http://www.leonardmasonry.com News from Leonard Masonry Inc. en csheahan@hughes-stl.com Copyright 2006 2006-12-11T21:10:00-06:00 http://www.leonardmasonry.com/site/cleaning_new_masonry_buildings/ http://www.leonardmasonry.com/site/cleaning_new_masonry_buildings/#When:20:35:00Z Combinations of Materials Have Changed the RulesRemember 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. Combinations of Materials Have Changed the RulesRemember 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 SurfaceToday, 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 QuicklyThe 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 AcidThe 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 WaterA 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 WetWhile 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. 2008-06-16T20:35:00-06:00 http://www.leonardmasonry.com/site/masonry_industry_set_for_peak_season_performance/ http://www.leonardmasonry.com/site/masonry_industry_set_for_peak_season_performance/#When:21:50:00Z 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. 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!” 2007-12-03T21:50:00-06:00 http://www.leonardmasonry.com/site/touching_lives_through_habitat_for_humanity/ http://www.leonardmasonry.com/site/touching_lives_through_habitat_for_humanity/#When:22:31:00Z 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 contractorsand suppliers,” said Darrell McMillian, P.E., MISL executive director. “They’re the key to the construction of a project like this.” 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. 2007-07-26T22:31:00-06:00 http://www.leonardmasonry.com/site/craftsmanship_shines_in_gingerbread_job/ http://www.leonardmasonry.com/site/craftsmanship_shines_in_gingerbread_job/#When:19:17:00Z Every craftsperson dreams that an owner will someday allow for the true expression of "craft." It doesn't happen often. At Leonard Masonry, they've lived the dream - in the construction of the 185,000-square-foot, Anheuser-Busch School of Law building at Washington University in St. Louis. The goal: create a building that fits next to classic gothic architecture first put in place for the 1904 World's Fair! Published Nov. 22-29, 1999, Engineering News-Record, special advertising Section "Subcontracting Today" Every craftsperson dreams that an owner will someday allow for the true expression of "craft." It doesn't happen often. At Leonard Masonry, they've lived the dream - in the construction of the 185,000-square-foot, Anheuser-Busch School of Law building at Washington University in St. Louis. The goal: create a building that fits next to classic gothic architecture first put in place for the 1904 World's Fair! "It's nice when you get someone who appreciates the value of limestone and granite," says Jeff Leonard, president of St. Louis-based Leonard Masonry. "Of course, there is less maintenance with this material, and fire insurance costs drop. But there's no question we're selling a Cadillac." And a Cadillac is exactly what was expected by the people who run - and attend - Washington U. "When our students pay the kind of money they pay to go here, they want the collegiate look," says Ray Barber, the university's design and construction project manager, "We're known as the Princeton of the West, and for good reason." How do you create a gothic Cadillac… a near-perfect match for structures fashioned by master craftsmen nearly 100 years ago?  "We've worked at Washington University before, and they've been happy with how we've matched the old stone," explains Leonard. "We did some research on the stones. At the turn of the century, the quarries were territorialized; they didn't go far. "We did a study around southern Missouri to find out from where this granite might have come. We can't guarantee that the quarry we found is the original source, but it matched so well that the people from the university were tickled to death." Craftsmanship started where stonematching ended. "Each building in the area seems to have been done by a different installer at the turn of the century," Jeff Leonard explains. "Some stones have rounded edges, others are square; some are more convex than others. "We've tried to match the nearby buildings. There's a lot of hand-pitching to the stones, to make the face look like the building that's alongside." Is this skill still available? "We've worked hard to recruit and retain the best craftsmen in St. Louis," Leonard answers. "Many of them learned their craft from their fathers and uncles, or honed their skills working next to journeymen on the job. On this job, you''e talking about hand-pitching, on-site, with a set and a hammer. No machine has been invented that can do this. It's part of what makes this building unique. "We call it 'gingerbread work.' It's so much more ornate. There's so much more detail. And it's a heck of a lot more fun!" While much of Leonard's work does not involve such hand-crafting and attention to detail, the company is doing what it can to preserve these skills. "We have gone to a bit of trouble to bring young people into our organization," Jeff Leonard claims. "Some of our craftsmen will retire in the next five to 10 years. They feel it is up to them to pass on their knowledge and skills to future generations." Best of all, Leonard Masonry and its people won applause and appreciation - and more Washington University business! - as a result of this job. "I noticed the care and attention they took laying the stone," says Michael Greenfield, the chairman of the building committee on the job (and Walter D. Coles Professor of Law at the university). "I was impressed with how they made up the sizes of the stones - so it has the random look. Their people were just a dream to work with." Greenfield has an additional reason to like the building. When it came time to design the gargoyles, several were "standard," but two were especially crafted for the Anheuser-Busch School of Law. On these gargoyles, artists portrayed the faces of two people: Dorsey Ellis, the former dean of the School of Law...and Greenfield. Not immortalized was John Serafin, project manager for McCarthy, the general contractor on the project. Even so, he's appreciative of Leonard's work: "There were a certain limited number of sizes for the stone work, and they had to make sure, when they did shop drawings, that everything was sized to be tied in and tucked in," he notes. Adds Ray Barber of the University: "The thing that is surprising, when you look at the building now, is the detail that they put into each and every stone. Each is hand-worked, so that there is a perfect convex shape to the exterior." 2007-07-18T19:17:00-06:00 http://www.leonardmasonry.com/site/desire_for_craftsmanship_drives_demand/ http://www.leonardmasonry.com/site/desire_for_craftsmanship_drives_demand/#When:19:16:00Z St. Louis’ love affair with brick and stone work is reaching new heights and giving new attention to the not-so-lost craftsmanship of bricklayers and stone masons. One of the charms for rehabbers and developers in the area’s dwindling inventory of old and vacant buildings is the buildings’ obvious brick and stone craftsmanship, transforming what are essentially boxes into works of art. The demand to recapture some of that charm in new buildings is giving St. Louis architects and designers the opportunity to create their own works of art. “Brick and stone work in commercial and institutional buildings never went out of style,” says Jeff Leonard, who with his father, Donald Leonard, runs Leonard Masonry Inc., the nation’s ninth largest masonry contractor. “But there was a long period when the real craftsmanship was reserved for only very special projects, such as a federal courthouse or a cultural institution. What we are seeing now is the use of decorative brickwork and artistic stone masonry in buildings with more modest purposes.” One example is the Stix Early Childhood Center, 647 Tower Grove in St. Louis, completed in 1997. Wanting to create a “fun” environment at a building being located in an industrial area of the city, the architect, Mackey Mitchell Associates, called for bold colors, checkerboard patterns in the brick walls, and projected ribbon courses. “It wasn’t too long ago, for a school, we would have used one type of brick and one color of mortar and built a very useful if simple building,” says Leonard, whose company assigned bricklayer Austin Vaeth to oversee the project. “For this building, we used four different types of brick, including glazed brick, and a variety of mortar colors. It took a high level of craftsmanship to bring it off.” Stone masons are also staying busy, with major projects such as the Thomas F. Eagleton Federal Courthouse downtown, to smaller, but equally impressive, structures such as Southwest Bank’s facility on Manchester Road in Des Peres. In the case of Southwest Bank, St. Louis Stone & Supply, Inc., literally went a long way to create the facility’s distinctive blend of classic and modern styles. The granite for the building was quarried in Minnesota, sent to Italy for polishing, and shipped back in time to meet the construction timetable. Are today’s masons as good as those who built the city’s more cherished buildings? The answer might be found in the Graham Chapel at Washington University. The challenge for Leonard Masonry, which recently won an AIA/CPC Honor Award for its craftsmanship on the project, was to replicate the collegiate Gothic style in a seamless addition to a campus landmark. Again, St. Louis Stone & Supply went on the road to match the building’s original stone, but only had to go as far as the original quarry near Ironton, Mo. Taking into account 90 years of weathering and exposure to the elements, Leonard Masonry’s masons replaced some of the original stones with the newly quarried granite and then blended the removed original stones into the new walls. The chapel’s arched entrance with its carved gargoyles was relocated to the new entryway with granite custom blended around it. Inside the chapel, craftspersons worked hard to match the existing marble tile. The chapel’s original limestone faces were V-grooved. To match the grooves, which ran in different directions, the masons worked painstakingly on site with hand tools. Other recent displays of St. Louis’ masonry craftsmanship abound. One example is a grand arch and diagonal pattern, both rendered in brick, surrounding a rose window at Manchester United Methodist Church. Another example is A.G. Edward’s new Frontenac office where a combination of brick and colored cast stone are used to match the architectural theme of Le Chateau Village. Leonard thinks the new craftsmanship will stand the test of time. “People cry about the lost craftsmanship of the ‘good ol’ days,’ but years from now, people will point at the work being done today and hold up the craftsmanship and call these the ‘good ol’ days.’” 2007-07-18T19:16:00-06:00 http://www.leonardmasonry.com/site/dec_11_2006_leonard_masonry_honored_at_aia_cpc_awards/ http://www.leonardmasonry.com/site/dec_11_2006_leonard_masonry_honored_at_aia_cpc_awards/#When:21:10:00Z ST. LOUIS, Dec. 11, 2006 – Leonard Masonry Inc. received two awards at the 15th annual Excellence in Design awards. The St. Louis-based masonry contractor received a Merit Award for a private residence pool house and an Honorable Mention for their work on the Federal Reserve Bank.  “We take great pride in ensuring that our work is exceptional and unique,” said Jeff Leonard, president. “We are always gratified when our efforts are recognized by our peers and clients.” Sponsored by the American Institute of Architects’ St. Louis Chapter and the Construction Products Council of St. Louis, the competition received more than 125 entries in five categories. Supported by two or more judges, the pool house was honored with a Merit Award for its precise detail. The owner requested the new pool house match the existing structure originally built in 1921.Leonard Masonry also was awarded an Honorable Mention for the tremendous effort of matching new materials with prior masonry work at the Federal Reserve Bank. The masonry contractor recommended granite with a thermal finish to blend with the bush hammered and jetted finish of the existing building.  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 and Shaw Park Plaza and the Emerson Grand Basin. 2006-12-11T21:10:00-06:00 http://www.leonardmasonry.com/site/leonard_masonry_wins_six_masonry_awards/ http://www.leonardmasonry.com/site/leonard_masonry_wins_six_masonry_awards/#When:20:04:00Z ST. LOUIS, Nov. 27, 2006 – Leonard Masonry Inc. received six awards at the 2006 Excellence in Masonry Awards, including two Excellence in Craftsmanship honors for continuing work on the Washington University campus. Sponsored by the Masonry Institute of St. Louis, the Excellence in Masonry Awards feature projects completed from 2003-2005 by the Bricklayers’ Union Local #1 of Missouri. The entries were placed into four categories: architectural features, rehab/restoration/additions, single-family residential and commercial/institutional/industrial. Leonard Masonry received the following honors for its masonry craftsmanship: * Excellence in Craftsmanship – The Uncas A. Whitaker (photo) and Earth and Planetary Science (photo) buildings built from Missouri red granite and carved limestone, feature the traditional architectural elements of the Washington University campus while including the high-tech science equipment that makes these buildings leading research facilities. Leonard Masonry has now completed several award-winning projects at Washington University. * Merit in Craftsmanship – The Emerson Grand Basin (photo) and St. John Apostle and Evangelist Catholic Church each required detailed restoration work. Both structures are more than 100 years old and required extensive care to match new masonry with the existing stone work.  The Arnold Recreation Center also was awarded for its interior masonry craftsmanship.* Distinction in Craftsmanship – Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church (photo), located in Washington features a combination of brick, cast stone and split-faced block. Brick was chosen as the main exterior component to match the historic German architecture of the town and a nearby school building.  “Our dedication to creating first-rate masonry work in St. Louis is displayed in winning six honors at the Excellence in Masonry Awards,” said Jeff Leonard, president. “We are honored to have the opportunity to craft award-winning designs for both new and historic St. Louis buildings.”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. 2006-11-27T20:04:00-06:00 http://www.leonardmasonry.com/site/building_stone_institute_names_leonard_man_of_the_year/ http://www.leonardmasonry.com/site/building_stone_institute_names_leonard_man_of_the_year/#When:21:15:00Z Building Stone Institute Names Leonard Man of the YearSt. Louis' largest masonry contractor honored with industry awardST. LOUIS, Dec. 2, 2005 - Jeff Leonard, president of Leonard Masonry Inc., has been selected as the Building Stone Institute's 2005 Man of the Year.Building Stone Institute, a national trade association of masonry and stone workers, presented this prestigious award to Leonard for his exceptional work and progress as president of BSI. Profiled in the July/August/September 2005 issue of Building Stone Magazine, Leonard is recognized for his continuing industry influence, sharing his skills, time and experience with others in the masonry field. As president of BSI, Leonard has made great strides in reaching the organization's goals - education and promotion of natural stone. "I am grateful for being given the opportunity to help shape an industry that I hold so near to my heart," said Leonard. "I know that with the progress made in the last few years, we can expect continued growth and revolutionary designs on an industry wide level."Leonard Masonry is ranked among the nation's top masonry contractors. Leonard has worked on numerous high-profile projects in the St. Louis area, including several major structures at Washington University and Saint Louis University, the Savvis Center, and the 40-story Thomas F. Eagleton Federal Courthouse downtown. The company also is in high demand for high-end residential work and has received numerous local and national awards for craftsmanship. Leonard holds a dual degree in business and engineering from Colorado State University. In 2004, he was named Masonry Construction Magazine's 2004 Industry Leader of the Year. 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, Anheuser-Busch Hall at the Washington University School of Law, the Charles F. Knight Center and Shaw Park Plaza. 2005-12-02T21:15:00-06:00 http://www.leonardmasonry.com/site/leonard_masonry_receives_design_award/ http://www.leonardmasonry.com/site/leonard_masonry_receives_design_award/#When:21:22:00Z Leonard Masonry Receives Design AwardMasonry contractor honored for industry excellenceST. LOUIS, Oct. 20, 2005 - Leonard Masonry Inc. has received an Honor Award in the AIA/CPC Design Awards Excellence Program. The St. Louis-based masonry contractor was honored for its work on the St. John Apostle and Evangelist Catholic Church."We take great pride in bringing exceptional design and impeccable masonry to every project," said Jeff Leonard, president. "Although it can be a challenge, we believe any time you have the chance to return a historic building to its former glory, you should seize the opportunity."Sponsored by the American Institute of Architects' St. Louis Chapter and the Construction Products Council of St. Louis, the awards were presented at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center on Sept. 22, 2005. Leonard Masonry received an Honor Award in the craftsmanship division for its ability to match the existing mortar and bricks to the two bell towers of St. John Apostle and Evangelist Catholic Church in downtown St. Louis. Erected circa 1857, the towers were badly deteriorated, with abundant settlement cracks and open joints. The team temporarily removed each tower roof via crane, demolished the existing brick, and installed new brick with a reinforced CMU backup.  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.  Leonard Masonry and Dickinson Hussman Architects collaborated through meticulous material selection and installation to achieve a seamless transition from new to old. Finished elevations are a near-perfect match for the original towers - arched vent windows surrounded by a recessed plane are highlighted by projecting gingerbread arches; above, corbelled dentils transition to a forward plane, capped by a new copper roof. In the end, the mason exceeded expectations, creating an improved structure while maintaining the historic character of this church. 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. This family-owned business 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 Washington University School of Law, the Charles F. Knight Center, Shaw Park Plaza and the Thomas F. Eagleton Federal Courthouse. 2005-10-25T21:22:00-06:00 http://www.leonardmasonry.com/site/leonard_masonry_receives_design_award1/ http://www.leonardmasonry.com/site/leonard_masonry_receives_design_award1/#When:21:23:00Z Leonard Masonry Receives Design AwardMasonry contractor honored for industry excellenceST. LOUIS, Oct. 20, 2005 - Leonard Masonry Inc. has received an Honor Award in the AIA/CPC Design Awards Excellence Program. The St. Louis-based masonry contractor was honored for its work on the St. John Apostle and Evangelist Catholic Church."We take great pride in bringing exceptional design and impeccable masonry to every project," said Jeff Leonard, president. "Although it can be a challenge, we believe any time you have the chance to return a historic building to its former glory, you should seize the opportunity."Sponsored by the American Institute of Architects' St. Louis Chapter and the Construction Products Council of St. Louis, the awards were presented at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center on Sept. 22, 2005.Leonard Masonry received an Honor Award in the craftsmanship division for its ability to match the existing mortar and bricks to the two bell towers of St. John Apostle and Evangelist Catholic Church in downtown St. Louis. Erected circa 1857, the towers were badly deteriorated, with abundant settlement cracks and open joints. The team temporarily removed each tower roof via crane, demolished the existing brick, and installed new brick with a reinforced CMU backup.  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.  Leonard Masonry and Dickinson Hussman Architects collaborated through meticulous material selection and installation to achieve a seamless transition from new to old. Finished elevations are a near-perfect match for the original towers - arched vent windows surrounded by a recessed plane are highlighted by projecting gingerbread arches; above, corbelled dentils transition to a forward plane, capped by a new copper roof. In the end, the mason exceeded expectations, creating an improved structure while maintaining the historic character of this church. 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. This family-owned business 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 Washington University School of Law, the Charles F. Knight Center, Shaw Park Plaza and the Thomas F. Eagleton Federal Courthouse. 2005-10-20T21:23:00-06:00