Leonard Masonry Receives Honor Award for Craftsmanship
ST. LOUIS, Dec. 1, 2000 - Leonard Masonry, Inc.'s work on Southwest Bank recently received an Honor Award for craftsmanship in the 2000 AIA/CPC Design Awards program, "Creating Livable Spaces." Leonard Masonry was honored for professionalism, care and coordination in design, fabrication and installation of complex masonry materials.
Each year, AIA and CPC seek to recognize outstanding achievement in all areas of design and construction and award projects in three categories-craftsmanship, design and drawing. This year, the annual awards had 14 entries in the craftsmanship category and 61 total entries. Truffles Restaurant also was recognized with a craftsmanship Honor Award for millwork performed by Charlie Moss and James Ryan of Hensley Construction Co.
Mike Prothman, masonry superintendent, was Leonard Masonry's primary craftsman for the Southwest Bank project. The project presented many challenges for Prothman and his crew. According to Prothman, the piers around the two rotundas, fabricated from both convex and concave granite panels, were especially challenging. Additional design elements include a domed rotunda, a skylit rotunda, bay windows, stone cornices and building details. The building was designed by Chiodini Associates and built by Paric Corporation.
The interior reflects the granite and cast stone masonry of the exterior, creating a two-story granite-enclosed atrium lobby on the south and a four-level skylight-enclosed atrium on the north. A symbolic flying eagle made of bronze and stainless steel is water--jet cut into the south lobby floor, which consists of flamed-etched, water-etched and polished granite. The resulting structure is a new bank that is reminiscent of the great financial institutions of the past.
Founded in 1959, Leonard Masonry, Inc. has grown to be the largest masonry contractor in St. Louis, recognized for its fine craftsmanship and on-time work delivery within budget. Ranked as the eighth largest masonry contractor in the United States by 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, Unity Health, the Thomas F. Eagleton Federal Court House and Anheuser-Busch Hall at the Washington University School of Law.