Chairman's message: Excellence in Const. Awards

As ABC chairman, I have had a first-hand perspective on the outstanding caliber of ABC member firms and the quality work they produce. This month, ABC took a major step forward in showcasing this work to a broad audience as we held our annual Excellence in Construction Awards in conjunction with Build Boston. As the region's premier event for the design and construction community, Build Boston is an ideal place to highlight the best of merit shop construction. More than 16,000 people attended the three-day event Nov. 18-20 to learn, network, and see the best our industry has to offer. It is a unique opportunity for construction - an industry comprised of many separate and distinct parts - to come together under one umbrella. In this sense, Build Boston does more than offer educational and networking opportunities; it creates a sense of community that enhances our industry. ABC's Excellence in Construction Award winners have demonstrated a similar appreciation for the value of community. Contractors have come together to work with architects, engineers and construction buyers to deliver exceptional results that make a difference in our society. They understand that working together as part of a successful project team will benefit the greater communities their projects are designed to serve. The reality is that the construction and design industry is full of unsung heroes who work every day on projects that improve our quality of life, from highways to hospitals and schools to scientific research facilities. Events such as Build Boston and ABC's Excellence in Construction awards allow us to take a moment and highlight an industry and a workforce whose contributions are often taken for granted. Among this year's ABC winners are projects that have helped revitalize downtown Lawrence and improve the public water supply in Somersworth, N.H. Other award-winning projects are a state-of-the-art biotech research centers and new green prototypes for major hotel and institutional clients. The construction of these projects typically receives little fanfare, yet it is what facilitates all the benefits that follow. These projects display ample evidence that ABC's merit shop contractors rise above the already-high standards of quality and professionalism their clients expect. They do it by continuing to raise the standards of craftsmanship, safety and quality within our industry. They do it by capitalizing on the talents of merit shop workers and the efficiency of the merit shop approach. They do it by working collaboratively with the broader construction community. ABC's merit shop contractors do this by appreciating the importance of value and fair competition. This year, we were fortunate to have an exceptional panel of judges who evaluated the entries and selected the winning firms. These industry leaders elevated our awards program as they elevate our industry through their ongoing work. They are: Michael Hicks, AIA, Domenech Hicks & Krockmalnic Architects; Eric Stoothoff, PE, Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc.; Charles Sacre, PE, S E A Consultants Inc.; John Nunnari, AIA, HMFH Architects; David Moffatt, Harvard Graduate School of Education; Robert S. Jefferies, AIA, TBA Architects. The firms listed below are the winners of ABC's 2008 Excellence in Construction Awards. Behind each winning project are scores of talented individuals who contributed to the successful outcome. At Build Boston, ABC was proud to recognize these contractors as examples of the best our industry has to offer. We congratulate them on their achievements and their role in bettering our industry. ABC 2008 Excellence in Construction Awards Comm'l/Inst'l/Ind'l Over $5 Million Eagle Award - Erland Construction, Inc. - Library Addition/Newton Country Day School Merit Award - Bowdoin Construction Corp. - The Village at Colony Place Merit Award - Cutler Associates - University of Hartford - New Residence Hall Merit Award - Tocci Building Corporation - Aloft and Element Hotels Comm'l/Inst'l/Ind'l $1 - $5 Million Eagle Award - C.E. Floyd Company, Inc. - Latitude 43 Public Works Eagle Award - Methuen Construction Company, Inc. - Somersworth, NH Water Treatment Facility Historical Restoration Over $1 Million Merit Award - Kaplan Corp. - Washington Mill Lofts Merit Award - L.D. Russo, Inc.- The Blakely Building Pre-Engineered Buildings $2 - 10 Million Merit Award - J.M. Coull, Inc. - F. W. Webb Distribution Facility Renovation Merit Award - Erland Construction, Inc. - Cadet Residence Hall at Mass. Maritime Academy Electrical-Commercial/Industrial Over $1 Million Eagle Award - Interstate Electrical Services Corp. - Genzyme Eagle Award - Wayne J. Griffin Electric, Inc. - Evergreen Solar Manufacturing Facility Merit Award - The RELCO Companies - Dana Farber/Brigham & Women's Cancer Center Mechanical Commercial/Industrial Over $1 Million Merit Award - DECCO, Inc. - Lonza PD Relocation/Suite 6