Excellence in Construction
April 16, 2020
Nor-Son Construction earned a national Excellence in Construction Eagle Award for work performed on the St. Andrew’s Catholic Church Renovation in Brainerd, MN. The EIC awards program is the industry’s leading competition that honors both general and specialty contractors for innovative and high-quality merit shop construction projects.
Phase one included a 4,000 square foot fellowship hall addition within an existing courtyard. The church was originally built in the 1960’s on poor soil conditions, supported on concrete and wood pilings extending 30 feet below grade. “Our challenge was to design a foundation system that could be installed without disrupting the existing pile foundation,” commented Architect Jesse Hopkins of Nor-Son Construction. “We were very sensitive to any new loads imposed on the existing structure. An elliptical pier system was considered, but the cost-effective solution was to selectively excavate poor soil, and form and pour extensive concrete footings to support the addition.”
Phase two was the renovation of the existing church which included designing and building a sloped floor system in the sanctuary. New theater-style seating provides better sight lines and access for seniors or others with mobility issues. Decorative mosaics, cabinetry and lighting were installed with an ecclesiastical motif.
“Our intention was to reinforce the sense of sacred space. The church is not just for the liturgy, but also a place of quiet devotional prayer, and the use of sacred imagery within the space turns our eyes and our hearts to God.” Project Architect Jesse Hopkins of Nor-Son Construction.
“The craftsmanship of Nor-Son Construction and their hardworking employees continues to raise the bar when it comes to how we define excellence in construction,” said 2020 ABC National Chair Tim Keating, owner and president of R.C. Stevens Construction Co., Winter Garden, Florida. “It’s an honor to recognize these award winners for their respective commitments to building safely, on time and on budget, as well as contribute to the communities in which they work.”
The EIC award honors all construction team members, including the contractor, owner, architect and engineer. The winning projects, selected from entries across the nation, were judged on complexity, attractiveness, unique challenges overcome, completion time, workmanship, innovation, safety and cost.
This year’s panel included representatives from Building Owners and Managers Association International, Smithsonian Facilities Construction Division, Construction Management Association of America, Engineering News-Record, Design-Build Institute of America and various construction-related firms nationwide.