The Builders Exchange, Inc. proudly presents the 49th annual Craftsmanship
Awards
In 1957, the Builders Exchange in Cleveland began a new program to honor
the craftsmen who physically shape our region, building our structures and
our future. Historically, these artisans have worked in total obscurity,
their names and contributions lost in the passage of time. Too often, buildings
are known only to the public as the products of the planners and designers
- an important focus, to be sure, but one that omits a vital part of the
creation of the city. Too often, it is only in a family history that descendants
driving by remember that "Grandpa built this" or "Uncle Joe
worked on that structure."
The Craftsmanship Awards Program was created to give recognition to these
professionals for their know how and dedication. At the same time, it
will honor and encourage the very highest standards of craftsmanship in
an industry that is often overlooked and underappreciated.
The selection process is a rigorous one. Each project is formally nominated,
and the nominations must include an explanation of why the nominated work
is deemed exceptional. (Some of those comments are included in the listings
to follow.) The nominated projects are then submitted to a judging process,
where they are evaluated, on site, by an engineer and graded on
1) overall quality, 2) complexity of design, 3) materials used, 4) difficulty
of installation, 5) size of the project and finally 6) whether the components
were shop-fabricated or site-fabricated. The information is then entered
into a computer program which determines the award winners.
The craftsmen you are about to meet are the very best and richly deserve
the recognition and appreciation of the entire industry. It is through their
efforts that our children will be able to marvel at future accomplishments,
just as we are able to admire the incredible skill used to build our past.
BXM
A. M. McGregor Home
Location: East Cleveland
Architect: Herman Gibans Fodor, Inc. Architects
General Contractor: Henle Builders
Owner: A. M. McGregor Home
Millwork Installation
Employer: Lake Erie Craftsmen
Reason: The artisan worked closely with manufacturer Nagele Manufacturing
Co. from start to finish on this old building that had new finish work installed.
He preformed the arches from rough lumber on site and then cut all trim,
running and standing, on site. He executed all of the returns, miters and
cornices in an exceptional fashion.
Baldwin Water Treatment Plant
Location: Cleveland
Architect: Richard L. Bowen + Associates Inc.
General Contractor: Shook / Kokosing LLC
Owner: City of Cleveland Division of Water
Masonry Restoration
Employer: VIP
Reason: Restoration of the historic and highly ornamented elements of
this project included cleaning the limestone, sandstone and brick surfaces,
recreating deteriorated faces and detailing, tuckpointing with meticulously
matched mortar, and installing water repellents and other safeguards to
protect it for the future.
Ben Venue Laboratories Phase V/ Sterile Manufacturing Addition
Location: Bedford
Engineer: Stantec Consulting Group, Inc.
Construction Manager: Ben Venue Laboratories
Owner: Boehringer Ingelheim
HVAC Ductwork
Employer: Franck & Fric Inc.
Reason: Craftsman was responsible for coordination with several
other trades and on time installation of 135 tons of multi-layered duct,
14 air handling units ranging up to 33,000 cfm, 16 HEPA modules, and 120
terminal HEPA filters, plus coordination of 46 custom stainless steel low
wall returns, all under the highest standards of cleanliness and room pressure
differentials.
Boneyard Restaurant
Location: Mayfield Hts.
Engineer: Fred H. Hollman, P.E., Consulting Engineer
General Contractor: Liquid Living Design & Management
Owner: Liquid Living Design & Management
Sheet Metal Ductwork
- Ken Hlucky
- William Davies
Employer: Mechanical Systems Inc.
Reason: Workers did an amazing job installing spiral ducting in
and around existing cinema and new construction and through existing walls
to accommodate sight clearance from stages.
Brecksville Human Services Center Addition
Location: Brecksville
Architect: Blunden, Barclay and Associates Architects Inc.
General Contractor: C.T. Taylor Co., Inc.
Owner: City of Brecksville
Masonry
Employer: Gallagher Masonry, Inc.
Reason: Brickwork and keystones in the jack arches above the windows
are tied in beautifully with the intricate cast stonework done. Difficult
access, with trees and a lake close to the building, made the project challenging.
Window and Door Installation
- Cornell Turcu
- Rick Pollman
Employer: Jamieson Ricca Windows
Reason: Installing aluminum windows and doors on all exterior
elevations and the cupola necessitated skillful coordination and execution.
All components were field tested and fitted. The exterior window installation
required custom brackets fabricated for each type of window. Trim work could
only be completed after all other trades were in place. A seamless blending
of components from two different manufacturers was accomplished.
Case Western Reserve University/ Cleveland Center for Structural Biology/
Wright Fuel Cell Group
Location: Cleveland
Architect: The Stubbins Associates
Construction Manager: Gilbane Building Company
Owner: Case Western Reserve University
Laboratory Equipment & Casework
Employer: Smith & Schaefer, Inc.
Reason: This fast-track project with design and engineering changes
used custom Nautilis overhead service carriers and floor mounted fuel cell
enclosures, each with 10-13 service lines. All arrived on time. Other products
included steel and plastic laminate casework, counter mounted fume hoods,
counter tops and reagent racks, and the suppliers coordination with the
construction manager and other trades was timely and efficient, minimizing
disruption and contributing to on-budget installation.
Case Western Reserve University/Village at 115/
Clock Tower Building
Location: Cleveland
Architect: Goody, Clancy & Associates
Construction Manager: Whiting-Turner Contracting Co.
Owner: Case Western Reserve University
Taping and Drywall Finishing
Employer: Marous Brothers Construction, Inc.
Reason: The Interior Finishes Division installed 2.2 million sf
of drywall, 1.1 million lineal feet of metal studs and 40,000 sf of acoustic
ceilings, all recycled content to fulfill sustainability requirements. Paper-faced
bead was used for longevity and flexibility of design, but this is applied
with joint compound and requires very precise installation. The clock tower
and library, with ceiling heights up to 20 ft, are open to allow for natural
light to flow in, so the quality of drywall finishing and simple geometric
patterns make the work stand out.
The Chabad Center
Location: Beachwood
Architect: Bialosky + Partners Architects LLC
Construction Manager: Atkin Construction Corp.
Owner: Waxman Industries
Masonry
Employer: F&R Contracting Co.
Reason: Masonry was built from three different sized units, with
alternating protruding and recessing. The largest unit was a 90 lb. Decro
face sandblasted unit that required two men to set, with wedges necessary
during setup. Pieces around the pointed window had to be custom cut.
Cleveland Clinic Foundation/
Central Plant
Location: Cleveland
Engineer: Karpinski Engineering
General Contractor: Siemens Building Technologies.
Owner: Cleveland Clinic Foundation
HVAC Piping
Employer: Reliance Mechanical LLC
Reason: Installation of a great quantity of piping in unusual
sizes
in a limited space.
Cleveland Clinic Foundation/
Heart Center
Location: Cleveland
Engineer: Korda/Nemeth Engineering Inc.
Construction Manager: Whiting-Turner Contracting Co.
Owner: Cleveland Clinic Foundation
Concrete Formwork
- Ken Carson
- Mark Stewart
- Tony Wooten
- Rick Sayre
- Charlie Bluhm
- Ken Anderson
Employer: Donley's, Inc.
Reason: Craftsmen were responsible for all concrete formwork for
concrete columns supporting the decking on each of two sides of the building,
three and five levels respectively. It was critical that the formwork be
constructed exactly for the columns to have the necessary stability to support
the weight of concrete and for the remainder of the building to be constructed
as specified. The structure's size and complexity and the tight time frame
made this difficult. In additon, all formwork for the nine elevator cores,
some up to nine stories in height, was done to exacting standards for the
cores to have necessary stability. The work was constructed level-by-level,
a labor-intensive process. But the completed structure was built to exact
specs during the difficult winter months and on a tight schedule.
Cleveland State University/
New Recreation Center
Location: Cleveland
Architect: Weber Murphy Fox
Construction Manager: Gilbane Building Company
Owner: Cleveland State University
Concrete Formwork
- Jeff Briggs
- Jim Klein
- Doug Tanski
- Bob Bedevelsky
Employer: Cleveland Cement Contractors, Inc.
Reason: The cast-in-place, elevated concrete ramps, stairs and
planters are an example of superior craftsmanship, as they are hung from,
cantilevered over and set atop several central concrete columns and walls.
Craftsmen had to cut, fit and fasten the formwork for very complex sloping
and warping surfaces 20 ft in the air and ensure that the formwork could
support the weight of the materials and workmen. Specs required that much
of the wallwork be poured monolithically, requiring intricate hanging forms
and specialized placing techniques.
Cleveland State University/
Rhodes Tower Library
Location: Cleveland
Engineer: Construction Resources, Inc.
General Contractor: Warren Roofing & Insulating Co.
Owner: Cleveland State University
Roofing / Waterproofing
- Tim Welch
- John Wasilko, Jr.
Employer: Warren Roofing & Insulating Co.
Reason: The six-month-long roof removal of 12 in thick material
over 60,000 sf on three levels at a minimum 80 ft in the air with only one
access point was accomplished during the school year. Multiple roof and
waterproofing systems were specified, and multiple trades had to be coordinated,
with many subcontractors.
Cleveland Municipal School District/
A.J. Rickoff K-8 School
Location: Cleveland
Architect: Hayes Large Architects, LLC
General Contractor: Giambrone Construction. Inc.
Owner: Cleveland Municipal School District
Light Gauge Truss Installation
Employer: OCP Contractors, Inc..
Reason: Installation of light gauge trusses with complicated hip
and valley framing. Design load for masonry walls required precise bracing
and bridging between trusses.
515 Euclid Avenue Parking Garage
Location: Cleveland
Architect: Richard Fleischman + Partners Architects, Inc.
Construction Manager: Turner Construction Company
Owner: OSF Properties, Inc.
Glass Curtainwall
- Jeff Boylan
- Kevin Craiglow
- Vince Modie
- Mark Mendralla
Employer: Architectural Products Sales Co.
Reason: More than 16,000-sf of glazing panels are structurally
caulked to the aluminum framing, with some exceeding 450 lbs and 6 ft. by
9 ft. Frames and glass are cantilevered off the building face.
First Congregational Church of Akron
Location: Akron
Architect: Chambers Murphy and Burge Restoration Architects. Ltd.
General Contractor: Seese/Sveda Construction
Owner: First Congregational Church of Akron
Carpentry
- Steve Rodenbucher
- Steve Few
Employer: Seese/Sveda Construction
Reason: The historic dais and choir loft were too small for current
needs, so both were expanded and separated by an original panel wall. New
panels matching existing were added and new tiers constructed to the choir
loft, along with a new railing. The lower portion of the dais was expanded
to accommodate ADA regulations and provide more room for the pastor.
Decorative Painting
Employer: Yerman & Young Painting, Inc.
Reason: When the accoustical tile in the ceiling was removed,
decorative elements were discovered, with the craftsman recreating the work,
much of it freehand, from raised scaffolding on sloped ceiling surfaces.
Decorative banding around windows and accents on the plaster were other
parts of the work.
Stencil Painting
Employer: Origin Artisan Group
Reason: A piece of door trim was removed from this often-redecorated
worship space, uncovering a delicate multi-color stencil. This artisan created
a design using the original elements and others of the time period. Precise
color matching was conducted.
Emery Office Building
Location: Warrensville Hts.
Architect: Herschman Architects
General Contractor: Snavely Development Co.
Owner: Jes Development Ltd.
Curtainwall / Composite Panels
- Jeff Boylan
- Kevin Craiglow
Employer: Architectural Products Sales Co.
Reason: It was a challenge installing this unique design using
curtainwall, reflective green glass and composite metal panels on the side
of the building with metal panels forming buttresses up the height and over
the parapet wall. An aluminum sunshade on the face of the curtainwall at
a custom 10 ft horizontal forms a band around different areas of the building.
Hilton Hotel
Location: Beachwood
Architect: ka architecture Inc., Cleveland
General Contractor: J.J.O. Construction, Inc.
Owner: Hilton Hotels
Metal Stud Framing
- Kyle Kazak
- Martin McAnally
Employer: Expert Construction, Inc.
Reason: The complex framing and support for this building was
complicated by a lack of structural steel. Coffers and soffits were built
production style using eight different jigs.
