Gafcon Selected as Project Manager for Landmark Berlin Wall Memorial Project in Los Angeles
Original Berlin Wall segments to be erected along Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Cold War icon.
Los Angeles, CA, October 14, 2009 --(PR.com)-- Gafcon Inc., a leading California-based construction management and consulting firm, has been awarded a contract to serve as project manager for “The Wall Project,” a major civic commemoration program developed by the Wende Museum and Archive of the Cold War, in cooperation with the City of Los Angeles, The LA Inc. and the German Consulate General in Los Angeles. The program involves the original Berlin Wall segments and the symbolic re-creation of the wall, featuring the commissioned work of professional and amateur artists, to mark the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.
The Wall Project, believed to be the largest anniversary commemoration outside of Berlin, involves two components:
“The Wall Along Wilshire,” includes 10 segments of the original Berlin Wall recently acquired by the Wende Museum that will form an outdoor gallery exhibition in front of the 5900 Wilshire Boulevard office building. This exhibition, which recalls a famous stretch of the Berlin Wall painted by international artists during the Cold War, will remain in place from Oct. 17 through Nov. 14 for public viewing. The wall will be painted by Los Angeles muralist Kent Twitchell and Berlin artist Thierry Noir, who was one of the first artists to paint on the Berlin Wall in 1984.
The second component, “The Wall Across Wilshire,” involves the installation of wall panels that will bisect one of the busiest and most important thoroughfares in Los Angeles on Nov. 8. These panels will be painted by Shepard Fairey, a graphic designer and political illustrator who created the iconic “Hope” poster for Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign, as well as graffiti artists working with ArtStorm. Other invited participants include students and community members at Loyola Marymount University, the Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley and other grassroots organizations.
As project manager, Gafcon is responsible for soliciting and coordinating all professional consultants for the project, including the donations of pro bono services and materials for the nonprofit museum. It is also serving as the Museum’s representative with the various government agencies involved, including the City of Los Angeles’ Department of Building and Safety, County of Los Angeles Department of Public Works, U.S. Department of Transportation, local police and traffic control, fire department, etc.
The project involves coordinating the transfer of 10 pieces of the original Berlin Wall from the Port of Long Beach to the temporary site on Wilshire Boulevard. Preparing the project site includes pouring concrete slabs to accommodate the 10 original 11-foot-by-three-foot wall segments with a total weight of 50,000 pounds. Gafcon is also responsible for overseeing the dismantling of the project at the conclusion of the exhibition, demolishing the temporary concrete slabs and returning the site to original condition. Gafcon is working closely with the museum staff to meet a very aggressive installation and project deadline.
The Gafcon team includes project managers Larry Reddel and Bob Remensperger.
The Wall Project is the latest in a series of projects Gafcon is providing services to in the Los Angeles region, including program management for the $1 billion redevelopment of the Jordan Downs housing projects in Watts, pre-construction and construction management for a new 1,500-bed student housing complex on the UCLA campus and property condition assessment services for The Village Green, the historic urban community developed in Baldwin Hills in the 1940s.
About Gafcon Inc.
Founded in 1987 by Pam and Yehudi Gaffen, Gafcon Inc. is a leading development and construction management firm providing professional construction consulting, construction program management, real estate economics consulting, design management and construction-related claims support. The company employs more than 150 construction project managers, architects, civil engineers, financial analysts, estimators, schedulers, quality inspectors and computer professionals. Gafcon maintains corporate headquarters in downtown San Diego, with branch offices in Irvine, Los Angeles and Oregon. For more information, visit www.gafcon.com.
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The Wall Project, believed to be the largest anniversary commemoration outside of Berlin, involves two components:
“The Wall Along Wilshire,” includes 10 segments of the original Berlin Wall recently acquired by the Wende Museum that will form an outdoor gallery exhibition in front of the 5900 Wilshire Boulevard office building. This exhibition, which recalls a famous stretch of the Berlin Wall painted by international artists during the Cold War, will remain in place from Oct. 17 through Nov. 14 for public viewing. The wall will be painted by Los Angeles muralist Kent Twitchell and Berlin artist Thierry Noir, who was one of the first artists to paint on the Berlin Wall in 1984.
The second component, “The Wall Across Wilshire,” involves the installation of wall panels that will bisect one of the busiest and most important thoroughfares in Los Angeles on Nov. 8. These panels will be painted by Shepard Fairey, a graphic designer and political illustrator who created the iconic “Hope” poster for Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign, as well as graffiti artists working with ArtStorm. Other invited participants include students and community members at Loyola Marymount University, the Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley and other grassroots organizations.
As project manager, Gafcon is responsible for soliciting and coordinating all professional consultants for the project, including the donations of pro bono services and materials for the nonprofit museum. It is also serving as the Museum’s representative with the various government agencies involved, including the City of Los Angeles’ Department of Building and Safety, County of Los Angeles Department of Public Works, U.S. Department of Transportation, local police and traffic control, fire department, etc.
The project involves coordinating the transfer of 10 pieces of the original Berlin Wall from the Port of Long Beach to the temporary site on Wilshire Boulevard. Preparing the project site includes pouring concrete slabs to accommodate the 10 original 11-foot-by-three-foot wall segments with a total weight of 50,000 pounds. Gafcon is also responsible for overseeing the dismantling of the project at the conclusion of the exhibition, demolishing the temporary concrete slabs and returning the site to original condition. Gafcon is working closely with the museum staff to meet a very aggressive installation and project deadline.
The Gafcon team includes project managers Larry Reddel and Bob Remensperger.
The Wall Project is the latest in a series of projects Gafcon is providing services to in the Los Angeles region, including program management for the $1 billion redevelopment of the Jordan Downs housing projects in Watts, pre-construction and construction management for a new 1,500-bed student housing complex on the UCLA campus and property condition assessment services for The Village Green, the historic urban community developed in Baldwin Hills in the 1940s.
About Gafcon Inc.
Founded in 1987 by Pam and Yehudi Gaffen, Gafcon Inc. is a leading development and construction management firm providing professional construction consulting, construction program management, real estate economics consulting, design management and construction-related claims support. The company employs more than 150 construction project managers, architects, civil engineers, financial analysts, estimators, schedulers, quality inspectors and computer professionals. Gafcon maintains corporate headquarters in downtown San Diego, with branch offices in Irvine, Los Angeles and Oregon. For more information, visit www.gafcon.com.
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Gafcon Inc.
Bridget Palitz
619-933-8722
Bridget Palitz
619-933-8722
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