The Keystone Chapter of Associated Builders & Contractors (ABC) recognized local member contractor firms for their work performed on area construction projects during the 30th annual ABC Excellence in Construction Awards Gala. The gala was held on Nov. 6 at Spooky Nook Sports, Manheim.
The top award of the evening was the Project of the Year, which was awarded to Benchmark Construction Co. Inc. and James Craft & Son Inc. for their project Frederick Street Patient Tower Overbuild. The project was selected due to its community impact, client satisfaction, design features, and positive notoriety. The project was submitted by Benchmark Construction Co. Inc. in the Healthcare Over $25 Million category and by James Craft & Son Inc. in the HVAC Over $5 Million category.
The project consisted of a six-story overbuild and expansion of Lancaster General Hospital's existing Stauffer building, which occupies the northeast corner of the hospital's site. Building vertically on a tight, landlocked site created several challenges. Benchmark was able to successfully coordinate steel delivery to the site to continue building while alternating with concrete delivery to pour the completed decking as the building rose. James Craft & Son Inc. was hired to perform the mechanical piping and HVAC for the vertical expansion and received many deliveries at its own warehouse to transport to the jobsite. Working in an occupied facility next to highly sensitive areas and minimizing the disruption to the hospital staff's ability to treat patients was the highest priority.
This year, the Project of the Year Award finalists also included CCS Building Group, Willow Street - Willow Valley Chapel Relocation, Lancaster (Category: Miscellaneous/Special Projects); Keystruct Construction Inc., York - Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church Elevator Addition, Hummelstown (Category: Institutional Under $2 Million); Kinsley Construction Inc., York - York Traditions Bank Tenant Fit-out, York (Category: Commercial Under $2 Million); Mowery PSL, Mechanicsburg - Westminster Place II at Windy Hill Village, Philipsburg (Category: Residential New Multi-Unit); Wohlsen Construction Company, Lancaster - CityGate Medical Office Building and Corporate Center, Lancaster (Category: Commercial $10-$25 Million); and Wohlsen Construction Company, Lancaster - Amtrak Harrisburg Station - Baggage Bridge Removal, Harrisburg (Category: Miscellaneous/Special Projects).
The gala was attended by more than 350 contractors, project owners, design professionals, and guests, including Sen. Ryan Aument, who presented the chapter with a 60th anniversary resolution.
This year's program featured 82 entries, judged using specific criteria regarding the quality of construction and workmanship by a panel of construction design professionals.
The Excellence Award, the top honor, was given to the highest scoring project in each category, providing it earned at least 90 points. The Merit Award, second place, was given to all other projects within each category that scored 80 or more points. The Excellence Award winners at the Keystone Chapter level are now eligible to enter at the national level and compete against the best in the industry from all 69 ABC chapters nationwide. A list of all of the Excellence Award and Merit Award winners is available at https://abckeystone.org/abc-keystone-awards-top-contractors-for-excellence-in-construction-at-2019-eic-gala/.
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