Leonard Masonry Receives Honors for Work on Local Projects
ST. LOUIS, Nov. 12, 1999 - Leonard Masonry Inc. has received first-place honors for craftsmanship in the 1999 AIA/CPC Awards program for its work on Washington University's Graham Chapel addition. The St. Louis-based masonry contractor was also honored by being named a AGC Keystone Project of the Year Specialty Contractor finalist for its work on the Boeing Leadership Center.
Leonard Masonry was chosen by Washington University to create a seamless addition to Graham Chapel, a familiar campus landmark originally built around 1907. The challenge for Leonard Masonry was to match the pitch, size, and color of the existing granite and limestone, as well as replicating the collegiate gothic style that was popular on university campuses a century ago. Leonard Masonry completed its work on the 550-square-foot, one-level facility within seven months.
All the work involved extensive field verification and time-consuming hand tooling. Special care also was taken to match the existing interior marble flooring in the main chapel.
For the Boeing Leadership Center, Leonard Masonry was again called upon to blend the past with the present in helping to convert the former Desloge mansion in North St. Louis County into an executive meeting and training facility. Salvaged limestone blocks from an abandoned underground passageway were used as accent on some interior walls and matching limestone from an Indiana quarry was used to construct new residential towers overlooking the Missouri River bluffs.
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. 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, numerous Washington University buildings, the Charles F. Knight Center, Shaw Park Plaza and the Emerson Grand Basin.