Linbeck Group, LLC Tops-Out the Paleontology Addition for the Houston Museum of Natural Science

HOUSTON, TX, April 15, 2011 (Press-News.org) Linbeck Group, LLC and the Houston Museum of Natural Science today announced the topping-out* of the $33 million, 197,000 square foot expansion the museum. The centerpiece of the museum expansion is a new Hall of Paleontology -- the Dan L Duncan Family Wing -- named for its primary benefactor. Two stories tall and the size of a football field, this new hall will invite visitors to embark on a "Paleo Safari" through exhibits with 21st century interactivity.

The exhibit will feature 61 new, major mounts, including 26 dinosaurs as well as large mammals, three animated scenes of the ancient sea floor where fossils will come to life, a nest of Quetzalcoatlus - ancient Pterosaurs with 30-foot wingspan.

In addition to the new Hall of Paleontology, the expansion plan will add 115,000 square feet in combined exhibition, education and classroom space - effectively doubling the number of classrooms available for educational programs; doubling the amount of public exhibition space that will be available for temporary and permanent installations; and tripling the amount of storage space, to ensure the conservation and care of the museum's collections for decades to come.

John Go, Linbeck's Client Executive said the addition and expansion will open to the public in mid-2012.

About Linbeck Group, LLC. Linbeck is a Houston-based, national construction management company offering construction management at-risk, design/build and related construction services. Since the firm's inception in 1938, the company culture is based on integrity and trust. Using its integrated, collaborative TeamBuild approach and lean construction principles, Linbeck helps clients minimize risk & waste through lean construction practices and achieve optimal business outcomes. Two industry-leading publications, Engineering News Record (ENR) and Building Design & Construction, rank Linbeck among the top construction managers and building contractors in the U.S. Linbeck operates offices in Houston and Fort Worth, Texas with projects throughout the USA. Since 1992, Linbeck has won seven Aon Build America awards and three Aon Build America merit awards. Linbeck Group was awarded the grand prize for the 2009 top construction project, Dallas' new Bill and Margot Winspear Opera House in the AT & T Performing Arts Center. http://www.linbeck.com

About the Houston Museum of Natural Science. HMNS is one of the nation's most-heavily attended museums is a centerpiece of the Houston Museum District. With four floors of permanent exhibit halls, including the Wortham IMAX Theatre, Cockrell Butterfly Center, Burke Baker Planetarium and George Observatory and as host to world-class and ever-changing touring exhibitions, the Houston Museum has something to delight every age group. With such diverse and extraordinary offerings, a trip to the Houston Museum of Natural Science, located at 5555 Hermann Park Drive in the heart of the Museum District, is always an adventure. http://www.hmns.org

*Topping out is a ceremony attended by a community to celebrate when the final beam is placed on the top of a large building. In the United States, the last girder to be hoisted is typically painted white and signed by the constructors and owners. A leafy tree branch or pine tree and a US flag are often tied to it. While the practice is also common in England, Germany and Poland, its origins are obscure. It is similar to ship naming and launching ceremonies and probably of similar antiquity.

For media contact:
William Greek, Senior Vice President and National Sales & Marketing Officer
+1 713 579 9208
Linbeck Group, LLC

Thoughts, Words & Images (TWI) is a full service communications consulting firm. We help companies communicate with customers, employees, investors and the media ... and our efforts lead to measurable, bottom-line success. For further information, please contact Linda Mastaglio at (903) 963-8923 or linda@twi-pr.com.