Manhattan Construction Becomes Only Construction Company to Build Two Presidential Libraries
The May 1 Opening of the George W. Bush Presidential Center Marks Achievement
Dallas – Manhattan Construction takes its place in history as the only construction company to build two presidential libraries with the May 1, 2013 opening of the George W. Bush Presidential Center on the campus of Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas. Manhattan Construction also built the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum in College Station, Texas.
George Bush Presidential Library and Museum in College Station, Texas
During his remarks from the Library’s dedication Thursday April 25, 2013, President George W. Bush said, “I want to thank the folks of Manhattan Construction as well as all the workers who built a fine facility that will stand the test of time.”
“It has been our honor and privilege to serve our Presidents and our country in this way,” said Manhattan Construction Senior Vice President Mark Penny. “The George W. Bush Presidential Center, as well as the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum are buildings that will stand forever and serve as a source of education and innovation, and we are proud to be a part of history.”
The George W. Bush Presidential Center, a brick and limestone building, was built on a 23-acre lot on the campus of SMU. The Bush Center holds the George W. Bush Library and Museum, and the George W. Bush Institute. The Institute section of the building houses offices, a 360-seat auditorium, seminar rooms, a fully-equipped broadcast and recording studio, and reception rooms. A ceremonial courtyard with a café, a full-service restaurant, and museum store are also located within the George W. Bush Presidential Center.
The Library and Museum, administered by the National Archives and Records Administration, is the permanent home of more than 43,000 artifacts from the Bush Administration. It is the thirteenth Presidential Library and includes a 14,000-square-foot permanent exhibit, as well as temporary exhibit space and research room for scholars and classrooms for school groups. The Museum includes re-creations of the Oval Office, the Rose Garden at the White House, and the Situation Room. Freedom Hall, a 67-foot high tower, lit at night and featuring a unique, 360-degree, high-definition video wall as part of the Museum, is the signature architectural feature of the George W. Bush Presidential Center.
The 226,565-square-foot building achieved LEED® Platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, the highest level of certification in the program. It is the first Presidential Library to achieve LEED certification for new construction. A number of sustainable design features are incorporated into the design, including 54 solar heating panels which are designed to supply 100 percent of the building’s domestic hot water. The building team also installed approximately 900 trees in the project’s landscape.
“The Bush Center and our ongoing work are a reflection of the principles that guided President and Mrs. Bush in their public service, including their longstanding commitment to conservation and caring for the land,” said Mark Langdale, President of the George W. Bush Foundation.
At the peak of construction there were more than 650 workers on site at one time. More than 60 subcontractors served on the project and nearly 1.6 million work-hours were logged during construction. The project began with the November 16, 2010 groundbreaking and was completed in just 22 months.
The building was designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects and complements the American Georgian character of the SMU campus. It is surrounded by a 15-acre urban park, which features native Texas landscaping and a rainwater collection system that will provide 50 percent of the irrigation needed, created by Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates.
A time-lapse video by EarthCam of the project’s construction can be viewed at this link: http://www.manhattanconstructiongroup.com/manhattan-construction-group/2013/04/23/watch-time-lapse-construction-video-of-the-george-w-bush-presidential-center.
About Manhattan Construction:
Founded in 1896, Manhattan Construction is consistently recognized nationally by Engineering-News-Record as a top 20 general builder. Manhattan Construction operates from offices in Tulsa and Oklahoma City, Okla.; Dallas and Houston, Texas; Naples, Fort Myers, Sarasota, Tampa, Kissimmee, Fla.; Washington, D.C.; and Atlanta, Ga. Manhattan Construction’s building portfolio includes corporate headquarters, institutional, healthcare, office, hospitality and leisure, sports and entertainment, aviation, retail, and judicial facilities throughout the United States, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. For more information visit: www.manhattanconstruction.com or connect with us @ManhattanBuild, via Facebook/ManhattanConstruction and on LinkedIn.
About the George W. Bush Presidential Center:
The George W. Bush Presidential Center is home to the Bush Presidential Library and Museum and the Bush Institute. The Bush Center’s 226,000-square-foot building and 15-acre urban park reside on the campus of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. President and Mrs. Bush founded the Bush Center to continue their work expanding freedom at home and around the globe. The Bush Presidential Library and Museum opens to the public on May 1, 2013. For more information, visit www.bushcenter.org.