http://www.leonardmasonry.com News from Leonard Masonry Inc. en ckovacik@milleniumcom.com Copyright 2006 2006-12-11T21:10:00-06:00 http://www.leonardmasonry.com/site/as_american_as_masonry/ http://www.leonardmasonry.com/site/as_american_as_masonry/#When:19:48:01Z If ever a project could be termed all- American, The Meadows at Lake St.Louis is it. Its architectural style is American. The masonry is American. And finally, the development is in the heart of Middle America, where corn and soybeans grow almost in the shadow of the Gateway Arch. If ever a project could be termed all- American, The Meadows at Lake St.Louis is it. Its architectural style is American. The masonry is American. And finally, the development is in the heart of Middle America, where corn and soybeans grow almost in the shadow of the Gateway Arch.Located along St.Charles County’s exploding I-40 corridor, The Meadows is touted as “St. Louis’ first lifestyle center.” Its open-air layout with two landscaped boulevards in a downtown street grid is designed to provide visitors with a unique experience that co-developers Chicago-based Davis Street Land Company and St. Louisan Bruce Johnston describe as “individualistic.” Phase One, which broke ground last May, includes 260,000-sq.ft. of junior anchors, restaurants and specialty retail stores. These include dozens of intriguing names, among them Coldwater Creek, Chico’s, White House/Black Market, Ann Taylor Loft, Talbots., Jos. A. Bank and BC’s Kitchen, a new concept by St. Louis restaurateur Bill Cardwell.To lure The Meadows’ up-scale target market, M+H Architects (previously known as Mitchell + Hugeback) designed The Meadows with loads of stylistic architectural features. Greeting visitors will be a center plaza area and clock tower, a pergola and stage area for outdoor events, a water feature with fountains and dock piers, and walkways of brick pavers, decorator lighting, signage and landscaping.Everywhere you look, there’s masonry. “The owners want the look of masonry buildings because of the level of detailing that can be achieved,” says Paul Stefanski,M+H project manager. “Masonry gives it instant character.” Masonry has been integral to the success of Davis Street developments around the country, which include Plaza Frontenac and The Shops at Clarkson Corner in St. Louis. “The owner mandated that his centers arebuilt like this, with masonry,” says Mike Heitkamp,president of Heitkamp Masonry. “He doesn’t use metal studs or tilt up concrete. He’s found that he gets good performance with masonry in his centers.” Since the site was originally a farm field with rambling rocky meadows, the architect chose a rubble stone (Maple Ridge Blend) to dominate the entry gates and site work, an effect reminiscent of the field stone in a farm wall. The design for the buildings, on the other hand, is in contrast to the rough-hewn rubble stone, presenting instead a pleasing finished look to brick and limestone facades. While the buildings with their broad roof overhangs and stone and brick masonry display a certain kinship with Wright’s Prairie-style, their heritage is more in line with the creations of Purcell and Elmslie. The work of the Minneapolis-based company has been described as an “independent and proud American archiscape...honest and unique expressions of the American spirit of democracy.”     Davis Street mandated the use of loadbearing masonry at The Meadows, a challenge welcomed by the mason contractor. “We used more grout and reinforcing steel in these buildings than I’ve ever used before,” says Heitkamp, whose company has constructed such major projects as the new Busch Stadium and the Ameristar Casino tower and garage additions. Despite the extensive grouting, Heitkamp says his major challenge was the massive volume of limestone pieces required–over 100,000. Since it was critical to get the right stone at the right time, he turned to Earthworks, eliminating potential headaches and avoiding errors that could have resulted in extensive reworking. Officials of Lake St.Louis are delighted with the promise of the new development. “The Meadows will be key to our city’s expansion of retail offerings,” says Michael Potter, Mayor of Lake Saint Louis. “The shopping choices offered by the center, which were previously unavailable to St. Charles Co. residents, make the entire region more attractive to residents and other businesses that may want to relocate to the area.” Describing the promise of west St.Charles Co., Bruce Johnston, Davis Street’spartner, notes that the average household income in the trade area is $77,480 and that the area’s population is expected to grow 15% in the next five years. “The tremendous residential growth and infrastructure investment in the I-40 corridor makes The Meadows the logical location for the better specialty stores to expand their St. Louis presence,” he says.When The Meadows opens this fall, it promises to provide a unique experience for St. Charles Co. residents as well as the hordes of curious visitors who no doubt will be attracted by a media publicity blitz. Given its attractive design, stimulating features and the extensive use of beautiful brick and stone, the project is already shaping up as an all-American success story right here in River City.Architect: Mitchell+Hugeback (M+H Architects)Engineer: Stock & AssociatesGeneral Contractor: Brinkmann ConstructorsMason Contractor: Heitkamp MasonryBrick: Kirchner Block & Brick (Interstate)Block: Kirchner Block & BrickArchitectural Block: Kirchner Block & BrickIndiana Limestone: Earthworks, Midwest CutstoneRubble Stone: EarthworksSack Material: Kirchner Block & BrickSand: Raineri Building ProductsFlashing & Accessories: Irwin Products, American Rebar 2008-04-21T19:48:01-06:00 http://www.leonardmasonry.com/site/a_jeffersonian_revolution_in_homes/ http://www.leonardmasonry.com/site/a_jeffersonian_revolution_in_homes/#When:20:09:01Z What would St. Louis have done without Thomas Jefferson, the nation’s third president? He bought the Louisiana Territories, and St. Louis became the “Gateway City.” The (Thomas) Jefferson National Expansion Memorial and its world-famous arch have put the city on world maps. Now the legacy of Mr. Jefferson, a talented architect, has expressed itself again. What would St. Louis have done without Thomas Jefferson, the nation’s third president? He bought the Louisiana Territories, and St. Louis became the “Gateway City.” The (Thomas) Jefferson National Expansion Memorial and its world-famous arch have put the city on world maps. Now the legacy of Mr. Jefferson, a talented architect, has expressed itself again.This time, it is his architectural style that is on display at the Enclave Bellerive, the CF Vatterott Construction Company’s new gated community adjacent to the Bellerive Country Club at Ladue and Mason Roads in Creve Coeur. The Lawrence Group, under the guidance of Greg Vatterott, president of CF Vatterott, has created the Enclave’s design reflecting Jefferson’s vision for the new American republic: a consistently elegant ensemble of buildings, distinctive in their style and taste.The Enclave’s masonry residences boast a dominant central core with wings of smaller scale to each side. Meticulously detailed porticos, serpentine brick walls, round and half-round windows, domes, and carefully detailed colonnades all reflect elements of the Jeffersonian style and are enhanced by the beauty of warm 1028 Old Tumble brick from Richards Brick (stone caps: Earthworks, masonry supplies: Raineri Building Materials).  With residential price points starting in the mid-one million dollar range, CF Vatterott –which has been building locally since 1919 – hired Spencer Brickwork and its team of outstanding union craftsmen, members of Bricklayers’ Union Local Number One of Missouri, to ensure an impeccable quality of masonry construction. When completed, the community will contain 55 homes on 44 acres.Even before completion, the project has been receiving national and local acclaim. The Enclave won the “Best in Class” award in the Community Design category of the 2007 Brick in Home Building Awards competition sponsored by the national Brick Industry Association. As a winner, the Enclave is featured in the December issue of Builder magazine.In October, the project received three awards from the Home Builders Association of St. Louis & Eastern Missouri (HBA). The Enclave’s Virginia model was the West St. Louis County winner for Outstanding Home/ Single Family Detached, while the Charlottesville model was the “Professional’s Choice” winner. In addition, the development won for “Outstanding Site Plan.” Mr. Jefferson would have been pleased to learn that both model homes at Enclave Bellerive have earned certification under the “Green Building Initiative” of the HBA. The models became only the second and third homes in metro St. Louis to earn this distinction. As illustrated by the award-winning reception these Jeffersonian-like designs are garnering, the genius of Thomas Jefferson is once again benefiting the St. Louis area. His skill as an architect has helped make the Enclave Bellerive what might be called “a revolutionary development.”  2008-03-15T20:09:01-06:00 http://www.leonardmasonry.com/site/award_winning_projects_2007/ http://www.leonardmasonry.com/site/award_winning_projects_2007/#When:20:40:00Z Every year, a number of new construction projects in the St. Louis area receive awards from a variety of industry-related groups. While judging criteria differ from group to group, the winners exhibit a common criterion: Excellence. In this issue, we look at a sample of the outstanding masonry projects that won awards in three of 2007’s most prestigious awards competitions: Associated General Contractors of St. Louis Keystone Awards, Home Builders Association of Greater St. Louis Homer Awards, and the American Institute of Architects/ Construction Product Council of St. Louis Design Awards. Every year, a number of new construction projects in the St. Louis area receive awards from a variety of industry-related groups. While judging criteria differ from group to group, the winners exhibit a common criterion: Excellence. In this issue, we look at a sample of the outstanding masonry projects that won awards in three of 2007’s most prestigious awards competitions: Associated General Contractors of St. Louis Keystone Awards, Home Builders Association of Greater St. Louis Homer Awards, and the American Institute of Architects/ Construction Product Council of St. Louis Design Awards. While none of these competitions focused directly on the quality of the masonry design and construction, these values contributed to the impact of the project entries. From striking brick and stone residences to stately masonry clad buildings, the beauty of the masonry stood out and sent a clear message: Masonry is an indispensable element of the well conceived project.project. ASSOCIATED GENERAL CONTRACTORS F ST. LOUIS (AGC)Keystone AwardGeneral contractor or construction manager, building construction project under $5 millionHEARTLAND BANK, LADUEHENSLEY CONSTRUCTIONHensley Construction took home a Keystone Award for its work on Heartland Bank’s newest location. Designed by Chiodini Associates, the project was conceived as an elegant landmark in the heart of upscale Ladue. The one-story, 3,750-sq. ft. structure is clad with cast stone and an oversized Cambridge Antique redbrick. The facade is marked by 24-ft. walls with four columns supporting a pediment, making the building appear to be two stories. The attention to small details on the building gives it great character, from the decorative windows that adorn the Heartland Bank logo to the fluted columns that give historic value to the front entry. Although the site is very constrained, the character projected by the masonry creates the sense of strength and security associated with traditional financial institutions.General Contractor: Hensley ConstructionArchitect: Chiodini AssociatesMason Contractor: Kirkwood MasonryBrick: Missouri BrickBrick Manufacturer: Redland Brick Co. (Cushwa)Cast stone: Continental Cast StoneMortar: QuikreteAnchors/Ties/Flashing: Irwin ProductsKeystone AwardGeneral contractor or construction manager, building construction project $5 million to $20 millionLOGAN COLLEGE OF CHIROPRACTIC – WILLIAM D. PURSER, DC CENTERS.M. WILSONThe 47,000-sq. ft. Purser Center’s exterior combines traditional masonry and modern design to convey the theme of forward-thinking education based in sound principles. The building features a contrast of Mojave-, copperand wheat-colored masonry. The most interesting and challenging aspect of the project was the installing of 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. The site includes numerous columns, walls and benches, including seating for an outdoor amphitheater. Completing a quadrangle formation, the Purser Center enables Logan College to project a state-of-the-art image to attract a student base from around the world.General Contractor: S.M. Wilson & Co.Architect: TR,i Architects; Curtis Cassel, AIAMason Contractor: Leonard MasonryBrick: Kirchner Block & BrickBrick Manufacturer: Mutual BrickCast stone: United Commercial Cast StoneColumns: Arriscraft InternationalMortar: QuikreteHOME BUILDERS ASSOCIATION OF GREATER ST. LOUIS (HBA)Homer AwardOutstanding Custom Home, West St. Louis CountyCONWAY ROAD RESIDENCECROWDUS CUSTOM HOMESWith its large bays and hip roof, this 7,400-sq. ft., two-story residence is designed in a modified Traditional style. The red and brown shades of the oversized Stamford brick nicely offset the gray and white tones of the stone that skirts the front elevation, adding balance and dimension to the design. Cultured stone matching the natural stone is utilized to wrap the two independent fireplace chases above the roofline. According to the builder, the warmth and charm of the brick and stone masonry reflect the personality of the buyers, people who appreciate “quality, value, class and style” in their daily lives.Builder: Crowdus Custom HomesArchitect: Hollander SJ ArchitectMason Contractor: Swanson MasonryBrick: Richards BrickBrick Type: StamfordEden Stone: EarthworksAnchors/Ties/Flashing: Irwin ProductsMortar: EarthworksHomer AwardOutstanding Custom Home, South St. Louis CountyARBOUR KNOLL PLACE RESIDENCESCHMEERBAUCH CUSTOM HOMESThe front elevation of this 5,250-sq. ft. residence makes effective use of stone and brick in a variety of stimulating combinations: window surrounds and keystones alternate from stone to brick depending on the field masonry they complement, while stone splashes and a wing wall provide additional interest. Inside, the home features a unique entry foyer with reverse-flaired descending staircase and multi-colored stone floors. There are three fireplaces, with the stone fireplace in the hearth room being the focal point of the large kitchen area. A walk-in glass block shower highlights one of the home’s six bathrooms. The residence also includesa large, covered verandah with a private bath in the pool area, movie theater, walk-in wine cellar, exercise room with infra-red sauna, and a large wet bar. The project also received a platinum “Home of the Year” award from St. Louis Homes and Lifestyles magazine.Builder: Schmeerbauch Custom HomesDesigner: Randy SchmeerbauchDraftsman: John WolkRegistered Professional Engineer: Tony DiMercurioMason Contractor: L & L Brick Contracting Co.Brick: Kirchner Block & BrickStone: EarthworksCut Stone: Lager MonumentAnchors/Ties/Flashing: Irwin ProductsMortar: EarthworksAMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS/CONSTRUCTION PRODUCT COUNCIL OF ST. LOUIS Architecture Merit AwardUNIVERSITY OF KANSAS LIFE SCIENCES INNOVATION CENTERCANNON DESIGNDesigned by St. Louis-based Cannon Design, this $57.2 million project rises five stories above a bluff on the KU Medical Campus in Kansas City, Kansas. The KLSIC is a 212,200-sq.ft. concrete frame structure with a masonry, glass, and precast stone exterior. Brick comprises most (about 32,000-sq. ft.) of the exterior, and was selected to complement the surrounding campus. The building features 22,000-sq. ft. of red sandstone precast panels imported from India. The ground floor of the KLSIC has 4,000-sq. ft. of terrazzo flooring with distinctive earth-toned geometric patterns.Design Architect: Cannon DesignArchitect of Record: GLPM, Lawrence, KansasEngineer: Cannon DesignGeneral Contractor: Turner Construction Co.  2008-02-04T20:40:00-06:00 http://www.leonardmasonry.com/site/no_gamble_with_masonry_ameristar_casino/ http://www.leonardmasonry.com/site/no_gamble_with_masonry_ameristar_casino/#When:21:25:00Z Everything about this project is big, from exterior elevations that tower 300-ft. above the ground to a strategically deployed army of tradesmen. Located next to one of America’s great rivers, the Ameristar Casino’s new hotel and spa project is taking shape as a high-end addition to the area’s recreational alternatives. When completed, this new $265 million facility in St. Charles will include a 400-room all-suite luxury hotel, a 7,000 sq. ft. Full-service spa, an indoor/outdoor pool area with landscaped grounds and waterfalls, as well as a nine-story garage with 2,350-space parking garage. The first phase of the expansion containing 19,200 square feet of state-of-the-art conference and meeting facilities opened last September. Meeting the project’s December 7th deadline put a premiumon the scheduling of the various trades onto the scaffoldingscaling the building’s exterior. “It’s like a fine Swiss watch,” aid Heitkamp Masonry’s project manager Geoff Hart, who also ran his company’s operations at the new Busch Stadium. “If one of the parts breaks down, then nothing happens.” As elaborate as the stadium project was, Hart contends it wasn’t as complicated as the Ameristar, which is the second largest masonry high-rise under construction in the United States. “In terms of scope, (Ameristar) is more complex and at a higher dollar value than the stadium,” he said. Everything about this project is big, from exterior elevations that tower 300-ft. above the ground to a strategically deployed army of tradesmen. Located next to one of America’s great rivers, the Ameristar Casino’s new hotel and spa project is taking shape as a high-end addition to the area’s recreational alternatives. When completed, this new $265 million facility in St. Charles will include a 400-room all-suite luxury hotel, a 7,000 sq. ft. Full-service spa, an indoor/outdoor pool area with landscaped grounds and waterfalls, as well as a nine-story garage with 2,350-space parking garage. The first phase of the expansion containing 19,200 square feet of state-of-the-art conference and meeting facilities opened last September.Meeting the project’s December 7th deadline put a premiumon the scheduling of the various trades onto the scaffoldingscaling the building’s exterior. “It’s like a fine Swiss watch,” aid Heitkamp Masonry’s project manager Geoff Hart, who also ran his company’s operations at the new Busch Stadium. “If one of the parts breaks down, then nothing happens.” As elaborate as the stadium project was, Hart contends it wasn’t as complicated as the Ameristar, which is the second largest masonry high-rise under construction in the United States. “In terms of scope, (Ameristar) is more complex and at a higher dollar value than the stadium,” he said. Efficient scheduling is critical on a high-rise project like the 25-story hotel. On a normal site such as at Busch Stadium, if the masonry crew can’t access a given area they can work elsewhere on site. But with high-rise construction, if something creates a bottleneck the bricklaying crew has to wait until it is cleared. “We worked closely with Vince Irwin of Irwin Products to engineer the Hydro Mobile scaffolding system,” Hart said. The resulting combination included 15 scaffolds arranged so that there was 60-ft. span of scaffold platform between towers. A canopy of 9-gauge metal decking was erected overhead to protect the men from debris from above, and netting was hung underneath to protect workers below. Keeping the trades running smoothly on the scaffolding required close coordination between Heitkamp’s Art Seibert, general superintendent, and Jason Seibert, general foreman, who worked as a team with Walton Construction’s Dan Hunyar. “Art and Jason Siebert really helped the job progress,” said Hunyar. “I don’t think we’d be at the point we are with the masonry without their dedication and input to the project.” The carpenters typically worked from swing stage scaffolding above the masons, installing their studs, drywall, sheathing etc. The ironworkers, who install shelf angles for the brick, worked on the corrugated metal roofing of the scaffolding one floor above the masons laying brick on the floor below.While much of the work proceeded as planned, there were complications along the way. To accommodate the pace of the glazing, Walton designed a platform that allowed the glazier crew to work  eneath the main platform while the masons worked above. Thanks to this kind of ingenuity, construction sped along. “We originally thought we would turn a floor in six days,” Hart said. “But with Walton and Heitkamp working hand in hand to coordinate all the trades on the scaffolding, we were able to turn a floor in four days.” Concessions to Mother Nature have also had a major impact on the project, which is located in both a flood plain and an earthquake zone. In May, heavy rains upstream created a surge of water 30-ft. above flood stage, dumping a foot of water over the base of the scaffolding and forcing a three-week shutdown. Seismic zone requirements drove PGAV Architects (Kansas City) to come up with an unusual hybrid design combining high-rise technology with a traditional veneer system, all subject to stringent seismic stipulations. “The building exterior has to be able to move one inch in each direction,” Hart explained. “That means that the exterior components– studs, drywall, masonry, GFRC (Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete), and caulking–have to work in concert,” he said, adding that Ameristar represents the first time this kind of design has been executed in the local market. To help meet seismic considerations, GFRC was specified instead of heavier precast concrete for the corners, window surrounds, sills and cornices. Heitkamp’s masons used welding and mechanical connections to set the GFRC in place. “The bricklayers of Bricklayers Union Local #1 of Missouri have excellent welding skills and are very suited for installing this kind of material,” Hart said. “In fact, I think that the picture of a bricklayer of the future may show a trowel in one hand and a welding torch in the other,” he said. Cleaning of the exterior walls will be handled in four-floor increments, with the cleaner working on a four-floor block before the caulker moves in behind him, the two moving in concert. From I - 70, daily commuters have witnessed an impressive 300- ft. tall structure rising high above. But what they can’t see is the genius of the underlying construction.A lintel at every floor slab supports the brick. There’s a horizontal control joint every 9-ft. 4-in and a vertical control joint at every building corner separating the GFRC and the brick, two-in. on one side and three-quarters in. on the other. Thanks to its hybrid design, if there is a seismic event the building is able to move and ride out the quake. It may sound ironic, but Ameristar Casinos doesn’t gamble. In calling for a skilled union masonry construction team to build this complex high-rise project, ownership has demonstrated that it knows that success doesn’t have to be a roll of the dice. In this case, it’s a sure thing! 2008-01-15T21:25:00-06:00 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