Barnhill Contracting Company Honored With Best Building Project Pinnacle Award

Imperial Centre for the Arts & Sciences, Rocky Mount , NC
Contactor: Barnhill Contracting Co. , Rocky Mount , NC

This 2-year project rehabilitated a tobacco warehouse dormant for 50 years into a state-of-the-art museum and arts center, while preserving the historic aspects of the original building. The project had to meet historic restoration standards specified by the US Department of the Interior and National Parks Service. This project's challenges included adding a modern planetarium within the confines of the 50-foot-wide foundation of the 1908 tobacco manufacturing plant. In addition, Barnhill created an animal habitat area with sections ranging from python and alligator habitats to a touch tank. The design firm was impressed with Barnhill's constructability analysis and flexibility during construction. And subcontractors specifically noted Barnhill's many proactive measures to ensure smooth construction of this 135,000 square foot facility, which involved having different subs performing the same trade on the job site at the same time.