives of our employees, specialty contractors, vendors, and their families for years to come.”
“LINBECK is pleased to join Nabholz in providing pre-construction services for Crystal Bridges,” said George T. Vavrek, LINBECK executive vice president. “To have been awarded the opportunity to work on such a visionary design is inspiring. LINBECK is uniquely prepared to support this project’s vision for Northwest Arkansas.”
About Crystal Bridges
Crystal Bridges is envisioned as a premier national art institution dedicated to American art and artists, learning and community gatherings. The museum takes its name from the unique glass-and-wood building design, created for the natural setting by world-renowned architect Moshe Safdie. The entire complex will encompass approximately 100,000 square feet of gallery, library, meeting, and office space, a 250-seat indoor auditorium, areas for outdoor concerts and public events, gallery rooms suitable for large receptions, as well as sculpture gardens and walking trails.
The museum will house a permanent collection of masterworks from American artists along with galleries dedicated to Native American and regional art and artists. The permanent collection is composed of paintings and sculptures by American artists from the Colonial period through the modern era. In addition to the permanent collection, temporary exhibitions drawn from national institutions will be displayed in the museum.
About the Project Site
The project site will be built on 100 acres of forested land, which begins just two blocks north of the Bentonville town square and flows northward to Tiger Boulevard and to the east as far as J Street. The specific site of the museum and cultural center is a ravine featuring a stream fed by Crystal Spring, steeply sloping landscape and mature trees.
About Nabholz
Founded in 1949, Nabholz Construction is one of the nation’s leading general contractors and construction managers. The company is employee-owned, licensed in 25 states and has offices in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Kansas. Nabholz provides a total package of services to their clients in Northwest Arkansas through a variety of business units including Nabholz Construction, Conark Builders, Nabholz Client Service, Nabholz Industrial Service, Northwest Excavation, and Nabholz Cranes & Rigging.
About LINBECK
LINBECK has been in operation for more than 67 years. The company was founded in 1938 by Leo Linbeck in Houston. Between 1949 and 2004, the firm operated under the name of Linbeck Construction Corporation. In March 2004 we became LINBECK GROUP, L.P. LINBECK employs approximately 270 permanent and 2,000 field employees, and has offices in Fort Worth and Houston; Boston; Raleigh, North Carolina; and Spartanburg, South Carolina. LINBECK is a facilities solutions company that focuses on understanding clients’ vision and helping our clients bring their vision to reality.
