ABC National recognized the nation’s top 2009 construction projects during its Excellence in Construction and National Safety Excellence awards celebration in February. Graham Contracting Ltd.’s renovation of Seattle’s Alaska Building was chosen the Best Historic Renovation ($2 million - $10 million) of 2009.
Working closely with owner, 618 Second Avenue LP (Kauri Investments, Ltd.) and architect/engineer, Clark Design Group, Graham did extensive structural exploration that allowed the existing 104-year-old structure to be seismically upgraded without significant intrusion to the historic interior.
The Excellence in Construction awards program is the industry’s leading competition, developed to honor innovative and high-quality merit shop construction projects and safety programs. The award honors all construction team members, including the contractor, owner, architect and engineer. The winning projects, selected from more than 85 entries submitted from across the nation, were judged on complexity, attractiveness, unique challenges overcome, completion time, workmanship, innovation, safety and cost.
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On the chapter level, ABC of Western Washington’s Excellence in Construction Awards competition begins at 4 pm on March 22nd, the day the entries are due to the ABC office. Jury deliberations will take place in the following weeks. This year all entrants will have the opportunity to show off their projects at the Awards Showcase on Wednesday, April 28th at the Spirit of Washington Event Center in Renton.
This reformatted event will allow all of the membership to be more included in the excitement and business growth opportunities of the awards night with a tradeshow-like event, with all the entrants showcasing their projects to attendees. Entry forms are available here, or by contacting Victoria Klyce at (800) 640-7789.
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ABC members from around the nation gathered in San Diego to celebrate ABC’s 60th anniversary and its last convention. Pictures and videos from ABC’s 60-year history were displayed at the opening session, and many past leaders were honored. The Chapter Awards breakfast and Construction Careers Award breakfast started each day. Construction Symposium seminars on topics of interest to industry leaders followed. Anirban Basu, ABC’s economist, shared a great deal of data and insight into the current economic situation, even finding some humor in the grim predictions.
ABC of Western Washington was represented by Chairman Les Sargeant (United Systems Mechanical, LLC) and his wife Patty, Chair-Elect Erin VerHoeven (Corstone Contractors LLC) and her husband Steve, Stan Uhlig (Federal Construction Consultants) and his wife Sharon, along with President Kathleen Garrity.
Representing the University of Washington’s construction management program in the ABC Student Chapter Competition were: Meir Hammer, team captain, Mason Dhanes, Cameron Gregg, Ryan Voight and Brett Himes, a junior and next year’s team captain.
In responding to members’ changing needs, the convention has been phased out in favor of BizCon, a conference designed as a forum for industry leaders and executives. The conference will feature world-class keynote speakers, panel discussions, a host of seminars on high-level thought-provoking topics and plenty of time to network with other executives from around the country. The 2011 conference will be held at the Waldorf Astoria in Orlando on February 16-18. (Golf may be involved; the course is ranked the third best new course by golf.com.) Sunny weather, a conference designed around your needs and golf...in February. Put the dates on your calendar now!
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