Hendrick Construction To Build The Comedy Zone

CHARLOTTE, N.C., May 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Hendrick Construction won a contract to build The Comedy Zone – the newest venue in Charlotte's premier entertainment district.

The Comedy Zone will be a 7,100-square-foot club at NC Music Factory in Fourth Ward featuring performances by the country's top stand-up comics. The space, which is beneath The Saloon at NC Music Factory, will feature an underground bowl with stadium seating for 400 guests and a stage that protrudes into the crowd.

"The Comedy Zone gives Charlotte another critical entertainment option in its quest to become a world-class city," said Noah Lazes, president of the ARK Group, the developer of NC Music Factory. "We're excited to add them to the entertainment mix at NC Music Factory."

Brian Heffron of Charlotte-based Heffron Talent International – The Comedy Zone's owner – said NC Music Factory was the perfect fit for the comedy club. The company owns more than 60 comedy clubs across the country.

"The Comedy Zone will put Charlotte on the map overnight as a top-five city in the U.S. for comedy," Heffron said. "Everyone at the top of the stand-up game right now will perform."

The space will be larger than most comedy clubs, but its design will make it more intimate. The venue will feature state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems. It will also include a VIP area and share a kitchen with the restaurant above, providing a variety of menu options.

"This is a challenging project because we are working beneath an operational restaurant," said Hendrick Construction Project Manager Dan Reep. "We'll have to relocate nearly 90 percent of The Saloon's underground support columns in order to create the desired bowl effect with stadium seating for the comedy club. We also have to relocate a portion of the restaurant's electrical wiring and plumbing. This work will have to be closely scheduled and coordinated throughout the process."

The project is underway and scheduled to be completed in late June.

Hendrick Construction, Inc. is a Charlotte, N.C.-based general contractor that provides commercial construction services throughout the Southeast. The company's portfolio includes facilities for corporate headquarters, manufacturing, industrial, health care and bio-tech companies, as well as schools, government buildings, entertainment venues and restaurants. Visit www.hendrickconstruction.com.

SOURCE Hendrick Construction, Inc.