Boeing Leadership Center Chateau

Built in the 1920s, this beautiful mansion is modeled after a 17th century French chateau, with intricate limestone carvings gracing both the exterior and interior. In 2006, a stairwell and elevator were added.

The 480-square-foot, four-level stairwell addition, located on the right side, and the elevator shaft at the rear mimic the style of the existing exterior. Using Indiana limestone, the masonry contractor incorporated details such as quoins at the corners and intricate carvings around the door and windows. The mason carved lintels with fruit and floral themes, jambs with scrolls, sills and keystones. Before creating shop drawings, the mason measured each of the courses, matching the lengths of stone as closely as possible. The masonry contractor applied a light sandblast finish so that the stone would appear weathered like the original stone.

The interior of the stairwell includes a significant amount of limestone. Although it is more modern in appearance, using similar materials was still important. The masonry contractor also had to transform two window-like recessed areas in the existing lower level into openings for the stairwell door and elevator. It involved removing a section of the limestone dado that wraps around the room and adding detail to the new doorways. The mason also patched the masonry on either side of the openings, recreating a diamond-shaped brick and stone pattern and locating a type of marble that was hard to match. From the inside out, the result is a seamless transition from old to new.

Completion Date: Fall 2006

Washington University Anheuser-Busch School of Law

Situated on the main campus of Washington University in St. Louis, the Anheuser-Busch School of Law is constructed in the traditional Gothic revival style. Since most of the granite for the earliest buildings on campus was probably locally quarried, Leonard Masonry sought to find a near-perfect match with nearby buildings. Working with its supplier, craftsmen went into an Ironton, Mo., to locate the exact part of the quarry from which to pull the granite.

The structure’s impressive granite and limestone exterior features a grand tower at its main entrance, large bay windows with limestone trim, dormers and massive protruding gables (five stories high on the north elevation and three stories on the south elevation). The building also has a courtyard featuring dedication tablets hand-etched into the limestone in honor of significant donors.

Completion Date: 1996

Awards:
1998 - MCAA "Excellence in Masonry"

Read More:
Craftsmanship Shines in ‘Gingerbread’ Job that Matches University’s 1904 Look

 

 

Cleaning New Masonry Buildings

Combinations of Materials Have Changed the Rules

Remember when guys worked on their car’s motors and changing spark plugs was easy? Then computers were added under the hood and things got way too complex. Same thing with cleaning masonry. Masonry buildings used to be easy to clean when they were constructed from one kind of masonry material. Then architects started designing facades with all sorts of masonry right next to each other. Suddenly, the art of cleaning got a lot more complicated. The rules for cleaning masonry have changed, so we thought we’d review them with you. Ignore them at the peril of your project’s budget.
 

Always Know Your Surface

Today, cleaning masonry is a specialized task that is often subbed out to a cleaning specialist. In those situations, it’s critically important that the specialty contractor knows exactly what kind of masonry materials have been used. “Since a cleaning subcontractor didn’t lay the materials,” says Mike Rafferty, president of Goedecke Company, “it’s vital that he asks a lot of questions to make sure that what looks like limestone isn’t actually a band of cast stone.”

The cleaner has to do his homework up front to identify the different types of substrates on the building rather than simply showing up and cleaning when the mason contractor calls. “If they don’t start asking questions until after they start cleaning, there could be a bad situation,” Rafferty cautions.

Test First, Then Clean

Most commercial construction jobs have a wall mock up panel in place. Although a panel doesn’t usually get as dirty as the building itself, it does furnish an excellent testing site for identifying the substrates used. It’s also an ideal vehicle for running preliminary tests on the various cleaners being considered.

Use the Mildest Cleaner and Dilution That Will Give the Desired Results

Manufacturers offer cleaning products with differing levels of acidic and alkaline content. Normally, there are three stages of strength to handle increasing levels of difficulty. “We always start with the softest, most mild product to see if it will give us the results we are looking for,”says Rafferty. “Then if we have to, we’ll make the dilutions stronger or we’ll move up to a stronger chemical. But our goal is to use the mildest cleaner that we can.”

Clean Early, Clean Quickly

The sooner the cleaner can begin the process, the better the chances are that a milder cleaner will get the excess mortar and dirt off. Although getting to the wall quickly is not always possible, it remains the goal to shoot for.

It’s preferable to get to a wall within seven to 21 days of completion. If there is an additive to the mortar or grout, it’s even more important to begin within seven days before the material becomes more cleaning resistant. With clay masonry, the cleaner should begin his task within 14 to 28 days. High rise construction brings another set of problems as it can take 56 days to get to the cleaning, which is then much more difficult to clean than it is at 21 days.
 

Use the Right Cleaner for the Job

To nail down the most appropriate cleaning product for a given material, Raffery recommends involving the distributor or the manufacturer of the cleaning products under consideration. “The manufacturer will take a concrete or brick unit and conduct lab tests to fine-tune the decision as to the most appropriate cleaner,” Rafferty says. “Then when the material is delivered to the job site, there will be a pallet tag attached specifying which cleaning product to use.” For example, since Prosoco products– which Geodecke carries–will be used to clean the massive Ameristar project, Geodecke sent the brick to Prosoco wheretests were run to determine the mildest yet most effective cleaner to use.
 

Never Clean with Muriatic Acid

The Masonry Institute has been warning against cleaning with muriatic acid for years. Now it’s encoded in the new cleaning rules, and for good reason. Muriatic acid is actually a form of hydrochloric acid. It penetrates back into the masonry almost as quickly as water and may cause staining as it works its way back out. A proprietary cleaner may contain acid, but it is combined with wetting and soaping agents that keep it on the surface where it can clean effectively and then be easily washed off.

Those are the new cleaning rules. In addition, the basics below still apply. 

Don't Spare the Water

A power washer is ideal because it will put between six and eight gallons of water on the wall per minute, far more than you can get from a garden hose. In hot
weather this is especially important because it takes a high volume of water to effectively pre-wet a wall and keep it wet before the heat can evaporate the water. In addition, a good power washer can’t be beat for effective flushing.

Clean Top to Bottom and Keep Those Lower Areas Wet

While working from the top, be sure to keep lower areas wet to avoid streaking and extra expenses to correct the problem.

Follow the Safety Precautions in the Literature

Learn from the mistakes of others. Wear the recommended protective clothing and apply the product as directed. Protect non masonry surfaces on the building, and don’t forget to protect bystanders as well as cars in the area of the cleaning.

In Cold Weather, Follow the 40 and Rising Rule

Don’t clean masonry unless the temperature is 40 degrees and rising, a precaution that provides a margin of safety against the water freezing. While there may be pressures to take a chance when the thermometer is in the 30s, resist them.
 
Cleaning masonry has become an increasingly sophisticated art. The combinations of different kinds of masonry on wall elevations and the development of new cleaning materials have made mastery of the art ever more demanding. Still, when a masonry project is completed and cleaned correctly, no other building material can match its sheer beauty.

Masonry Industry set for Peak Season Performance

Following a solid year in 2006, commercial construction activity in the St.Louis-area is predicted to be heavy once again this year. With estimates ranging somewhere between $10- and $13-billion dollars for 2007, the masonry industry has been gearing up to handle the year’s peak summer season.

 
“Our membership now is as high as it has been since the early ‘70s,” said Don Brown,business manager for Bricklayers’ Union Local No.1 of Missouri, AFC-CIO,which has been building St. Louis’ masonry heritage since the Civil War. With a workforce of some 1700 bricklayers in Eastern Missouri, Local #1 can handle the slate of scheduled projects on the Missouri side of the river. While the manpower numbers are solid, if necessary the union can dip into manpower reserves from surrounding regions.

“We can always make a call to the locals that border us– Local 15 in Kansas City, Local 23 in Southeast Missouri and Local 8 in Southern Illinois,” Brown said. “Journeymen from these areas constantly come over here looking for work. We probably have around 50 to 100 working on (Eastern Missouri) projects right now.”

Local #1 can also utilize the job placement program of the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers as an additional backup layer of manpower. Through this program, Local #1 can put out a call throughout the U.S. and Canada for bricklayers who belong to the international union.

Over at the Bricklayers Apprentice School,which trains all the bricklayers of Local #1, Instructor/Coordinator Mark Kruetzmanis bullish on the outlook for the masonry industry. “It’s going to be a fantastic year and everybody should do well,” he said at the school’s Earth City facility, which is operated jointly by Bricklayers’ Local #1 and the St. Louis Mason Contractors Association.During his three-year tenure at the helm of the Apprentice School-a model for other schools across the country, Kruetzman has seen the school average better than 130 apprentices in the program. “We have roughly 30 guys coming into the
program and 30 guys graduating every year,” he said.

While Kruetzman has heard rumors of manpower shortages in the skilled construction trades, he doesn’t believe they apply to the Eastern Missouri masonry industry. “There may be some spot skilled trade shortages in other areas of the country,” he said, “but these could easily reflect the lack of technical training in other metropolitan areas. A lot of areas are just getting around to starting apprentice programs.”

According to Kruetzman, not only is there a solid supply of area bricklayers, but advances in equipment have also increased their productivity. For example, newer motorized scaffolding goes up faster than conventional units, increasing productivity and safety while speeding the completion of a project. “You can see large sections of wall going up in one day because of some of these improvements,” Kruetzman said.

The Laborer Locals, who provide the area’s mason tenders, report their labor pipeline is full. “I can guarantee you thereare enough qualified laborers to do the mason tending,” said Patrick Pryor,director of the Labor Management Committee for the Eastern Missouri Laborer’sDistrict Council Laborers-Employers Cooperation and Education Trust (LECET).

Laborers’ Locals 42, 53 and 110 can currently field approximately 8800 workers in EasternMissouri. Pryor attributes the large number of construction workers to the advance planning of LECET training officials. “We’ve been hearing for several years that there was going to be a shortage of skilled craftspeople, so we’ve been gearing up our training and graduating more apprentices every year with that in mind,” Pryor said. “Because we stepped up our program, I wouldn’t anticipate a shortage of laborers to fill the manpower needs for the foreseeable future.”

Equally bullish on the summer outlook are the suppliers of masonry materials. Two years ago, Kirchner Block & Brick added a new $17-million, 53,000-sq. ft. production facility in Earth City, effectively doubling the company’s production capability.The investment is paying offfor the company as well as those who design and build with concrete masonry. “Lead-times for architectural split and ground-faced (Lusterstone) units are at an all-time low,” said Paul Wienke,Kirchner vice- president and general manager. “In several instances during this last year, we have been able to produce special order material that required a near- immediate turnaround within days of receiving the order.”

Don Marquess,president of Missouri Brick & Supply Co.,reports an equally positive story about the outlook on the brick side of the masonry equation. “Most of our brick manufacturers have product within four to six weeks. The brick are plentiful and many are currently in stock,” he said. John Motley,general manager for Richards Brick Co.,the area’s only remaining brick manufacturer, agrees with Marquess’ assessment. “Brick production capacity in the United States is higher than ever before with new plants coming on line. In general, brick availability is excellent,” he said. “As always, commercial jobs, special
production and particular kinds of brick require a reasonable lead time.”

“The continuing success of the masonry industry is going to take a team effort,” said Brian Grant,president of the local Mason Contractors Assoc.and Grant Masonry Contracting. “For our part, the MCA continues to educate and train the union mason contractors to the highest professional standards so that they can continue to maintain their competitive edge against other construction methods.”

St. Louis is known for its stock of outstanding masonry structures, from historic buildings such as Union Station and the Wainwright Building to more contemporary treasures like Clayton Plaza, the Eagleton Building and Washington University’s Whitaker and Earth and Planetary Sciences buildings, just to name just a few. Over the years, the masonryindustry has proved it can handle the signature projects as well as the flow of everyday projects. With an abundance of manpower and materials, the training, the experience and the equipment, the industry is ready for whatever owners and architects can create. As Don Brown says of his men at Bricklayers’ Local #1, “However large the challenge, we’re ready for it!”

Our Lady of Lourdes Church

Parishioners in Washington, Mo., worship in a beautifully crafted church that showcases a mixture of traditional German gothic architecture and modern amenities. Architect Chiodini Associates selected brick as the main exterior material because of its prevalence in Washington and to match a nearby school building.

Leonard Masonry’s work on Our Lady of Lourdes included a combination of brick, cast stone and split-faced block. Visitors enter the lower level through a masonry feature including three arches separated by columns. The sanctuary entrance has a massive brick façade with four soaring columns. The brick columns on both levels feature recessed brick lines on all four sides to provide additional architectural interest. They are supported by split-faced block topped with sloped cast stone. Recessed and protruding brick patterns are further incorporated into the masonry on the bell tower and along the top of the building under cast stone accents. Cast stone is used throughout the design to accent windows and columns. Pointed arch windows are surrounded by cast stone and then corbelled brick. Cast stone provides a band around the top of the building and additional horizontal bands add interest among a sea of brick.

 

Completion Date: 2004

Awards:
Fall 2006 - Masonry Institute of St. Louis Excellence in Masonry Award "Distinction in Craftsmanship"
Spring 2005 - MCAA International Excellence in Masonry Awards "2nd Place Honor"

 

 

St. John the Apostle Church

Erected circa 1857, the towers on the St. John the Apostle Church had badly deteriorated with abundant settlement cracks and open joints. Leonard Masonry temporarily removed each tower roof via crane, demolished the existing brick and installed new brick with a reinforced CMU backup. Steel lintels, plates and rebar provided structural support to the masonry, while a combination of solid-grouted and cavity walls control storm water penetration.

Due to the church’s city landmark status, the new construction had to match the existing in all respects, including exterior dimension, proportion, detail and color. The architect and Leonard Masonry collaborated through meticulous material selection and installation to achieve a seamless transition from new to old.

 

Completion Date: 2006

Awards:
Fall 2005 - AIA/CPC "Honor Award for Masonry Craftsmanship"

 

 

 

 

Private Residence Pool House

Leonard Masonry completed an addition, extensive site work and a beautiful new pool house that mimics the historical design of this private residence, built in 1921. The existing home is composed mainly of brick with limestone frieze trim, arches, pilasters, brick terraces with stone rails, and slate roofing. It was vitally important to the owner that the new and old blend perfectly. To achieve this look, Leonard Masonry installed a brick veneer with limestone window sills, brick soldier and limestone key headers at all openings, and a limestone panel base.

The pool house incorporates carved and profiled limestone that matches the dining room patio entrance to the main house. Detailed carvings under the roofline are identical to those found at the main residence. Fluted, tapered columns separate the openings into the pool house. The two-way tapers were difficult to carve, tapering from the ground up and from left to right. On the east side, stone balustrades guide visitors from a brick-paved terrace down into the yard, while the west side leads to the pool.

 

Completion Date: Spring 2006

Awards:
Fall 2006 - AIA/CPC "Excellence in Design for Masonry Craftsmanship"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Washington University Farrell Learning & Teaching Center

Leonard Masonry completed a high-quality installation for the Washington University Farrell Learning & Teaching Center that incorporated 300,000 bricks, eight truckloads of limestone and two containers of granite. The building’s exterior is composed of Beldin brick with limestone windowsills and accents above a granite base. The brick veneer incorporates specialized vertical control joints to regulate expansion and movement. The east elevation includes a larger concentration of stone set into a glass curtainwall system.

Leonard Masonry meticulously hand carved the building’s name over the main entrance and on a freestanding sign. Craftsmen also cut 1-foot-thick granite caps for the piers lining the sides of the exterior steps. The entrance features brick pavers in the nearby hospital’s typical pattern and a granite floor pattern. On the interior, the masonry contractor installed granite steps leading to the second floor, countertops in serving areas and limestone bases.

 

Completion Date: August 2005
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Logan College Purser Center

Leonard Masonry served as the masonry contractor for the Dr. William D. Purser Center on the campus of Logan College of Chiropractic.

The building’s exterior combines more traditional masonry with modern design, conveying the theme of forward-thinking education based in sound principles. The building features a contrast of Mojave, copper and wheat-colored brick. Copper is the main color, with 140,000 bricks, accented by 47,000 Mojave and 33,000 wheat bricks. The most interesting and challenging aspect of the project were the manufactured stone piers that serve as the base for the curved front entryway. The piers lean out 10 degrees, which required custom pieces and careful planning for installation. Exterior improvements were made to include a network of walkways, upgraded roadways, student parking and a central fountain to link the building to a quadrangle formation. Leonard Masonry installed numerous columns, walls and benches around the site, including seating for an outdoor amphitheatre.

 

Completion Date: June 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

St. Louis Community College - Wildwood Campus

St. Louis Community College debuted the first building on its new campus in Wildwood, Mo., in time for the 2007-2008 school year. Leonard Masonry designed intricate masonry details that are integral to the design of the facility, both on the interior and exterior. The exterior consists of 240,000 red brick and 7,300 pieces of prairie stone. Brick detail was incorporated on almost every surface of the exterior, with the exception of the brick towers.

Due to its double curve, the colonnade at the main entrance of the building was the most challenging installation. The colonnade starts out straight toward the rear and curves forward to form a covered walkway. To save the client money, Leonard Masonry recommended cast stone instead of prairie stone for the archways. While the manufacturer had the hardest task of creating these double-curved pieces, the installation itself also required a number of field adjustments. Leonard Masonry had to carefully line everything up to maintain a smooth curve throughout the walkway. The rotunda at the rear was less challenging; even though it had curved pieces, they were smaller, and there were no arches.

St. Louis Community College pursued LEED certification for the project.

Completion Date: January 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Masonry Institute of St. Louis Excellence in Masonry Award

Fall 2006 - "Merit in Craftsmanship" - Emerson Grand Basin (photo )

Masonry Institute of St. Louis Excellence in Masonry Award

Fall 2006 - "Distinction in Craftsmanship" - Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church (photo)

Masonry Institute of St. Louis Excellence in Masonry Award

Fall 2006 - "Excellence in Craftsmanship" - Washington University Uncas A. Whitaker Earth & Planetary Science building (photo)

AIA/CPC (American Institute of Architects/Construction Products Council)

Fall 2006 – “Honorable Mention Award for Masonry Craftsmanship” – Federal Reserve Bank

AIA/CPC (American Institute of Architects/Construction Products Council)

Fall 2006 – “Excellence in Design for Masonry Craftsmanship” – Private Residence Pool House (photo )

Masonry Contractors Association of America (MCAA) Awards

2005 - "International Excellence in Masonry 2nd Place Honor" - Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church (photo)

AIA/CPC (American Institute of Architects/Construction Products Council)

Fall 2005 - "Honor Award for Masonry Craftsmanship" - St. John Apostle and Evangelist Catholic Church (photo)

Masonry Construction Magazine Project of the Year Awards

July 2005 - "Project of the Year - Best Landscaping Project" - Emerson Grand Basin (photo)

Touching Lives through Habitat for Humanity

When Habitat for Humanity officials approached the Masonry Institute for help with their Jeff-Vander-Lou project last year, they came to the right place. Habitat was going to build 20 new homes on the city’s north side and they wanted to include brick fronts on the units to match those in the surrounding neighborhood. To do that, they needed the assistance of the masonry industry.

“As soon as we learned of Habitat’s need, we went to our mason contractors and suppliers,” said Darrell McMillian, P.E., MISL executive director. “They’re the key to the construction of a project like this.”

The first step was to put the request before the union mason contractors who would be asked to donate the labor—an expensive proposition for the bricklaying companies. “A contractor has to give up maybe two days for a crew and equipment,” said David Gillick, executive director of the Mason Contractors Association of St. Louis. Gillick announced the request at his association’s next meeting and received the response he anticipated. “We’ve got a very good group of guys.” Gillick said, “They stepped up.”

John Jahnsen of Jahnsen Masonry Contractor, who volunteered a crew, was typical in his reaction. “My company does a lot of work in St. Louis,” he said. “I thought this would be a good way to give something back to the city.”

The project included 18 separate two-story units, including a pair of two-family structures. Heitkamp Masonry and John J. Smith Masonry Co. volunteered to brick the two-family units. The single-family units were handled by ABC Masonry, Brinker Contracting Co., Caswell Brickwork, Fred L. Davis Co., E.C. Landers Brickwork, Frisch Masonry, Grant Contracting Co., Martin Heck Brick Contracting Co., Jahnsen Masonry Contractor, JDS Masonry, Lampkin Masonry, Leonard Masonry, L&L Brick Contracting, Doug Nichols Masonry, Spencer Brickwork, and Swanson Masonry. All these firms employ members of Bricklayers’ Union Local No. 1 of Missouri.

With the labor commitments falling into place, it was time to seek out the masonry building materials—bricks, mortar, anchors, etc. Again, the industry was generous in its response. “I think the Habitat for Humanity program is an excellent way to help the underprivileged and the less fortunate,” said Jason Rainey of the Simpson Materials Co., who provided the mortar. “Because our company is an integral part of the masonry industry, we saw this as an opportunity to help pay back the community.”

Vince Irwin, whose Irwin Products donated the special wall ties that were required by the project’s specifications, agreed. “I think (the donations) say a lot about the masonry industry in this town and what it has to offer,” he said. “Just look at all the suppliers who pitched in with brick, mortar and all the other materials. Everybody came together and worked as a team.”

In addition to Simpson Materials Co. and Irwin Products, masonry suppliers who contributed to the project’s success included Kirchner Block & Brick, Buchheit Supply, Earthworks, Enloe Enterprise, Missouri Brick & Supply, Raineri Construction Products, and Richards Brick Co.

Through the years, the masonry community has donated a significant amount of time and equipment to make St. Louis a better place to live and work. As the Habitat for Humanity project demonstrates, today that commitment is as strong as ever.

Saint Louis County Justice Center Clayton

 

 

St. Louis Children’s Hospital

Cochran Housing Facility

Ferris Harris Apartments

Evans Scholarship Residential Facility

Marconi Residence

Delmar Gardens Retirement Center

Leonard Residence

 

 

 

Private Residence 3

Leonard Masonry’s craftsmanship is showcased in both intricate detail and monumental stone throughout the home. The contemporary design incorporates a stone veneer exterior with limestone trim and an EIFS (exterior insulated finished system) covering portions of the exterior. A large cut stone band stretches around the exterior, modulating to form different planes and a transition between the stone and EIFS.  A low-hip roof with large overhangs is composed of Pennsylvania slate with purple hues to echo the window framing and purple Chilton cut stone that comprises 20 percent of the mix in the exterior walls.  Leonard Masonry also installed matching stone veneer on a detached five-car garage and garden walls of cut stone at the front entrance.

Leonard Masonry built five fireplaces within the residence, including two composed of cut stone. A large decorative limestone archway with triangular corner cutouts and overhang frames the main entry.  The property also features antique French limestone walkways that provide access to the front of the home and rear patio areas and garden walls of cut stone at the front entrance. Leonard Masonry’s work on the interior included the five fireplaces, marble columns and granite countertops throughout the house.

 

Completion Date: June 2000

 

Awards:
Fall 2001 - AIA/CPC "Honor Award for Masonry Craftsmanship"
Spring 2002 - MCAA International Excellence in Masonry Award "Honorable Mention"

 

800 N. Hanley Condominiums

Claytonian Condominiums

Private Residence 1

Designed in the style of a French chateau, this private residence features a variety of unique masonry details.  Using Marley Tudor brick and Indiana limestone, the residence features an intricate basket weave pattern on the front entryway, front chimney stack east side and southern exposure. Raised bricks protrude from the exterior in interconnecting diamonds to create the basket weave pattern. The front chimney is topped by two diamond-shaped stacks, while the remainder of the exterior features a running bound brick pattern.

Other exterior features include bonded brick or limestone arches around doors and architrave around windows. Balcony balustrades and water table bands provide additional accents around the house. Leonard Masonry also installed solid limestone steps and had to cut lights to fit in the stone. The interior features seven fireplaces, five of which have visible exterior stacks, including the fireplace on the veranda. Stone comprises the entire veranda fireplace, while the others are primarily wood with stone accents.

 

Completion Date: May 2001

Awards:
Summer 2004 - Masonry Construction Magazine Project of the Year Award "Residential Category"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hallmark Creve Coeur

Sitting on an urban site backed by woods and a lake, The Hallmark of Creve Coeur provides a new style of living for seniors in the St. Louis area. Consisting of six levels and a garage, the 317,000-square-foot masonry veneer retirement community is located in the heart of Creve Coeur, Mo., in west St. Louis County. A member of the Brookdale Living Communities network, the 218-unit facility provides both independent and assisted living.

Masonry is a standard element in Brookdale facilities. Through the use of horizontal bands of masonry, the building appears to be a self-contained cruise ship snuggled into a lake. The horizontal bands include a limestone concrete split-face block base with a deep wine-colored brick veneer in the middle, topped by limestone-colored brick at the roofline. Leonard Masonry also installed natural limestone bands, windowsills and detailed masonry around the porte cachere. In addition to the exterior, Leonard Masonry installed granite countertops in four public restrooms, the general store, the lobby area, the buffet and completed precast pavers on the grand terrace patio.

Completion Date: July 2002

Awards:
Fall 2002 - Masonry Construction Magazine Project of the Year Award - "Honorable Mention - Multifamily Housing Category"

 

 

 

 

 

 

Private Residence 2

The owners of this private residence located in Ladue, Mo., wanted to achieve the feel of a French cottage as well as the effect of a new house that looked 100 years old. Leonard Masonry achieved the country French feel through the selection of old-world stone and stucco for the 10,000-square-foot home.

With the actively involved owner, Leonard Masonry completed the exterior veneer, stone fireplaces and site paving. Belden brick, a reddish hand-cast brick and a special stone design that blended brick, stone and blue stone in three different colors. Leonard Masonry also used uniquely shaped brick, natural-color mortar and rake joints to make the house more prominent. The residence further features a brick rowlock around the house, blue-gray windows, a driveway edged in cobblestone and a natural stone patio. 

Completion Date: June 2001

Awards:
Fall 2002 - Masonry Construction Magazine Project of the Year Award - "Project of the Year - Residential Category" 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Manchester United Methodist Church

Manchester United Methodist Church, designed in a "loose" interpretation of Federal/Colonial style, ties together the rich architectural and masonry history of the site while also providing a 1,200-seat sanctuary and education space for this fast-growing congregation. Leonard Masonry built custom scaffolding for this challenging masonry installation.

A custom blend brick in a Garden Wall Flemish Bond was selected to match the historic buildings and tied into the existing sanctuary. A high level of craftsmanship also was required to install the massive field of diagonal brick on the south elevation. The diagonal pattern surrounds a stone-framed rose window, which, in turn, is surrounded by a grand arch made up of a running bond pattern of special shaped bricks. Four limestone pilaster columns support the cornice and pediment above. Three smaller arches framing the same diamond pattern were constructed along the west elevation, just north of a large ceremonial west entrance. An impressive masonry steeple base features a round window with limestone trim, including four limestone keystones used as accents.

Completion Date: September 1998

Awards:
Fall 2000 - Masonry Institute of St. Louis "Excellence Award in Brickwork"
2001 - International Union of Bricklayers & Allied Craft Workers BAC Craft Award "Best Brick Project"

 

 

 

MetroLink Light Rail Transit System

Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent DePaul

 

The New Marillac Provincialate was constructed as the new headquarters of the West Central Province for the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent DePaul. Leonard Masonry designed the facility with finished brick and limestone to provide textured characteristics that tie into the neighborhood and the St. Louis environment.

The entire facility is finished with brick, heavy rock-faced limestone and hand-carved smooth limestone. These familiar features provide St. Louis characteristics such as horizontal banding, limestone carved coping, masonry arched window heads hand carved of limestone, a limestone carved colonnade and a solid base of heavy rock-faced limestone. All design elements of the project link the building to the historic Gaslight Square neighborhood.

 

Completion Date: April 2003

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chase Park Plaza Restoration

Located next to Forest Park, Chase Park Plaza has regained its original elegance with a $100 million renovation in which Leonard Masonry restored the signature terra cotta along the hotel’s southern exposure.

Leonard Masonry removed all of the broken terra cotta pieces, cleaned out crevices and provided shoring to support existing masonry and protect the patio deck. Using the original pieces for reference, sculptors created patterns with molds, finished them with carving details and finally oxides were added to create an exact glazed color match.

Completion date: June 2000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Missouri Temple

Situated on a prominent hill along U.S. 40/I-64, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints literally “reaches toward heaven.” Arches, pilasters and a dramatic single spire topped by a gold leafed statue of the Angel Moroni rises 150 feet above the terrace. Bethel white granite panels and cast stone cladding provide the temple with its simple, elegant look, suggesting heavenly cleanliness.

The temple is designed in a transitional style using traditional elements. Leonard Masonry clad the temple in 2-1/4-inch-thick Bethel white granite panels surrounded by a cast stone base, water table, pilasters, cornice and arched window topped by a keystone. The interior of the temple features Bethel white granite with a polished finish at the radiused recommend desk and the circular Baptismal Font and glass railing. The interiors also are accented with matching granite.

 

Completion Date: April 1997

Awards:
1998 - MCAA "Excellence in Masonry" 2nd Place
Fall 2000 - Masonry Institute of St. Louis "Merit Award in Stonework"

 

 

Emerson Grand Basin

 

Host to the 1904 World’s Fair, St. Louis’ Forest Park has undergone a massive transformation during the past nine years, including the restoration of the Emerson Grand Basin to its former glory.

Leonard Masonry’s craftsmen installed all-new bridges, steps, benches and skirting at boat landing areas. Leonard Masonry also installed pilasters with balustrades between them, placing a coping piece on top of the bottom rail, followed by the baluster and the top rail with a cap. The installation included more than 9,000 pieces of cast stone.

 

Completion Date: Fall 2003

 

Awards:
Fall 2006 - Masonry Institute of St. Louis - "Merit in Craftsmanship"
Spring 2005 - MCAA "Project of the Year - Rehab/Restoration"
Fall 2005 - MCM "Project of the Year - Best Landscaping Project"
Fall 2004 - AIA/CPC "Merit Award for Masonry Craftsmanship"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A. G. Edwards Corporate Headquarters

Southwest Bank

The materials, forms and details utilized in Southwest Bank’s building design and material selection are reminiscent of significant traditional financial institutions including, granite and cast stone materials. Exterior materials consist of traditionally detailed polished and flame-etched Carnelian granite piers and bay windows with cast stone used for the distinctive cornice, horizontal-based accent and for trim around first floor windows. Especially challenging were the piers around the two rotundas, fabricated from both convexed and concaved granite panels. Leonard Masonry built an intricate, circular shaped scaffold to complete the interior stonework in the rotunda area. Two exterior entry plazas and exterior stairs also are granite.

 

The lobby carries the granite and cast stone masonry materials of the exterior, creating a two-story, granite-enclosed atrium lobby on the south and a four-level skylight-enclosed atrium on the north.  Granite and stone were used on walls, columns and floors of the interior lobby. Granite also was used in the very unusual radius bank lobby flooring and on the curved teller line.

 

Completion Date: November 1999

Awards:
Fall 2000 - AIA/CPC Honor Award in Craftsmanship
Spring 2002 - MCAA International Excellence in Masonry Award "Honorable Mention"

 

 

Ralston Purina World Headquarters

Emerson Electric World Headquarters

Unity Health Corporate Headquarters

Unity Health's 255,000-square-foot, five-level corporate headquarters presented special challenges because of the sheer enormity of the project, high quality expectations, and a tight 18-month schedule. Leonard Masonry also confronted a difficult construction site due to uneven terrains, two watersheds and limited access.

The architect's original design called for massive amounts of brick in many different shapes and sizes, including a pitch-face brick accent band around the building. When the architects viewed the band under dramatic evening lighting, they came back to the bricklayers and requested pitch-face limestone to match the already installed pitch-face brick. The bricklayers pitch-faced all the building's limestone to match the brick, using up to 30 craftsmen on site at any one time. Leonard Masonry also built the adjacent three-level parking structure with two striking curved-face masonry towers with limestone trim, carrying through the architectural theme. The exceptional masonry craftsmanship is probably no more evident than in the main lobby, where brick and limestone are combined in a dramatic protruding second-floor balcony.

 

Completion Date: June 1999

 

 

 

 

Maritz World Headquarters

 

 

 

 

Washington University Graham Chapel Addition

Located at the center of the busy campus, Washington University’s Graham Chapel addition presented two major challenges. The first was to construct the 500-square-foot, one-level facility in the middle of a campus with heavy student pedestrian traffic and frequent events. The second was to match the pitch, size and color of the existing granite and limestone, replicating the collegiate Gothic style popular a century ago on university campuses. The goal was to make the structure look like it, too, had been built circa 1907.

Working with its supplier, Leonard Masonry craftsmen were sent to Ironton, Mo. in southern Missouri to locate the exact part of the quarry from which to pull the granite, knowing that a near-perfect match was needed. At the campus site, existing granite was removed from the main edifice and replaced with new granite, and old pieces were blended in with the new. Also, an arched doorway with gargoyles was taken down, moved "out" to the new addition, and granite was custom-blended around it. The face of the limestone was V-grooved throughout to match the existing materials on the main chapel. The V-grooves ran different directions, so all the work involved extensive field verification and time-consuming hand planning. Special care also was taken to match existing interior marble flooring in the main chapel.

 

Completion Date: December 1998

Awards:
Fall 2000 - Masonry Institute of St. Louis "Excellence Award in Renovation Craftsmanship"
Spring 2002 - Building Stone Magazine Tucker Architectural Award

 

 

University of Missouri-St. Louis Student Center (under construction)

St. Charles Community College (under construction)

Styx School

In a collaborative effort between the St. Louis Public Schools and BJC Health System, this early childhood center provides a warm and welcoming environment for pre-school and elementary students aged 3 to 8.

The school’s design features bold primary colors with basic shapes of triangles, circles and squares incorporated throughout. Four rectangular wings of the building enclose a courtyard for outdoor play. A high standard of masonry craftsmanship was required to construct the bold checkerboard brick patterns that mark all entrances to the building. Working closely with the architect, Leonard Masonry helped select brick with tight enough tolerances to make all the intricate dimensioning possible.

Four different types of brick were used, including glazed brick, along with a variety of mortar mix colors. Craftspersons were challenged with several different types of wall construction, including brick checkerboard walls and projected ribbon courses.

 

Completion Date: July 1997

 

 

 

 

Saint Louis University Billiken Athletic Center

University of Missouri-St. Louis/SSB Building

 

Washington University Psychology Building

 

 

 

 

Washington University Natural Sciences Building

 

 

 

 

Saint Louis University Student Housing

 

 

 

 

 

Washington University East McDonnell Hall

Washington University Charles F. Knight Center

The 135,094-square-foot, five-level Charles F. Knight Executive Education Center on the Washington University Hilltop Campus is an exceptional example of modified Gothic-style architecture with Missouri red granite with limestone quoins and features a magnificent limestone Richardson Arch.

For the Charles F. Knight Center, Leonard Masonry took painstaking care to match existing campus buildings, many dating back to the early 1900s. To achieve a precise color and quality match, the stone supplier sent bricklayers into the original quarry where the Missouri red granite for early buildings on campus is believed to have been sourced. The structure features limestone trim throughout, bay windows on all four sides, and distinctive window-high, charcoal-colored stone bands at ground level. The building’s large rooftop cooling tower, visible from the north side, is screened with Indiana limestone integrated with mechanical screened louvers with galvanized tubular steel, covered in limestone, forming a structural frame. All of the building’s windows are operable and framed in Indiana limestone.

 

Completion Date: 2001

Awards:
Fall 2001 - AIA/CPC "Distinguished Award for Masonry Craftsmanship"

 

 

  

 

 

 

Washington University Lab Sciences Building

Home to Washington University’s chemistry department, the 129,500-square-foot Laboratory Sciences Building serves as yet another example of Leonard Masonry’s exceptional craftsmanship. Masonry is a major element of Washington University’s architectural tradition, and it continues to dominate in the Laboratory Sciences Building.  Skidmore, Owings and Merrill Architects’ goal was to design a building that would be a good neighbor to other nearby buildings even though it is like a machine on the inside.  To accomplish this goal, the exterior makes use of the university’s standard mix design of Missouri red granite and limestone with 26,000 square feet of granite and 13,000 cubic of feet carved limestone.

Leonard Masonry faced several challenges on the Laboratory Sciences Building, one being the intricacy of the limestone. The north entry is more monumental, with intricate finials and limestone brickwork, while the south entry evokes a more pedestrian feel. Leonard Masonry successfully installed the challenging masonry, which incorporates intricate limestone with glass in between stone and piers, maintaining the spirit and feel of nearby buildings. 

 

Completion Date: July 2002

 

Awards:
Fall 2002 - AIA/CPC "Honor Award for Masonry Craftsmanship"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Central Institute for the Deaf

The architectural design of CID’s campus respects the sunny Mediterranean architectural vocabulary established by its original architect in 1929. The exterior, constructed entirely of masonry with limestone accents, displays high quality masonry and stone craftsmanship throughout the complex. The exact selection of brick was necessary to match the adjacent original school building. Since the campus serves as a southern terminus for the Washington University Medical School complex, it also was important to blend colors and style with nearby buildings.
 
The main entrance features a finely crafted three-story masonry entry tower above an arch, while the adjacent new school building also features a two-story masonry stair tower. The entire complex features a limestone base, topped by a masonry exterior with limestone accents. Cast stone medallions are placed throughout the complex above first story windows and below the roofline.

 

Completion Date: February 2001

 

 

 

 

 

 

Uncas A. Whitaker Center for Biomedical Engineering

Designed in the collegiate Gothic style typical of other campus facilities, the Uncas A. Whitaker Center for Biomedical Engineering building is located on the campus of one of the top universities in the country. The 114,000-square-foot structure successfully conveys the seriousness and timelessness of this world-class university’s rich architectural history while also standing as one of the nation’s most advanced biomedical engineering facilities.

Constructed of reinforced concrete with granite and limestone exterior, the building features about 1,200 tons of masonry materials composed of the campus’ standard Missouri red granite and carved limestone combination. The biomedical engineering building features several gothic elements, including arches and buttresses. Located on the west side, the main entrance consists of a massive limestone arch carved with the university’s initials. Above the arch, two six-paned windows are set in limestone below a limestone panel carved with the building’s namesake. Limestone buttresses with granite quoins and limestone finials frame the main arch and are echoed between three limestone arches on the south side of the building. Although the materials were predetermined by the university’s standard design, the masonry contractor was able to keep costs down through the use of a local fabricator.

 

Completion Date: December 2002

Awards:
Fall 2006 Masony Institute of St. Louis Excellence in Masonry Award - "Excellence in Craftsmanship"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fontbonne University Fine Arts Addition

Leonard Masonry completed a three-story addition and exposed stairwell feature to Fontbonne University’s fine arts center. The new addition features a granite exterior with limestone banding and trim around windows.

Completed over a two-month period during the school year, Leonard Masonry had to cut all miters and angles so that the 30-foot-tall expansive glass window bordered by limestone would go from a 45-degree angle to a 90-degree angle for the stairwell and elevator addition. Leonard Masonry also meticulously matched materials and stone jointing to the existing building and saved old granite and reused it as a cost saving measure.

 

Completion Date: Spring 2000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Washington University Earth & Planetary Sciences Building

Leonard Masonry’s seventh project on the campus of Washington University, the Earth & Planetary Sciences Building science building reflects craftsmanship that has been perfected with each new building. With more than 6,000 pieces of carved limestone and 45,000 square feet of Missouri red granite, the meticulously blended granite mix is composed of colors that do not stand out individually. This science building marks the first project in which there were no relief angles.

The uniqueness of the building is shown in the quoin designs. The limestone quoins are wide at the base of the building and stair-step in toward the center, again widening toward the top of the building. The contractor installed massive limestone window surrounds that are much larger than others on campus. The building further features gables with limestone edging and finials and attractive limestone arches and canopies at the east and west entrances.

 

Completion Date: March 2004

 

Awards:
Fall 2006 - Masonry Institute of St. Louis Excellent in Masonry Award "Excellence in Craftsmanship"

 

 

 

 

 

 

St. John’s Hospital

St. Anthony’s Hospital

St. Elizabeth Hospital (under construction)

Missouri Baptist Medical Center Office Building

 

SSM Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital, Phase IV

Working with McGrath & Associates Inc., Leonard Masonry successfully created a new scaled-down entrance to Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital in St. Louis. Leonard Masonry transformed the formerly imposing hospital entrance into a welcoming place for the hospital’s pediatric patients and their families. The building’s new, well-lit and airy atrium, topped off by its distinctive copula, blends well with the existing hospital while adding distinctive architectural elements that achieve the owner’s and architect’s vision.
 
Additional features include brick and limestone-clad exterior columns with limestone sconces that up-light the building at night. All brick and limestone features were fabricated by St. Louis Stone & Supply, Leonard Masonry’s subsidiary. St. Louis-based Archimages Inc. served as the architect.

 

Completion Date: May 2000

Awards:
Fall 2001 - AIA/CPC "Merit Award for Masonry Craftsmanship"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

St. Louis Public Library

Bi-State Transit DeBaliviere Avenue Bus Garage

 

 

 

 

Scottrade Center

 

 

 

 

Missouri Historical Society Emerson Electric Center

Edward Jones Dome

 

 

 

 

Richmond Heights Community Center

Leonard Masonry created a new community center for the city of Richmond Heights, Mo., located in St. Louis County, that is reminiscent of the nearby city hall with its peaked roofs. With the time-honored elements of brick and glass, Leonard Masonry crated a modern facility with the look of an established community.

Leonard Masonry installed the building’s exterior and interior masonry. Extensive block was used within the pool and other areas. The aquatic center, which features three lap lanes, a leisure pool, spa, sauna, steam rooms and a two-story water slide, combines colorful green/blue painted block cascading down the wall above sand-colored block columns. The building’s memorable exterior face was completed with a combination of precise brick selection and a careful blending of precast architectural accents set within the brick.

 

Completion Date: December 2000

 

 

 

 

St. Louis City Justice Center (under construction)

Argyle Garage and Schlafly Library

The Argyle Garage and Schlafly Library provide the St. Louis community with a 26,000-square-foot public library and a 457-vehicle parking garage that also preserve the historic neighborhood’s architectural character.

To complement nearby buildings, the architect selected red brick and native cast stone with a decorative argyle pattern in dark, glazed brick. Leonard Masonry also installed masonry veneer on the garage, including 15,000 square feet of brickwork, 5,600 square feet of Arriscraft Renaissance stone and cast stone windowsills, surround and coping.

 

Completion Date: October 2001

Awards:
Fall 2002 - AGC/Keystone Subcontractor Category Finalist

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

St. Charles County Commission Courts Administration Building

Building 36 Defense Mapping Agency

St. Charles County Correctional Facility

Bowling Green Correctional Facility

 

St. Charles County Government Center

Saint Louis University Hospital

11 levels

 

Washington University School of Medicine Pediatrics Center

10 levels

Forsythe Centre

Forsythe Centre is a 14-story, 246,000-square-foot high-rise office building located on Forsythe Boulevard in downtown Clayton, Mo. The Forsythe Centre is Phase II of the original Jefferson Smurfit Centre office building and parking structure. The existing brick veneer parking structure received an additional seven levels vertically to accommodate the parking demands of the new development. While working on this structure and an adjacent office tower, Leonard Masonry simultaneously laid more than 1.1 million bricks and stone in less than 20 months.

The building’s exterior is traditional brick masonry with a projecting limestone cornice around the fourth floor and a coping at the roof. Limestone accent bands, medallions and carved planters accent the first four floors of the façade. The western elevation of the building is enlivened by a reflective blue glass curving façade that enhances the views from the tenant areas and complements the curve along the street. The exterior brick and glass materials were chosen to blend with and complement the existing building and parking structure.

14 Levels

Completion date: May 2000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shaw Park Plaza

Shaw Park Plaza, located in the St. Louis suburb of Clayton, is a striking 14-story, neo-colonial office tower. As a counter balance to downtown St. Louis, Shaw Park Plaza offers sweeping views of beautiful Shaw Park.

A major challenge was to make four levels of garage look like part of the office structure. This goal was achieved using the masonry-and-glass exterior and incorporating three-module window units, reminiscent of turn-of-the-century warehouses. Of special note is the building’s luxurious lobby floor, hand-crafted of polished granite and marble. Although pre-cut, the material required extensive field adjustments. Craftsmen placed the border and then blended materials piece by piece, moving from the lobby into the entryway, where they used mitered cuts to follow the shape of the building’s front octagon. Outside, Leonard Masonry installed thermal granite pavers and built attractive radius thermal granite steps.

Completed: December 2000

Awards:
Fall 2001 Masonry Construction Magazine Project of the Year "Honorable Mention-Commercial Building Category"

 

 

 

Washington University Medical Center Clinical Sciences Research Building

 10 Levels

Masonry Construction Magazine Project of the Year Award

Summer 2004 - Project of the Year - Residential Category" - Private Residence (photo)

AIA/CPC (American Institute of Architects/Construction Products Council)

Fall 2004 - "Merit Award for Masonry Craftsmanship" - Emerson Grand Basin (photo)

Masonry Construction Magazine Project of the Year Awards

Fall 2002 – "Project of the Year - Residential Category" - Private Residence (photo)

Masonry Construction Magazine Project of the Year Awards

Fall 2002 – "Honorable Mention - Multifamily Housing Category" - The Hallmark of Creve Coeur (photo)

AIA/CPC (American Institute of Architects/Construction Products Council)

Fall 2002 – “Honor Award for Masonry Craftsmanship” – Washington University Lab Sciences Building (photo)

AGC/Keystone Finalist

Fall 2002 – Subcontractor Category Finalist - Argyle Parking Garage and Schlafly Library (photo)

Masonry Contractors Association of America (MCAA) Awards

Spring 2002 - International Excellence in Masonry Award "Honorable Mention" - Private Residence (photo)

Building Stone Magazine

Spring 2002 - Tucker Architectural Award - Graham Chapel Addition, Washington University (photo)

International Union of Bricklayers & Allied Craft Workers

2001 - BAC Craft Award "Best Brick Project" - Manchester United Methodist Church (photo)

Masonry Contractors Association of America (MCAA) Awards

Spring 2002 - International Excellence in Masonry Award "Honorable Mention" - Southwest Bank (photo)

AIA/CPC (American Institute of Architects/Construction Products Council)

Fall 2001 - "Honor Award for Masonry Craftsmanship" - Private Residence (photo)

AIA/CPC (American Institute of Architects/Construction Products Council)

Fall 2001 - "Distinguished Award for Masonry Craftsmanship" - Washington University Charles F. Knight Center (photo)

AIA/CPC (American Institute of Architects/Construction Products Council)

Fall 2001 - "Merit Award for Masonry Craftsmanship" - Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital, Phase IV (photo)

Masonry Construction Magazine Project of the Year Awards

Fall 2001 - "Best High Rise" - Thomas F. Eagleton Federal Courthouse (photo)

Masonry Construction Magazine Project of the Year Awards

Fall 2001 - "Honorable Mention - Commercial Building Category" - Shaw Park Plaza (photo)

Masonry Institute of St. Louis

Fall 2000 - "Excellence Award in Brickwork" - Manchester United Methodist Church (photo)