National World War II Museum Selects Cambridge Curved Mesh Ceiling System for Upscale New Restaurant

March 7, 2011 - PRLog -- Photos: http://larsonobrien.com/cambridge/html/national_wwii_museum.html  

CAMBRIDGE, MD… A Cambridge architectural curved mesh ceiling system elegantly undulates above the bar at The American Sector, a new restaurant inside the National World War II Museum in New Orleans, LA.

The National World War II Museum serves as the country’s premier tribute to the 16 million men and women who took part in the global conflict and made it successful for America. The museum is in the midst of a nine-phase expansion, the first phase including The American Sector, a ‘40s-style restaurant and bar created by John Besh, a native of southern Louisiana and highly-acclaimed executive chef and owner of five other restaurants in the region. Besh is also a former U.S. Marine, making his contribution to the Museum even more fitting. In 1986, he enlisted in the Marine Corps as a reservist, and in 1990 was called to active duty in the Middle East during Operation Desert Storm, where he participated in the capture of Kuwait International Airport.

The menu and the aesthetic of The American Sector clearly reflect U.S – and Besh’s own –history. Cambridge developed a one-of-a-kind woven metal fabric ceiling system that matches the restaurant’s modernized World War II-conceptual theme.

A Cambridge LandscapeInteriors™ architectural mesh ceiling system flows seamlessly above the The American Sector, giving the room unique character by allowing the steel mesh panels to rise and fall adjacent to warm wood partitions, all while facilitating a soft lighting effect.

“We chose the metal mesh to create a contemporary and abstract impression of World War II military gear,” says Martin Stigsgaard, Associate for Voorsanger Mathes, L.L.C., the architects of the project. “The material is very effectual and is probably the most recognizable element within the bar. It really works well with the lighting and creates a range of reflections and shadows that animate the space.”

The new LandscapeInteriors ceiling system inside the National World War II Museum, like all Cambridge systems of its kind, maintains acoustic transparency and improves ventilation. Additionally, the system expertly hides utilitarian objects such as sprinklers, ducts and secondary lighting, blending its beauty with important functional characteristics.

“We were honored to be chosen to help build an addition to this important museum, and we were thrilled to find out just how inventive we could be in working with the project team,” says Erica Wright, LandscapeInteriors Sales Manager for Cambridge Architectural. “The end result is a ceiling system that we think matches the elegance and importance of the space perfectly.”

Cambridge’s design-build approach and involvement throughout the project helped to make the curved ceiling system concept and implementation successful. Cambridge worked diligently to make sure that the team understood the product, and the best methods for its installation.

“Manufab built a mock-up of the ceiling system and Cambridge was here at our shop to give us some very helpful advice on its installation,” says Rick Ledet, Vice President of Manufab Inc., the fabricator and installer of the project. “Given the complexity of the design, which contained many ‘unknowns,’ everyone was extremely satisfied with the results.

A Cambridge custom curved ceiling attachment system was used to install the Cubist pattern, which features large-scale, flexible open weaves. The architectural mesh ceiling system is Cambridge’s newest LandscapeInteriors application. It uses versatile and stylish metal fabric to create an extended surface that can be specified for any requested length, and has the ability to remain completely flat when held in tension – a first for architectural mesh. Its function, in combination with its distinctive look, makes it a perfect solution for a variety of interior design needs.

Construction on the The American Sector at the National World War II Museum was completed in November 2009. The architects of the project were Voorsanger Mathes, L.L.C. – a joint venture between Voorsanger Architects PC, New York, NY and Mathes Brierre Architects, New Orleans, LA. The rest of the project team included general contractor Satterfield & Pontikes Construction, Inc., Houston, TX and fabricator and installer, Manufab Inc., Kenner, LA.

One of the primary functions of LandscapeInteriors metal fabric applications is to dramatically define and separate space, while additionally providing visibility, light and air flow. In addition to LandscapeInteriors, Cambridge offers a variety of additional architectural metal fabric systems, and is available for assistance throughout the design-build process.

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Cambridge Architectural is the world’s most experienced – and only – full-service provider of sustainable architectural mesh systems for both interior and exterior building applications. Cambridge offers full system design, engineering and collaboration from concept through installation – including highly challenging building projects, environments and budgets. Cambridge metal fabric systems are categorized by the primary application the system serves. These include: Parkade™, Solucent™, LandscapeInteriors™, MeshFX™, MeshDefense™ and Meshellaneous™. For more information about Cambridge Architectural call 1-866-806-2385 or visit www.CambridgeArchitectural.com.