Linbeck Group, LLC Wins Associated General Contractors of America's Aon Build America Merit Award for Best Renovation of 2010

HOUSTON, TX, May 04, 2011 (Press-News.org) The Fort Worth Museum of Science and History was one of the most outstanding construction projects of 2010, the Associated General Contractors of America announced today. As a result, the project's contractor, Linbeck Group, LLC, was one of eight firms to receive the association's Aon Build America Merit Award. "We want to thank the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History Museum for their leadership and vision," said Becky Burleson, Client Executive for the Linbeck Group.

The $80-million Fort Worth Museum of Science and History opened on schedule - an amazing feat when considering that the fast-track project allowed the construction team less than two years to complete the 166,000-sq-ft iconic, signature structure. "It is particularly exciting for us to add another award winning building to Fort Worth's Cultural District, especially given that it is a museum that has been recognized as an true institution in this community for decades," said David Stueckler, Division President. The new building houses a collection of interactive exhibits and programs that provide informal and formal, discovery-based learning for all ages. The museum showcases more than 175,000 historical objects and scientific specimens and includes a Museum School for children ages 3 to 12.

The project was designed by the internationally renowned architects Legorreta + Legorreta of Mexico City in association with Gideon Toal, Inc. of Fort Worth. The Legorreta + Legorreta architectural style works toward pureness in form with clean lines and simple geometries, including domes, pyramids, and rectangles. The emblematic tower/lantern, signalizing the entrance of the museum, reshaped the focus of the cultural district by providing a beacon to draw visitors to the center of the cultural community. The top of the tower consists of a glowing glass box that can be seen for miles. "The idea of creating an urban lantern came from the notion of orientation within the city," said Ricardo Legorreta. "In the same way that lighthouses guide ships at sea, we wanted to guide people in the city to the museum." The tower now serves as a point of orientation to guide more than one million annual guests to the museum campus.

One unique aspect of the project was the use of proprietary planning tools developed and enhanced by the Linbeck team. "Our LEAN scheduling tools provided an uncomplicated and common sense approach to planning that our specialty contractors were quick to embrace because of the performance feedback and collaboration the tools provided," says Burleson. "We integrated LEAN principles with the 56 diverse contractors on site. Using LEAN planning, our team was able to absorb a six-month delay in documents with NO schedule extension (a 28% reduction in duration) and NO increase in construction cost."

"We are especially thankful for the outstanding performance of our specialty contractors who worked closely together to successfully deliver the project on-time and on-budget," added Chuck Greco, President and CEO.

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. The Fort Worth Museum of Science and History project was managed by Linbeck's Fort Worth office, established in 1979. Using its integrated, collaborative TeamBuild approach and lean construction principles, Linbeck helps clients minimize risk and waste through lean construction practices that 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 Award for the 2009 top construction project, Dallas' Bill and Margot Winspear Opera House in the AT&T Performing Arts Center. http://www.linbeck.com

About the Aon Build America Award. As the construction industry's "Oscars," the Aon Build America Awards are given in recognition of excellence in the construction industry and recognize the nation's most significant construction projects. This year's panel of judges, representing all areas of construction, evaluated over 115 projects, assessing each project's complexity, use of innovative construction techniques and coordination with partners, among other criteria. The awards, which were announced during the association's annual convention in Las Vegas, are considered by many to be the most prestigious recognition of construction accomplishments in the U.S.

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

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