Manhattan Construction Company Wins ENR Regional Best Project Award for Union Pacific Bush 4141 Locomotive and Marine One Helicopter Pavilion
College Station, Texas — Manhattan Construction Company is proud to announce that the Union Pacific Bush 4141 Locomotive and Marine One Helicopter Pavilion project at the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum on Texas A&M’s College Station campus has been named the Best Cultural/Worship Project by Engineering News-Record (ENR) in their Texas & Southeast Regional Best Projects Awards.
This prestigious honor recognizes the Pavilion’s exceptional achievement in design, construction, and historical preservation. The project stands as a purpose-built time capsule, housing two iconic artifacts of American presidential history: the Union Pacific 4141 Locomotive, which carried President George H.W. Bush to his final resting place, and a decommissioned Marine One helicopter, both now on permanent display in a state-of-the-art, 29,000-square-foot facility.
A Landmark of Innovation and Collaboration
“Constructed with precision, the Pavilion structure was engineered around the already-installed 4141 Locomotive, redefining traditional construction sequencing and demanding tailored approaches to structural, logistical, and aesthetic coordination,” said Greg McClure, Manhattan Construction Co. vice president.
The project features custom bifolding architectural doors—23 feet tall by 24 feet wide—that allow the helicopter to be removed or serviced in the future, while seamlessly blending into the stone façade.
Inside, visitors experience museum-grade terrazzo, electrochromic glazing, and acoustic enhancements, all illuminated by a suspended LED constellation lighting system that simulates the night sky. An ultra-wide Daktronics digital storytelling screen provides a cinematic timeline of President Bush’s legacy.
Overcoming Challenges Through Teamwork
The Pavilion’s construction required reverse-engineering around the 200-ton immovable locomotive and adapting to significant mid-project changes, including the addition of a fully functional commercial kitchen.
Manhattan Construction, as construction manager for the project, and its trade partners, alongside HKS, Inc., McKissack & McKissack design team, The Office of Jamer Burnett, landscape designer, Walter P Moore, Cleary Zimmerman engineering partners, and Salas O’Brien and Oldner Lighting, delivered the project on time and under budget, thanks to collaborative problem-solving.
Major trade partners on the project were Dee Brown, Inc., Dynamic Systems, Inc., Britt Rice Electric, View, Inc., Southern Tile & Terrazzo, Baker Triangle, LTD, Green Teams, and Max Grisby, Co.
Excellence in Safety and Quality
The site’s constrained footprint, tight proximity to the functioning Bush Presidential Library, and near-constant public foot traffic added real-time pressure, said McClure.
“Our team designed a flexible, people-first interface plan, including pop-up safety barricades, donor-safe personal protective equipment kits for walkthroughs, and spotters for every material movement near public access zones,” explained McClure. “Visitors felt welcome; workers felt respected.”
Manhattan’s team and trade partners completed 48,000 work hours without a single OSHA recordable or lost-time incident. Manhattan’s human-centered safety culture included multilingual support, defined exclusion zones, and real-time risk mitigation through drone-assisted planning and 360° photo documentation.
Quality and craftsmanship were ensured through hand-selected limestone veneer matching the original library, full-scale mock-ups, and rigorous inspections. The Pavilion’s design and execution elevate the visitor experience while preserving the legacy of President Bush.
Celebrating President Bush’s 100th Birthday
The Pavilion’s opening in June 2024 coincided with the 41@100 celebration, honoring what would have been President George H.W. Bush’s 100th birthday. The three-day event included free museum admission, live music, and special tributes, further cementing the Pavilion’s role as a permanent tribute to President Bush’s life and legacy. More: New exhibit, community day to honor Bush’s 100th birthday
The ENR Texas & Southeast Regional Best Projects Awards ceremony was held on October 16, 2025, at the Westin Galleria in Houston, Texas. The ENR Best Projects Awards program recognizes excellence in construction projects across the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Projects compete in 18 specialized categories, and special awards for safety and sustainability.
