Contact: Kristi Pronovost
Director of Marketing & Communications
717.653.8106 or kristi@abckeystone.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – November 8, 2019

(MANHEIM, PA.) The Keystone Chapter of Associated Builders & Contractors (ABC) recognized local member contractor firms for their work performed on area construction projects during the 30^th annual ABC Excellence in Construction Awards Gala (EIC). The Gala was held November 6, 2019, at Spooky Nook Sports, Manheim.

The top award of the evening went to the Project of the Year recipient. The criteria for this award were its subjective ‘WOW’ factor in the following areas (in no particular order):

• Community impact
• Client satisfaction
• Design features
• Positive notoriety or high-profile of the project

The 2019 Project of the Year was awarded to Benchmark Construction Co., Inc. and James Craft & Son, Inc. for their project Frederick Street Patient Tower Overbuild. The Keystone Chapter congratulates Benchmark Construction Co., Inc. for their Excellence Award submittal of this project in the Healthcare Over $25 Million category and James Craft & Son, Inc. for their Excellence Award submittal of this project in the HVAC Over $5 Million category.

Project of the Year Description: In 2018, Lancaster General Health celebrated its 125th year of serving the community. Like many urban healthcare centers, the hospital in downtown Lancaster gradually expanded by adding one building after another—until it filled an entire city block. When the facility needed to add new private patient rooms, the only option for growth, without demolishing an existing hospital building, was to expand vertically.  This project consisted of a six-story Overbuild and expansion of Lancaster General Hospital’s existing Stauffer building which occupies the northeast corner of the hospital’s site. Construction in, around and overtop of a busy hospital does not come without its fair share of challenges. Building vertically on a tight, landlocked site created several challenges: Benchmark was able to successfully coordinate steel delivery to the site to continue building while alternating with concrete delivery to pour the completed decking as the building rose.  James Craft & Son, Inc. was hired to perform the mechanical piping and HVAC for the vertical expansion and received many deliveries at their own warehouse to transport to the jobsite. Working in an occupied facility next to highly sensitive areas and minimizing the disruption to the hospital staff ’s ability to treat patients was the highest priority.

This year, our Project of the Year Award finalists – listed in alpha order – included:

Benchmark Construction Co., Inc. (Brownstown)
Category – Healthcare Over $25 Million
Project Name – Frederick Street Patient Tower Overbuild (Lancaster)

CCS Building Group (Willow Street)
Category – Miscellaneous/Special Projects
Project Name – Willow Valley Chapel Relocation (Lancaster)

James Craft & Son, Inc. (Manchester)
Category – HVAC Over $5 Million
Project Name – Frederick Street Patient Tower Overbuild (Lancaster)

Keystruct Construction, Inc. (York)
Category – Institutional Under $2 Million
Project Name – Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church Elevator Addition (Hummelstown)

Kinsley Construction, Inc. (York)
Category – Commercial Under $2 Million
Project Name – York Traditions Bank Tenant Fit-out (York)

Mowery (Mechanicsburg)
Category – Residential New Multi-Unit
Project Name – PSL – Westminster Place II at Windy Hill Village (Philipsburg)

Wohlsen Construction Company (Lancaster)
Category – Commercial $10-$25 Million
Project Name – CityGate – Medical Office Building and Corporate Center (Lancaster)

Wohlsen Construction Company (Lancaster)
Category – Miscellaneous/Special Projects
Project Name – Amtrak Harrisburg Station – Baggage Bridge Removal (Harrisburg)

The Awards Gala was attended by over 350 contractors, project owners, design professionals and guests, including special guest Senator Ryan Aument who presented the Chapter with a 60^th Anniversary Resolution.

This year’s program featured 82 entries, judged using specific criteria regarding the quality of construction and workmanship by a panel of construction design professionals.

• The Excellence Award, the top honor, was given to the highest scoring project in each category, providing it earned at least 90 points.
• The Merit Award, second place, was given to all other projects within each category that scored 80 or more points.

The Excellence winners at the Keystone Chapter level are now eligible to enter at the National level and compete against the best in the industry from all 69 ABC chapters, nationwide. Here are this year’s winners in alphabetical order:

*high resolution photos of project teams available upon request – View photos from the event on FB

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The Keystone Chapter of Associated Builders & Contractors (ABC) is a construction trade association based in Manheim, Pennsylvania, representing Over 500 construction-related firms. Founded on the merit shop philosophy, ABC and its 69 chapters nation-wide help members win work and deliver that work safely, ethically, and profitably for the betterment of the communities in which they work. Visit us at abckeystone.org.