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GulfQuest wins Project of the Year!
Jan 29, 2016
The Mobile Area Council of Engineers (MACE) has named GulfQuest National Maritime Museum 2016 Project of the Year.
The City of Mobile partnered with the non-profit National Maritime Museum of the Gulf of Mexico to construct this 120,000 sq. ft. interactive maritime museum. Opened in September 2015, GulfQuest is the first museum in the world dedicated to the Gulf Coast’s rich maritime traditions – and one of only two interactive maritime museums in the country.
Thompson Engineering was the Engineer of Record on the GulfQuest project, and Thompson’s sister company, Watermark Design Group, provided the architectural design. GulfQuest is the centerpiece of Mobile Landing, also designed by Thompson Engineering.
Officials with MACE elaborated on the project in a statement saying, “the design of the structure features a large globe protruding through the roof, representing the Gulf’s connection to the world, and a bridge that adds to the nautical look that serves as home to the high-tech interactive exhibits. The interior includes a Grand Lobby, a large rotunda that provides ground-floor access to amenities including ticketing, a full-service café and a museum store. Other features include observation decks, an orientation theater, galleries for traveling exhibits, meeting rooms, classrooms, and event spaces. The museum also contains a flood-proofed basement, and the main floor is elevated to 16-feet.”
“The Board of Trustees and the staff were all very excited to learn about this award,” Tony Zodrow, GulfQuest executive director said. “Thompson Engineering and Watermark Design Group took on a huge project, and of course, the end result is a magnificent building that houses a museum like no other. Our visitors are amazed by not only the interactive exhibits, but by the building itself. We are very proud of GulfQuest, and equally proud that Thompson Engineering is being recognized with this prestigious award.”