Ellerbe Becket employees in 2001 designed and built “Under Construction Brown.” The statue depicts Charlie surrounded by scaffolding with Woodstock construction workers applying his signature sweater and shorts over a brick foundation. “Under Construction Brown” stood on exhibit in front of the Science Museum of Minnesota—an Ellerbe Becket-designed building—before it was sold at auction on November 4, 2001.

“Under Construction Brown” was acquired by the Charles M. Schulz Museum and now stands at the entrance to the new building’s job site. The museum, which will display and interpret the art of Charles Schulz, is scheduled to open August 17, 2002.

As one of the oldest and largest design firms in the world, Ellerbe Becket is no stranger to construction sites. The firm, established in Saint Paul nearly a century ago, boasts its largest office in a building it designed (LaSalle Plaza in Minneapolis) and has projects and offices around the world.

While the architects, engineers, interior designers and construction professionals of Ellerbe Becket spend their working days developing office towers, cooling plants, hospitals and stadiums, their spare time has been spent creating the next in the line of Peanuts character statutes. This year’s contribution is “Lucy Ross,” a portrayal of Lucy as Betsy Ross stitching the first American flag. Lucy Ross has made her debut in front of the St. Paul Hotel, a property Ellerbe Becket currently is renovating.

An innovator since its founding in 1909, Ellerbe Becket is a leader in architecture, engineering and the construction industry with office locations worldwide.