04/16/2026
Throwback Thursday | Hole in the Wall Gang Camp - Art Center & Bunkhouses
Some projects stay with you long after completion; this is one of them.
At the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, our team had the privilege of delivering several additions to the camp. A new Art Center that blends seamlessly into the camp’s iconic “downtown” area while bringing modern performance, sustainability, and comfort to the next generation of campers, along with new lodges and bunkhouses that expand the camp’s ability to serve more children and families, and more.
During the mid-phase of our lodging and bunk houses project within the campus, the team was sent on an unexpected turn when a fire destroyed the existing Art Center. The entire team experienced the trauma of dealing with the aftermath of the fire. Fortunately, this tragedy was taken as an opportunity to reimagine the Art Center according to the camp's needs. From the outset, the design remained rooted in preserving the camp’s Western-inspired aesthetic, a vision originally established by Paul Newman, while integrating the performance and durability of a modern facility. Engaged early in a collaborative construction management role, our team worked symbiotically with ownership, staff, and design partners to shape solutions that delivered the best value for the project, including implementing a geothermal HVAC system to support long-term sustainability and efficiency.
From a construction standpoint, the project had its challenges. Unknown subsurface conditions led to significant rock removal across much of the building footprint, uncharted underground utilities presented major discovery efforts and conflict resolution, and optimizing sound attenuation through the use of sound-deadening materials allowed for balanced acoustics in the many large open spaces. These challenges pushed both design and budget constraints. Through early collaboration, thoughtful contingency planning, and a committed team effort, ACC maintained both schedule and budget while delivering a high-quality result.
But what makes this project truly meaningful goes far beyond construction.
During the project, one of our team members shared the story of a neighbor who, when learning that ACC was building at the Camp, flatly stated that the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp saved his daughter’s life. The neighbor explained that his daughter had lost her will to live due to severe illness. He and his wife were seeing that their daughter was deteriorating with no solid prognosis for improvement. The neighbor said his daughter was going to die! After attending the camp, she rediscovered joy, hope, and the desire to keep going. What the neighbor and his daughter experienced was a break from the weight that chronic illness brought upon their daily lives. She experienced children being children while at the camp. That atmosphere gave the neighbor's daughter a perspective that she had lost in her struggles. Those experiences inspired her and gave her the will to live life. Decades later, she is still here, a living testament to the impact this place has on children and families.
That perspective changed everything.
It reminded us that we weren’t just building structures, we were creating an environment where children can escape the weight of their illnesses, even if just for a moment. A place where they can laugh, create, and connect. A place that gives families relief, restores confidence, and brings a sense of normalcy during incredibly difficult times.
Projects like this reinforce why we do what we do. The relationships built, the purpose behind the work, and all the lives impacted that extend far beyond the jobsite.
This project embodies what we strive for at The Associated Construction Company:
Building the way to a better place.
