Great view of the bar's ceiling

Victory! HCC Completes the Museum Millwork Job

Euphoria and celebratory high-fives erupted in HCC’s office last summer upon learning we had been awarded the WW II Museum millwork contract. As the initial euphoria subsided, it was further tempered by the reality of our immense challenge.

Hal Collums Construction LLC teamed up with Central City Millworks LLC to bid on the fabrication and installation of custom architectural millwork for the spectacular WW2 Museum expansion opening November 7th, 2009. Earlier that year HCC had worked with Satterfield and Pontikes (one of the leading construction companies in the Gulf Coast region) to fabricate and install the millwork for the Saint Bernard Middle School.

As the initial euphoria subsided, it was further tempered by the reality of our immense challenge

When the WW2 Expansion was announced and the plans by Voorsinger and Mathes Architects became available, we were pleased to learn that S&P was preparing a bid. The HCC estimating group worked with S&P for several months through three plan addendums to develop and refine a competitive bid for the WW2 Expansion. Finally all the hard work paid off with a phone call from S&P telling us they had selected us as their millwork provider for the WW2.

We successfully achieved our WW2 challenge, delivering millwork that one of the architects described as “fabulous”.

Estimating the WW2  job, we realized it would be complicated and technically challenging. Now that we had the job and with our design department mobilizing and our production department planning, we started focusing on the obstacles. There were tremendous design challenges to be solved to accomplish the architect’s vision.

The architect’s plans shows the millwright the architect’s intentions aesthetically, however it is our responsibility to design a cabinet to meet the aesthetic goals while overcoming the structural and material challenges. Before we could put this job into design production we had to completely ramp-up our shop drawing department and our CAD design department. Not only would we have to hire additional CAD designers but we also needed to increase our level of expertise with our CNC router. All these challenges seemed daunting but we knew failure was not an option. We understood this was a legacy job and we had to be victorious for ourselves, our company, and our city.

Millwork at National WW2 Museum bar

Last week we successfully achieved our WW2 challenge, delivering millwork that one of the architects described as “fabulous”. We worked as a team with Satterfield & Pontikes and many other great local and regional subcontractors to deliver a new landmark to New Orleans.

This is truly a new jewel in the crown of our local tourism industry. Hal Collums Construction is proud to have played such an important role in this victory for New Orleans and the New Orleans Tourism Industry.

Cedric puts in another day at the mill shop

My name is Cedric, Hal’s dog, and I go to work with Hal everyday.  Even with my demanding schedule of seven days a week, 12 hours a day, I find a few minutes to enjoy a little rest and relaxation.  My day is mostly filled traveling to job sites, going to office meetings, and greeting employees, visitors, and homeowners. Working for a New Orleans contractor keeps me busy, but I don’t mind working pro bono.

For more photos of me in the mill shop and construction office, click here!

Blondie and Bishop sharing a tennis ball

Zelda still thinks she is a lap dog

That’s my friend Zelda sitting in Rob’s lap. He rescued her from the SPCA and she comes to the office just about everyday.  It’s nice to have a girlfriend to chase around in between my more pressing tasks.

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