Hosted by the Mason Contractors Association of Western Pennsylvania (MCAWP), the Golden Trowel Awards celebrate exemplary regional masonry and its craftspeople. After more than a ten-year hiatus, the award ceremony returned with an evening of celebration, recognizing the work of MCAWP members and AEC industry partners. Project categories ranged from commercial to institutional, K-12 to higher education, multifamily, and restoration.

Winner of the Higher Education category, CMU’s Highmark Center for Health, Wellness and Athletics received plaudits for its “selection of brick and the subtle patterning,” which “complement the existing context.” The Highmark Center, a 160,000 square-foot, LEED Gold project, is a meaningful response to the pressures faced by students as they navigate academic life and the world after graduation, bringing together varied departments – from health and psychological services to wellness, spirituality, and athletics. The design team drew on the underlying logic of nearby Henry Hornbostel campus buildings, re-interpreting materials and patterns to create a contemporary facility with a strong connection to place. The Highmark Center integrates the restored 1924 Skibo Gymnasium and sits directly across from Margaret Morrison Hall. The campus side of the new Center bookends with the existing gym structure and establishes a calm edge, articulated in a contemporary expression of light-toned, locally sourced brick – an economical material choice informed by the legacy of regional masonry construction and experienced local masons.

The jury included Tom Elliott, CSI, CDT (Director of Industry Development and Technical Services – International Masonry Institute), Sean McGuire, AIA (Gensler), Steven Johns (Kieran Timberlake), and David J. Hacin, FAIA (Hacin + Associates). Congratulations to our clients, Carnegie Mellon University, and project team, including Franco Associates (Masonry) and Mascaro Construction (General Contractor)!