Hancher recognized for exemplary construction

It wasn’t the scale. It wasn’t the budget, the square-footage. It wasn’t the unprecedented 17 contractors and 18 subconsultants all coordinated by construction mangager Mortenson Company. It wasn’t the historic, once-in-a lifetime opportunity to work with internationally renowned architects Pelli Clarke Pelli for the design team at OPN Architects.

It was all these elements combined that earned the team behind the design and construction of Hancher at the University of Iowa with a first-of-its-kind award from the Master Builders Association on Feb. 28. They were honored at ceremony in Des Moines with a Masters Award of Exemplary Construction.

Traditionally, the association recognizes three projects — $1 to $5 million, $5 to $10 million and Over $10 million categories —  each year with a Masters Award for exceptional efforts of a construction team in executing the process of completing a project. Winners are selected because they exemplify good management skills, imagination, perseverance under unusual and challenging conditions, and/or innovative construction techniques.

This year, though, the panel of judges representing a variety of professionals from the industry, including general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, architects, engineers and owners, realized that Hancher truly is in a league of its own.

Congratulations to each of the thousands of contractors, designers, and tradesmen and women who worked tirelessly on the project for more than six years.

OPN Architects was also proud to have another project named as a finalist. Boehringer Ingelheim, a research and development lab and office in Ames, was shortlisted in the over $10 million category.