Leonard Masonry Receives Honor Award
Words: Dan Kamys/Public/News/1292005941.jpg" width="258" height="272" border="1" align="right" hspace="10" vspace="1">
Leonard Masonry, Inc. of Hazelwood, Mo., received an Honor Award in the local American Institute of Architects - Construction Products Council Design Awards Excellence Program, presented at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in St. Louis on Sept. 22.
"We take great pride in bringing exceptional design and impeccable masonry to every project," says Jeff Leonard, president of Leonard Masonry. "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."
Leonard Masonry received an Honor Award in the craftsmanship division for its ability to match the existing mortar and brick to the two bell towers of St. John Apostle and Evangelist Catholic Church in downtown St. Louis. Originally erected in 1857, the towers were badly deteriorated, with abundant settlement cracks and open joints. The team temporarily removed each tower roof with a 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 structure 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. In the end, the mason exceeded expectations, creating an improved structure while maintaining the historic character of this church.
For more information on Leonard Masonry, visit www.leonardmasonry.com.