Recognizing outstanding achievement in local construction, representatives from local contractors, engineering and architectural firms, subcontractors, union building trade officials and others gathered at the Lexus Club at PNC Park on February 28, 2008 to celebrate the first ever “Construction Industry Evening of Excellence.”

Presented by the Construction Advancement Program of Western Pennsylvania and Breaking Ground magazine, the event attracted more than 500 area men and women who help contribute to the quality of construction in Western Pennsylvania. Highlighting the evening’s festivities was the presentation of the Master Builders’ Association of Western Pennsylvania’s (MBA) 2007 Building Excellence Awards. The MBA is the local chapter of the Associated General Contractors of America, the nation’s largest and oldest construction trade association. The Building Excellence Awards are presented annually to area contractors in four categories: Projects Over $5 Million, Projects Under $5 Million, Excellence in Craftsmanship, and Design/Build. The winning teams honored this year were:

Projects Over $5 Million
Project: Repairs and Alterations to the
U.S. Post Office & Court House
Contractor: Dick Corporation
Architect: Shalom Baranes Associates
Owner: General Services Administration

Socializing at the Construction Industry Evening of Excellence are (from left) Jeff Burd, Publisher of BreakingGround magazine; Bill Waterkotte, Assistant Executive Secretary-Treasurer, Greater Pennsylvania Regional Council of Carpenters; and Joe Tavella, Vice President of Estimating, Massaro Corporation.

Pittsburgh Builders Exchange Executive Director Del Walker, left, poses with Master Builder’s Association (MBA) Executive Director Jack Ramage.

Projects Under $5 Million
Project: Copper Falls
Contractor: Jendoco Construction Corporation
Architect: Desmone & Associates

Design Build
Project: Pittsburgh Plumbers Local Union #27
Contractor: Mascaro Construction Company L.P.
Architect: Perfido Weiskopf Wagstaff + Goettel
Owner: Pittsburgh Plumbers Local Union #27

Excellence in Craftsmanship
Project: St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church
Contractor: Giffin Interior & Fixture, Inc.
Architect: Design Alliance Architects
Owner: St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church

“We congratulate all of our winning teams and projects that help contribute to our economy and general health of the construction industry,” said Jack Ramage, Executive Director of the Master Builders’ Association of Western Pennsylvania. “All too often, we fail to appreciate the contributions local contractors make to our environment and to our quality of life.”

Mascaro Construction Company LP captured first place in the Design Build category for its construction of Plumbers Local Union #27 in North Fayette Township.