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The National WWII Museum Awards Expansion Construction
Contract
Firm to build Theatre-USO Complex
NEW ORLEANS -- December 13, 2007: The National World War
II Museum in New Orleans has awarded Satterfield and
Pontikes Construction Group, LLC a $42 million
construction contract as part of the $61 million next
phase of the Museum’s $ 300 million capital expansion.
Across the street from the current Museum facility,
construction will begin within weeks on the
advanced-format Theatre and the USO Experience and
Canteen. This will be the first of six new pavilions
creating the expanded WWII Museum campus, due to be
completed in 2014.
There has been great anticipation for the theatre
project, which will feature state of the art special
effects, 4-D multi-sensory experiences and dimensional
sound. The 250 seat Theatre will première a signature
cinematic presentation being created exclusively for The
National World War II Museum. The production, entitled
“Beyond all Boundaries,” will immerse the visitor in the
story and experience of the war that changed the world.
Tom Hanks serves as Executive Producer for the project
and Phil Hettema of The Hettema Group heads the
extensive creative team. For 14 years, Hettema was
Director of all the creative attractions at
Universal Studios. The Theatre is projected to open in
the summer of 2009. The architect
for the expansion is Voorsanger Mathes, L.L.C. which was
formed by combining the talents of noted New York
architectural firm Voorsanger Architects, P.L.C. and the
New Orleans firm of Mathes Brierre Architects.
The USO Experience will feature a specially-produced
rear screen audio/visual presentation as well as live
entertainment to put visitors in the time and place of
the World War II era and show how famous performers and
Hollywood celebrities used music and comedy to lift the
morale of troops and home front workers. The
audio/visual presentation and interior design themes
were developed by Gallagher and Associates of Bethesda,
Maryland, considered among the foremost exhibit design
firms in the country.
In support of the Museum’s expansion and the
revitalization of the neighborhood, the Regional
Planning Commission, the City and the Museum are
undertaking major street improvements on Magazine Street
from St. Joseph to Calliope which include moving all
Entergy power lines below ground, resurfacing Magazine
Street, and installing new brick sidewalks, historic
lamp posts and lighted street trees.
This phase of the expansion will be funded by private
donors, the State Capital Outlay program, federal
Economic Development grants and New Market Tax Credits.
The Federal New Market Tax Credit program, administered
by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, is designed to
stimulate economic revitalization and community
development in specific economically distressed
geographical areas.
Satterfield and Pontikes Construction Group, LLC
operates from offices in Texas and Louisiana.
Established in 1989, the firm is now headed by its major
stockholder, President and CEO George A. Pontikes, Jr.
Satterfield and Pontikes projects have included airport
support, community, entertainment, manufacturing,
retail, and disaster relief facilities as well as
educational institutions. Pontikes was in New Orleans
for the signing of the contract, scheduled as part of
the meeting of the Museum’s national Board of Trustees.
The National World War II Museum was founded by noted
historian Stephen E. Ambrose, Ph.D. and led today by
President and CEO, Gordon H. “Nick” Mueller, Ph.D. It
opened to worldwide acclaim as The National D-Day Museum
on June 6, 2000 and quickly became one of the most
respected and popular cultural attractions in the
region. In 2003, the United States Congress honored the
Museum by naming it America’s official museum of the
Second World War. The institution subsequently changed
its name to reflect this national designation. Already a
destination attraction, the expanded Museum campus is
projected to draw more than 680,000 visitors annually.
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