Leonard Masonry Honored at 2002 Tucker Architectural Awards Program
ST. LOUIS, June 17, 2002 - Leonard Masonry, Inc. was honored at the 2002 Tucker Architectural Awards program for its masonry work on the Washington University Graham Chapel addition. Recognized in the renovation or restoration project category, Graham Chapel was one of eight projects that received the Tucker Award for architectural excellence. Vinci/Hamp Architects, Inc. was the architect for Graham Chapel.
Constructed in 1907-1909, Graham Chapel required extensive renovations to meet life-safety and other codes. Renovations to the existing building included cleaning limestone walls, refinishing the wood-beamed ceiling and installing an elevator, restrooms, and new lighting, mechanical and sound systems. The project also included a 500-square-foot addition that echoes the style and age of the chapel. All contractors faced the challenge of working around high pedestrian traffic, special events and weekly organ tunings.
Leonard Masonry has completed a number of award-winning projects on the Washington University campus and was selected as the masonry contractor for Graham Chapel. Among the special challenges Leonard Masonry faced was locating granite that would match the exterior of the existing building. A near-perfect match was found at a quarry in Ironton, Mo., and additional granite was removed from the main edifice of the chapel. The result is a mix of old and new granite on the exterior of the existing building and the addition, creating a consistently aged appearance. Leonard Masonry also custom- blended granite around an arched doorway with gargoyles that was moved to the new addition. Other efforts to blend old with new included V-grooving the face of the limestone throughout and carefully matching the existing interior marble flooring in the main chapel.
Sponsored by the Building Stone Institute, the Tucker Awards are presented annually to honor architectural firms whose excellence in concept and design have contributed significantly to architecture throughout the world. Award entries are judged by an independent panel of architects without the participation of any member of the industry. The sole criterion is excellence-excellence in concept, design, construction and use of natural stone. This year’s awards were held in Charlotte, N.C., on May 8.
Founded in 1959, Leonard Masonry, Inc. has grown to be the largest masonry contractor in St. Louis and is recognized for its fine craftsmanship and on-time work delivery within budget. Ranked as the sixth largest masonry contractor in the United States by Engineering News-Record (ENR), Leonard Masonry is a four-generation, family-owned business. It has been the masonry contractor on many of St. Louis’ landmark structures, including the Missouri Temple for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Anheuser-Busch Hall at the Washington University School of Law, Forsyth Centre and Shaw Park Plaza.