AGC Presents Keystone Awards

The Associated General Contractors of St. Louis (AGC) announced the winners for the 2010 Construction Keystone Awards.

The winners, which run the gamut from a community center to energy generation facilities to a bioresearch facility to the use of a cave for national archives, illustrate the diversity of quality work by St. Louis area contractors.

This is the thirteenth anniversary of the Construction Keystone Awards, sponsored by the AGC. A total of thirteen St. Louis area contractors received 2010 Construction Keystone Awards as a testament to the creativity and talents of a diverse group of St. Louis construction companies. The winners were chosen from a group of nearly 40 finalists; finalists were chosen from more than 60 entries, a record for the program. The awards ceremony also honored the owners of the winning projects.

In light of today's global economy, the AGC adopted two changes to the criteria for the 2010 Keystone project submissions: 1) AGC members are no longer limited to submitting projects located within the immediate St. Louis area; and, 2) project completion requirements were extended by one year. Projects that were substantially complete between June 15, 2008 and June 15, 2010 were eligible for submission.

Project of the year winners include the following: S. M. Wilson & Company for the BJC Institute of Health at Washington University (St. Louis, MO); Clayco for Washington University South 40 Redevelopment Phase I (St. Louis, MO); Kozeny-Wagner, Inc. for William L. Clay Sr. Early Childhood Development and Parenting Education Center (St. Louis, MO); Alberici Constructors, Inc. for the Coffeen Wet Flue Gas Desulphurization Installation - Units 1 & 2 (Coffeen, IL); MC Industrial, Inc. for ConocoPhillips Wood River Refinery Wastewater Treatment Upgrade (Wood River, IL); D & L Painting & Drywall for Express Scripts High Volume Filler (St. Louis, MO); BSI Constructors, Inc. for the Lewis Rice & Fingersh Corporate Headquarters (St. Louis, MO); PayneCrest Electric, Inc. for the BJC Data Center (O'Fallon, MO); Hayward Baker, Inc. for St. Louis Art Museum Expansion Mass Excavation Earth Retention (St. Louis, MO) as well as the Taum Sauk Foundation Drains & Piezometer Drilling (Lesterville, MO); Construction Services 2000, Inc. for National Archives and Records Administration (Valmeyer, IL); Guarantee Electrical Company for Gateway Energy & Coke Company (Granite City, IL); and Tarlton Corporation for Wexford BioResearch Development & Growth Park at the Danforth Plant Science Center (St. Louis, MO).

The Keystone Awards honor the highest achievements of St. Louis construction firms for their efforts to deliver projects on-time and on-budget. The awards are glowing recognition of local construction professionals whose skill, teamwork and spirit of innovation make a lasting contribution to our community by building the facilities that support and enhance the quality of life in greater St. Louis.

"These elite projects provide just a glimpse of the innovation and out-of-the-box thinking required by today's construction professionals," said Leonard Toenjes, AGC President. "The construction industry is truly at the heart of making this region a great place to live, work and play."

This year marks the fourth annual presentation of the Keystone Heritage Award. This award recognizes individuals or construction projects with a significant impact on the region. This year's award was presented to retiring U.S. Senator Christopher "Kit" Bond. Sen. Bond has supported legislation funding a variety of economic development projects for the region including the Washington Avenue loft district, the redevelopment of the Old Post Office, the CORTEX incubator and most recently, a new Mississippi River Bridge.

The 2010 Keystone Awards ceremony took place in the ballroom at the Millennium Hotel Downtown. Master of Ceremonies Charlie Brennan, of KMOX radio, presided over the event. The judges of the 2010 Keystone Awards included the following: representing AIA of St. Louis, Kevin J. Flynn, Kiku Obata & Company; representing American Council of Engineering Companies-Missouri, Daniel M. Wilson, PE, Kuhlmann Design Group, Inc.; representing American Subcontractors Association - Midwest Chapter, A. J. Ford, Budrovich Excavating & Contracting; representing U.S. Green Building Council-St. Louis Chapter, Marty Hart, LEED AP; and, representing construction education, Chris Gordon, Ph.D., LEED AP.

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