It was the year when just about all building stopped.
Then it started again — slowly at first, but Pittsburgh kept building during the pandemic.
The architects had their say about the year’s best new buildings in Pittsburgh with the AIA Pittsburgh Design Awards 2020. Now the builders get to pick their favorites.
The nominees for the annual Master Builders’ Association of Western Pennsylvania’s MBA Building Excellence Awards have been announced, ranging from AHN’s new Academic Cancer Center at Allegheny General Hospital on the North Side to Facebook Reality Labs’ new digs in the Strip District.
“We received 40 project submissions for 2020,” says Eric Starkowicz, director of industry relations for the Master Builders’ Association of Western Pennsylvania (MBA). “Our panel of five judges meticulously reviewed massive 3-ring binders filled with the submissions. Each project was evaluated on their project description/executive summary, project teamwork, their ability to meet difficult challenges, special project characteristics, safety, and client satisfaction. The MBA Building Excellence Awards have become the highest and most sought-after commercial construction industry awards in our region and our members are extremely competitive.”
Last year’s awards, which were held this past February at the Heinz Field East Club, brought together 1,400 people representing every aspect of construction in Pittsburgh.
“Little did we know, at the time, that this would be the last time that most of us would see one another face-to-face for quite some time,” says Starkowicz. “And that a mere two weeks later we would enter into a lockdown that would (temporarily) shut down most construction in the state. While we were able to get our job sites back up and running, the effects of COVID-19 are certain to remain with us for the foreseeable future.”
This year, the event will be moved online due to the pandemic.
The winners will be announced at the Construction Industry Evening of Excellence, which will be streamed live on Thursday, February 25, 2021.
Here are the nominees:
New Construction over $25 million
Project: TCS Hall, Carnegie Mellon University
Contractor: Mascaro Construction Company, LP
Project: AHN Allegheny General Hospital Academic Cancer Center, North Side
Contractor: Massaro Corporation
New Construction between $10-25 million
Project: Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, Downtown
Contractor: A. Martini & Co.
Project: Facebook Reality Labs (District 15), Strip District
Contractor: Burchick Construction Company, Inc.
New Construction under $10 million
Project: Wabtec Headquarters, North Side
Contractor: A. Martini & Co.
Project: Office Extension Two Doughboy Square, Lawrenceville
Contractor: Jendoco Construction Corporation
Renovation Construction over $10 million
Project: Terminal 21 Apartments, Downtown
Contractor: Shannon Construction Company
Project: Waterfront Tech Center Shell and Commonwealth Charter Academy, Homestead
Contractor: Shannon Construction Company
Renovation Construction between $5-$10 million
Project: Interior Renovations to the Clifford E. Barbour Library, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, East Liberty
Contractor: PJ Dick Incorporated
Project: IRMC UPMC Hillman Cancer Center Renovation, Indiana
Contractor: Volpatt Construction Corporation
Renovation Construction under $5 million
Project: UPMC Mercy Neuro-Interventional Radiology, Uptown
Contractor: AIMS Construction
Project: St. Paul of the Cross Monastery Church Renovation, South Side
Contractor: Mascaro Construction Company, LP
Excellence in Craftsmanship
Project: Allegheny County Courthouse Phase II, Downtown
Contractor: Cuddy Roofing Company, Inc.
Project: Produce Terminal Exterior Work, Strip District
Contractor: PJ Dick Incorporated