Pictured at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights Expansion and Renovation Project Trade Partners Appreciation celebration, from left to right, are Corey Bridges, Senior Superintendent (Juneau Construction Company); Tony Huber, Senior PM (Juneau); Walker Mills, VP Operations (Juneau); Les Juneau, President (Juneau); A.J. Robinson, Board Vice Chair (NCCHR); Jill Savitt, President and CEO (NCCHR); Egbert Perry, Board Chair (NCCHR), Jerri Tuck (DaVinci Development Collaborative); David Scott, Senior Principal (DaVinci); John Goff, Founder and Managing Principal (DaVinci); Katie Fahs, Board Member (NCCHR); Lindsay Jonker, Associate Principal (DaVinci); Donald Byrd, COO (NCCHR), Justin A. Sullivan, Board Member (NCCHR), Kama Pierce, CPO (NCCHR); and Kelsey Restrepo, VP Marketing and Communications (Juneau).
Juneau Construction Company, headquartered in Atlanta and one of the Southeast’s leading commercial contractors, commemorated reaching the halfway point of constructi(NCCHR) Expansion and Renovation project with a traditional Trade Partners Appreciation celebration. The event was held Thursday, Aug. 29, at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights (100 Ivan Allen Jr. Boulevard) with key stakeholders, project partners and community members in attendance.
This construction milestone marks the completion of the structural framework for the East Wing (7,195 SF) and West Wing (21,790 SF) expansions of the iconic museum, which will enhance NCCHR’s role as a national cultural organization dedicated to civil and human rights education.
The entire project—set to be completed by Fall 2025—also includes 42,703 SF of enhancement renovations to the existing facility, with a focus on delivering immersive and educational experiences for visitors of all ages.
The East Wing and West Wing expansions of the NCCHR will introduce a Family Gallery for children under 12, a dedicated gallery on the Reconstruction Era, and updates to permanent exhibits, including a redesigned gallery to display papers and artifacts from the Morehouse College Martin Luther King Jr. Collection. These expansions will also feature state-of-the-art classrooms, versatile spaces for events and conferences, and retail areas. Additionally, a new café will provide visitors with a space to reflect on their experience at NCCHR.
Pictured at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights Expansion and Renovation Project Trade Partners Appreciation celebration is Jill Savitt, President and CEO of NCCHR, as she addresses the project’s many trade partners during the event.
Nancy Juneau, founder and CEO of Juneau Construction Company, the #1 woman-owned general contractor in Atlanta, said that the NCCHR expansion and renovation project holds a special significance for her, a sentiment echoed by the entire project team.
“We are honored to play a role in the growth and evolution of the National Center for Civil and Human Rights,” Juneau said. “Our Trade Partner Appreciation ceremony represents more than just a construction milestone; it’s a significant step forward in The Center’s mission to inspire change and educate future generations. We are immensely proud of the work we’re doing alongside our remarkable partners and The Center, and of the lasting impact it will have on our city, our country, and the world for generations to come.”
Jill Savitt, President and CEO of NCCHR, said the expansion is essential to advance its work as a leading cultural organization that connects history to the present and inspires visitors to become changemakers.
“As we mark our first decade, this build brings The Center closer than ever to fulfilling our founders’ vision of becoming a nationally recognized educator and convener that promotes respect for the civil and human rights of all people,” Savitt said. “We thank Juneau, our extraordinary team of partners, and all the workers for their exceptional skill, ingenuity and care in this project. We look forward to the months ahead as we merge the museum’s new wings and complete the interior.”
The project developer, DaVinci Development Collaborative, and the architect, Perkins&Will, have worked closely with Juneau and NCCHR to bring this vision to life.
Walker Mills, Project Executive for Juneau, shared his enthusiasm about the NCCHR project, what it symbolizes and its importance. “It’s a humbling and exciting experience to be involved with a project that has such a powerful and impactful mission. It’s a project that I look forward to sharing with friends and family for years to come. Juneau strives to build the highest profile and most innovative projects in the Southeast with clients that align with our values. We put people and families first and are intentional about leaving our communities better than we found them. It’s such a natural fit to partner with The Center, with its goal of using these new and renovated spaces to educate and serve the community as both a museum and cultural hub.”
Holding a Trade Partner Appreciation event at the halfway point of construction, as Juneau did on Thursday, Aug. 29, is traditionally a time to reflect on the project’s progress and celebrate the collaboration that has brought it to this stage. Notably, 38% of Juneau’s trade partners on this project are minority, woman-owned or disadvantaged businesses, making this milestone at NCCHR even more meaningful.
“Taking a moment to appreciate everyone’s dedication is essential. This achievement, especially in a city bustling with construction and high demand for skilled labor, reflects our team’s unwavering commitment to building great projects and stronger communities,” Mills said.
About Juneau Construction Company:
Juneau Construction Company is the #1 woman-owned general contractor in Atlanta, and the #2 woman-owned business in the city, according to the Atlanta Business Chronicle. Headquartered in Atlanta with offices in Miami and Tampa, the industry-leading company performs as Construction Managers, Design-Builders and General Contractors on high-profile projects in both the public and private sectors. For more information about this project and Juneau Construction Company, please visit juneaucc.com.
About the National Center for Civil and Human Rights
NCCHR is a museum and cultural organization that inspires the changemaker in each of us. Founded in 2014, NCCHR connects the US civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s to global human rights movements for people of color, women, immigrants, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ people, and more. Our immersive and empathy-building experiences highlight people who have worked to protect rights and model how individuals create positive change. For more information, visit our website at civilandhumanrights.org. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @ctr4chr, and LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/ncchr.
About DaVinci Development Collaborative
DaVinci Development Collaborative is a leading real estate development firm specializing in complex, high-profile projects. With a focus on innovation and sustainability, DaVinci delivers projects that shape the future of urban landscapes.
About Perkins&Will
Perkins&Will, an interdisciplinary, research-based architecture and design firm, was founded in 1935 on the belief that design has the power to transform lives. The firm is committed to creating a better, beautiful, more equitable world through Living Design, an approach that integrates environmental, social, and design considerations to advance ecological health and well-being. Architizer named Perkins&Will the world’s “Best Sustainable Firm” in 2023, and Metropolis named it “Firm of the Year” in 2022 for its industry leadership in advancing climate action and social justice. Fast Company named Perkins&Will one of the World’s Most Innovative Companies in Architecture three times, and in 2021, it added the firm to its list of Brands That Matter—making Perkins&Will the first architecture practice in the world to earn the distinction.
With an international team of more than 2,600 professionals, Perkins&Will has over 30 studios worldwide, providing integrated services in architecture, interior design, branded environments, urban design, and landscape architecture. Partners include Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects; Portland; Nelson\Nygaard; and Pierre-Yves Rochon (PYR). For more information, visit www.perkinswill.com.
