The National Medal of Honor Museum

Overview

The National Medal of Honor aims to create personal and emotional connections to the stories of Medal of Honor recipients while shedding light on the conflicts they faced and the values the Medal symbolizes.

Spanning 83,000 square feet, the museum integrates exhibits, a theatre, multi-purpose spaces, and offices. The architectural centerpiece is the exhibition hall — an immense 200-foot by 200-foot steel structure, suspended 54 feet above the rotunda by 5 monumental concrete columns symbolizing the branches of the U.S. military. The routing of all MEP utilities through these columns posed a distinctive challenge, underscoring the necessity for innovative problem-solving and technical precision. 

Our Approach

Preconstruction was anchored by the expertise of the engineering and BIM teams, who played a vital role in accurate budgeting and design modeling. Before installation, our teams developed and modeled a rack system in 3D, even producing a video to illustrate how the installation would proceed once the columns and racks were prepared. This meticulous planning was a deciding factor in winning the project, though some adjustments were made post-award to meet electrical code requirements. 

The prefabrication of these columns at our Dallas fabrication shop marked a milestone in fabrication innovation. Limited space within the columns required creative solutions to accommodate utilities such as chilled water, heating, domestic water, power, and fire protection systems. The team effectively routed these utilities through five openings ranging from two to six feet — pushing the boundaries of prefabrication in complex builds. The installation of the 40-foot prefabricated racks required precision coordination between our fabrication, field, and safety teams, exemplifying the detailed planning and flawless execution necessary for projects of this scale. 

Learn more about how the multi-trade racks transformed this project here.

Result

Completed in March 2025, this museum provides visitors with an understanding of the meaning and price of freedom, and reminds us to appreciate the virtue of putting service above self. As an employer of veterans and active military personnel, we are honored to have participated in this project.

This project was completed by Brandt, a Southland Industries company.