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News Releases |
Museum Architect Named
Columbus, Georgia -- April 20, 2004:
The National Infantry Foundation today announced the selection of internationally known architects, E. Verner Johnson and Associates of Boston, to design the new National Infantry Museum and Heritage Park. The new facility, which is to be located on a 200-acre site connecting Fort Benning and the City of Columbus, will be a national place to remember, honor and preserve the legacy of the United States Infantryman.
E. Verner Johnson and Associates is the only architectural firm in the country that specializes exclusively in museum planning and design. It has more than 140 museums in its portfolio, more than any other architectural firm in the United States. Its military, history, science and art museums can be found from Texas to Hong Kong. Some of its projects include: the Texas State History Museum in Austin; the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh; the World Golf Hall of Fame in St. Augustine, Florida; the Kentucky Derby Museum in Louisville; and the Hong Kong Museum of Science and Technology.
Founding partner Verner Johnson, AIA, who will
lead the architectural team on this project, says he’s honored
his firm was selected. "We know how important it is to help
create a successful, world-class museum that will help the nation
and the world understand the crucial role that the Infantry has
played and continues to play in making our world a better place.
We are excited to have this opportunity and are up to the challenge."
The team assigned to the National Infantry Museum project has an
average of more than 18 years of museum design experience at EVJA.
The National Infantry Foundation carefully considered
many architects before selecting E. Verner Johnson. Eighteen firms
were "pre-qualified" and invited to submit their qualifications
for the job. From that group, six were asked to submit proposals.
A diverse group of community leaders heard 90-minute presentations
from each firm on the short list and helped evaluate the proposals.
As the list narrowed to three, Foundation officials made site visits
to several museums before selecting Johnson. "Every one of these
firms could have designed a magnificent museum for us," said National
Infantry Foundation Executive Director Ben Williams. "But what we
saw from E. Verner Johnson was truly exceptional. We’re proud
to have this world-class firm leading the design team."
Assisting E. Verner Johnson on the National Infantry Museum project will be Columbus- based architects Hecht Burdeshaw Johnson Kidd and Clark. Hecht Burdeshaw has an impressive portfolio of recent projects that has transformed Columbus, including work on the RiverCenter for Performing Arts, the National Museum of Civil War Naval History, the Ironworks Convention and Trade Center expansion and the new Columbus Regional Library. The architects will begin immediately, coordinating their work with other members of the NIF team.
The National Infantry Foundation continues to make
progress in other areas, as well. "The capital funds campaign
has raised approximately one-third of its goal of $70 million,"
according to MG (Ret) Jerry White, Board Chairman of the Foundation.
"We have received significant early support from business,
government, foundations and individuals." Solicitation of significant
gifts at the local level has begun, with local business executives
and community leaders Brad Turner, President of the W.C. Bradley
Company and John Flournoy, President of Flournoy Development Company
providing the leadership. A national grass roots campaign is expected
to start later this year.
The Foundation has hired Newton Aaron and Associates to serve as Project Manager, representing the Foundation with all members of the design and construction team. Midland Engineering of Columbus continues its work dealing with all environmental and real estate issues. Larry French and Associates of Columbus, a landscape architecture firm, is refining the master site plan. The museum consulting firm, Lord Cultural Resources, of Toronto, Canada, and Washington, D.C., which developed the Master Plan for the project, continues to work with the Foundation in an advisory role. The Foundation will soon hire a construction manager and an exhibit design firm that specializes in planning and building state-of-the-art, interactive museum displays.
This new world-class National Infantry Museum and Heritage
Park will honor those great Americans who have been the vanguard
of our nation's freedom for the past 228 years. It will be a lasting
monument to American values of patriotism, duty, courage and leadership...the
hallmarks of the United States Infantry.
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