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MUSEUM
OF THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY |
| Contact: |
Andrea C. Fitch Julie Armel |
| FAIRFAX, VA, SEPTEMBER 30, 2003- Officials for the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley (MSV) announce that construction on that new regional history museum is underway. HITT Contracting Inc. of Fairfax, Virginia, has been selected to build the 48,000 square foot museum on the grounds of Glen Burnie Historic House and Gardens in Winchester, Virginia. Designed by Michael Graves & Associates of Princeton, New Jersey, the MSV will be the first regional history museum dedicated to interpreting the art, history and culture of the Shenandoah Valley. The MSV will include five exhibit galleries, a tearoom, a museum store, a learning center and a reception hall. According to Glen Burnie Board President James Laidlaw, the onset of construction follows the successful completion of a design modification process undertaken by the Museum to ensure that construction costs will remain within the $20 million budget established for the total MSV project. HITT Contracting has been providing construction cost-estimating services for the Museum and the Graves firm during this 11-month design modification process. Founded in 1937, in Arlington, Virginia, HITT Contracting has grown to be ranked among today's 100 Largest General Contractors nationwide and maintains offices in Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Charleston, and Baltimore. With experience in corporate base building and interiors, government, biotech, law firms, institutional, technology, healthcare, and aviation construction, HITT has projects in more than 30 states. Major past and present HITT projects in the mid-Atlantic region include: Fort Sumter Tour Boat facility for the National Park Service; the coal handling system upgrade and west refrigeration plant expansion for the Architect of the Capitol and the US Capitol; the new Montgomery County Conference Center and Hotel; and complete system upgrade and heavy renovation of the landmark Hay-Adams Hotel just across the street from the White House. The MSV project is the company's first in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley. In comments made after signing the construction contract for the new museum on September 12, HITT Senior Project Manager John B. Van Vliet expressed his pleasure that HITT will be building the Graves-designed museum. "We are pleased to have this opportunity to do work in the Valley and feel that this is the right project for us to come into the area with." While HITT has worked with many prestigious architectural firms, Van Vliet added that the company is excited about working with the Graves firm for the first time. The MSV project manager further commented that: "Michael Graves & Associates eye for finished detail is comparable to our capabilities." Van Vliet reiterated his enthusiasm for bringing the Graves design to life, remarking that every room in the MSV has its own "look and feel." While discussing the unique features of the MSV that distinguish the museum from many other projects, Van Vliet cited the museum's complex modern structural steel frame that forms the envelope for a building containing many traditional finishes. In comments made after HITT signed the construction contract, Joshua Zinder, an Associate of the Graves firm, remarked that the MSV is a modern building that relates closely to the character of the Virginia vernacular. To illustrate this point, Zinder discussed the brickwork of the new museum. The use of brick in the new building connects it to the 1794 Glen Burnie Historic House, while the pattern created for the MSV brickwork is expressed in two different scales, a design motif used by Michael Graves. According to Zinder, another typical Graves architectural element included in the MSV is the use of "structures within structures." As an example, the timber structure within the MSV Reception Hall animates the space, giving it an intimate feel. Colorado's Denver Central Library is among other Graves-designed buildings featuring this type of element. The MSV Orientation Gallery and Shenandoah Valley Gallery will contain barn-like interior timber structures conceptually connecting these interior spaces to the Glen Burnie farm site. Likewise, the Museum Store contains a trellis that harkens to the Glen Burnie Gardens. In addition to the signature Graves design elements included in the MSV, other custom-designed Graves features include carpet patterns, furniture and light fixtures. Working closely with both the architectural and construction teams on the MSV project is Tom Regan, Director of the Herndon, Virginia, based Regan Associates, LLC. Founded in 1996, the company is a project management firm serving non-profit and institutional clients. Tom Regan has been assisting the Glen Burnie Museum Board and staff with the management of the design, construction and coordination of the MSV building project since late last year. In addition to the MSV project, Regan Associates is currently managing the Mount Vernon Ladies Association Visitor Orientation Center and Education Building construction project, the Anne Mason Building addition at Gunston Hall Plantation and the renovation and restoration of the City Museum for the Historical Society of Washington D.C. While the MSV is the first Winchester project for Regan Associates, the firm has worked with HITT Contracting on previous projects, including the construction of the new football stadium at the Landon School in Bethesda, Maryland, and the renovation and restoration of the Levine School of Music's main campus on Upton Street in Washington, D.C. When asked earlier this month to comment about his involvement with the MSV, Winchester resident Tom Regan remarked that he is extremely proud to be working on the project, adding: "I would put the MSV at the top of my list. It's in my home town, and the museum will be a tremendous addition to the people of the Shenandoah Valley." Glen Burnie Executive Director Jennifer Esler credits the teamwork of
the Graves firm, Following the contract signing earlier this month, Graves architect Joshua Zinder remarked that the design modification process was "extremely successful," adding: "We reworked the plan to keep the museum's critical elements, while not sacrificing the style that is uniquely Michael Graves." Director Esler expressed pleasure that significant construction cost savings were realized without reducing the size of the museum galleries or learning center. Square footage was reduced by folding the back-of-house Collections Storage space into the building's main structure. The space designated for the Reception Hall has been reduced in size to a reception and multipurpose space suitable for museum functions, as well as special events. During the design modification phase, progress on all other facets of the MSV continues apace. Exhibit design is nearly complete for all five galleries, object acquisition and conservation are underway, and the MSV Capital Campaign has raised over $2.75 toward its $3 million Phase I fundraising goal. A new opening date for the MSV - initially slated for a fall 2003 opening - will be announced soon. Based on input from HITT and Reagan Associates, Director Esler anticipates the opening will occur in the spring of 2005. For more information about the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley, call (540) 662-1473, ext. 25. HITT Institutional is one of 12 market sectors within HITT Contracting Inc. We manage religious, educational, country club, and recreational facility projects that are typically overseen by owner committees. Offering a wide variety of base building and interior solutions, HITT Institutional strives to meet expectations within established budget and schedule parameters, all while remaining sensitive to surrounding communities, neighbors, and daily business activities.
About HITT Contracting Inc. |