Regional Excellence Awards for Innovation and More

The St. Louis Construction News and Real Estate Regional Excellence Awards recognize those projects completed in the previous year that, in sum, demonstrate excellence in design and construction, and a positive contribution to the St. Louis community.

Now in their 21st year, the Regional Excellence Awards are the only comprehensive awards recognizing the best results of the construction industry when all the sectors -- owners, designers, and contractors -- work together as a team. The judges this year were: Dr. Steve Bannes, director, Graduate School of Construction Management, Washington University; Dr. John Gaal, director of education, St. Louis Carpenters' District Council; Dustin Bopp, principal of Bopp Architecture, Thomas Finan, publisher of St. Louis Construction News & Real Estate (CNR), and Peter Downs, editor of CNR.

The 2010 Regional Excellence Awards are:

Innovation Award
Harris Stowe State University Early Childhood Development and Professional
Education Center
Owner: Harris Stowe State University
Architect: KAI Design & Build with Adrian Luchini
Construction Manager: Kwame Building Group
General Contractor: Kozeny-Wagner Inc.

Judges' Comment: "This project has a great design and uses innovative materials, and it is important for furthering the understanding of childhood development and parenting techniques while propelling Harris-Stowe State University to the head of the class locally, nationally, and internationally."

Office Building
Edward Jones South Campus Building Addition
Owner: Edward Jones
Architect: Arcturis
General Contractor: McCarthy Building Cos.

Judges' Comment: "A huge project, a nice design, an exemplary safety record, and unusually thorough testing of the building envelope."

Urban Transformation-New
Moonrise Hotel
Owner: Joe Edwards
Architect: ACI/Boland
General Contractor: Paric Corporation

Judges' Comments: Joe Edwards has hit another home run. The project team overcame challenging construction issues to create a great economic booster for that area. The design integrates well with the neighboring Pageant and the building is garnering international attention. In addition, Paric went above and beyond usual diversity efforts with a job shadowing program.

Urban Transformation-Renovation
Washington University Corner Building
Owner: Washington University
Architect: Trivers Associates
General Contractor: Paric Corporation

Judges' Comments: "This project makes a great statement: a great reuse of an existing building that required the project team to go beyond what is typical in negotiating with historical preservationists to add an element to the building that is not historical - wind turbines."

Public Space
Alton Riverfront and Marina District Amphitheater
Owner: City of Alton
Architect: Planning Design Studio
General Contractor: RCS Construction Inc.

Judges' Comments: "A great public space that rejuvenates a city's historical tie to the river. Amazing to look at - just a cool space."

Health Care
SSM St. Clare Medical Center
Owner: SSM
Architect: HGA and Mackey Mitchell Associates
Construction Managers: Northstar and Kwame Building Group
General Contractor: Alberici Constructors

Judges' Comments: "The entire project is about what is good for patients - and the result is a building that looks great."

Judges' Award
BJC Institute of Health at Washington University
Owner: Washington University and BJC
Architect: Cannon Design
General Contractor: S.M. Wilson & Co.

Judges' Comment: "This project knocks it out of the ballpark on every level. Everything they did was out of the box."

CNR will present the awards at the Engineers' Club  in September at a date and time to be determined.

Columns