The National Museum of African American Music has awarded the role of construction manager at-risk to Euphony Four, a joint venture of East Tennessee Mechanical Contractor (ETMC), Megen Construction Company, ICF Builders and Consultants, and Pillars Development LLC. With more than 80 years of combined experience, Euphony Four will lead construction planning and management for the NMAAM, slated to open in late 2019.
“As a museum honoring African Americans’ musical contributions to our society, we see it as our duty to connect with and employ minority-owned firms,” said NMAAM President and CEO H. Beecher Hicks, III. “We’re proud to take the lead on creating opportunities for inclusion.”
NMAAM has prioritized hiring minority-owned businesses for the museum’s development. In June, the NMAAM hired Nashville native and independent contractor Donna Gilliam to provide interior design services.
“I am excited that Euphony Four is working collaboratively to build out the 56,000 square feet of space within the Fifth and Broadway development,” said Don Hardin, project manager for NMAAM’s construction and president and CEO of Don Hardin Group. “Adding to the historic role of the museum, it’s an honor for four prominent African American construction entities to work together to build this legendary monument.”
Construction on the 56,000-square-foot facility has begun at the Fifth and Broadway location. The museum will be home to traveling exhibits and five permanent galleries that trace the history of African American music from the 1800s to the present day.
Euphony four (E4) intends to provide construction-related services on behalf of the African American History Foundation of Nashville (AAFN) and the National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM), based on the concept of euphony, ‘eu-pho-ny’, defined as: agreeableness of sound; pleasing effect to the ear, especially a pleasant sounding or harmonious combination or succession of words.
The Euphony Four team consists of Mark S. Deathridge, president and CEO at ETMC; Evans Nwankwo, president and CEO at Megen; Roger Ligon Sr., president at ICF; and Edward Henley, III, principal/project executive at Pillars.
East Tennessee Mechanical Contractors (ETMC), a minority-owned construction company headquartered in Knoxville, TN, specializes in construction, value engineering, and Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing (MEP). ETMC will take the lead in construction management.
I.C.F. Builders and Consultants is a minority-owned, general contracting firm that provides construction services for corporate, government, healthcare and ecclesiastical clients. I.C.F. will provide general trade and architectural support during the construction phase.
Megen Construction Company is an award-winning and respected minority-owned construction management firm with over 25 years of experience. Megen will take the lead during pre-construction. They will transition to project management and quality control during construction phase providing continuity from design to completion.
Pillars Development provides expertise in exhibit design, fabrication, coordination, and installation within interactive museum environments. They represent a critical part of this team and will enable us to provide full turnkey services from pre-construction through fabrication and installation as the Construction Manager At-Risk (CMAR).
Together, the Euphony four team will help AAFN reach its goal of effectively using the square footage available to optimize visitor experience and make a second and third visit to NMAAM a “must do” for each visitor.
