The latest in a flurry of concession buildouts at Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) by TMG, upscale Irish restaurant franchise Firkin and Fox opened its doors in early September. Hired as the general contractor last June, TMG had the restaurant all polished and ready for patrons in just three months.

The buildout was a tall order, considering TMG’s project team was tasked with demolishing a MacDonald’s, an ice cream parlor and a Dominion Brewery to accommodate the spacious pub. "We really pushed hard to get everything completed by September, so the owner could take advantage of the last weeks of the high travel season," noted TMG Quality Control Manager Chad Luebbehusen. He assisted Project Manager John Warren and Superintendent Ken Matuszewski on the contract.

The restaurant was a leap of faith for franchise owner Raj Gandhi of RAMG, Inc. in Leesburg, Va. He had been the bar manager of the Dominion Brewery that was demolished to make room for Firkin and Fox. Today, he is a successful restaurateur. There were a few hurdles to overcome in the process, however.

The biggest challenge of this project was increasing the electrical supply within the airport’s design constraints. Electrical capacity at the job site was only 30% of what is required to operate the restaurant. The TMG project team worked closely with the restaurant owner and his designer to orchestrate a technical solution that was economically sensible.

The finished restaurant features gleaming dark millwork and other interiors are reminiscent of an early 20th Century Irish pub. The Heiserman Group, LLC, of Bethesda, Md., did a masterful job as the project architect of creating an old-world atmosphere. Subcontractor Jett Mechanical of Alexandria, Va., was in charge of all mechanical outfittings while Natelco Corp. of Capitol Heights, Md., handled the electrical work. David Allen Company (Manassas) installed the crisp, white tilework on the ceiling. Delta Painting & Wallcovering (Manassas) managed the paint work.

Since its grand opening, Firkin and Fox has become a favorite spot for patrons who enjoy shooting the Blarney between flights.