Six outstanding projects built by AGC of California contractors were chosen as winners in the 23rd annual Associated General Contractors of California's Constructor Awards program.

Six construction companies received Constructor Awards for their California projects in the 23rd annual AGC of California Constructor Awards competition. Representing the winning firms and their projects are, from left: Lou Palandrani, Clark/McCarthy A Joint Venture (Clark Construction Group � California, LP); Mark Rietema, Syblon Reid; Mark Wheeler, Unger Construction Co.; Joe Reyes, Reyes Construction; Brendan Murphy, Turner Construction Co.; and Bob Coupe, C.C. Myers, Inc.
Six construction companies received Constructor Awards for their California projects in the 23rd annual AGC of California Constructor Awards competition. Representing the winning firms and their projects are, from left: Lou Palandrani, Clark/McCarthy A Joint Venture (Clark Construction Group � California, LP); Mark Rietema, Syblon Reid; Mark Wheeler, Unger Construction Co.; Joe Reyes, Reyes Construction; Brendan Murphy, Turner Construction Co.; and Bob Coupe, C.C. Myers, Inc.
AGC of California President Bob Christenson, left, presented the AGCC 2010 Contractor Achievement Award to David Higgins, Sr., honoring his longtime service and contribution to the construction industry.
AGC of California President Bob Christenson, left, presented the AGCC 2010 Contractor Achievement Award to David Higgins, Sr., honoring his longtime service and contribution to the construction industry.

The winning projects, along with all of the Constructor Awards finalists named in this year�s competition, were honored as the �best of the best� in California construction during the 2010 Awards Banquet and presentation at The Fairmont, San Francisco on April 10. The prestigious black tie event, the �Oscars� evening for the construction industry, was attended by over 300 people from top construction firms throughout the state.

AGC of California presented its annual Achievement Awards during the event as well. David Higgins, Sr., a founding partner in Harbison-Mahony-Higgins (HMH), Sacramento, received AGC�s Contractor Achievement Award, honoring his longtime service and contribution to the construction industry.

Awards were also presented for Project Partnering Excellence. Two project teams received top partnering awards this year from AGC of California. They included Flatiron Construction Corp. and the Santa Clara Valley Water District, for the �Lenihan Dam Outlet Modifications� project; and Flatiron Construction Corp. and Caltrans for the �Interstate 238 Widening Project.�

In addition, the AGC Education Foundation presented two Education Friend Awards. One went to Jeff Wright, veteran teacher at Lincoln Unified School District in Stockton and the creative force behind the creation of the newly opened Engineering and Construction Academy at Lincoln High School. The second Education Friend Award was presented to Jack Filanc, former president and founder of J.R. Filanc Construction Co.

The 2010 AGC of California Constructor Award winners and finalists spanned a diverse array of project types from throughout California. Each of the winners received the specially commissioned award � a solid bronze sculpture weighing nearly six pounds and depicting a surveyor with hardhat and transit. The six winners were chosen from a field of 21 previously announced finalists, all of whom were spotlighted during the awards evening with each team receiving a finalist plaque recognizing their outstanding efforts in construction. Constructor winners and finalists are all AGC members.

Two companies sponsored the 23rd annual AGC of California Constructor Awards program: McGraw-Hill Construction and SeaBright Insurance Co.

The 2010 Constructor Awards winners and their projects are:

Excellence in Project Management for Projects $5 Million or Below Constructor Winner: Reyes Construction, Inc., for Sector San Francisco Shoreline Stabilization in San Francisco. Also selected as finalists in this category were: Frank Schipper Construction Co. for California Trails at the Santa Barbara Zoo in Santa Barbara, and Marina Landscape, Inc. for University Housing at Poly Canyon Village in San Luis Obispo.

Excellence in Project Management for Projects Over $5 Million Constructor Winner: Turner Construction Co. for Terranea Resort in Rancho Palos Verdes. Also selected as finalists in this category were: Harbison-Mahony-Higgins Builders, Inc. for California Teachers� Retirement Systems (CalSTRS) Headquarters in West Sacramento; Hensel Phelps Construction Co. for San Joaquin County Adminstration Building in Stockton; and Shimmick Construction Co., Inc. for city of Soledad Wastewater Treatment Plant 5.5 MGD Expansion Project in Soledad.

Innovation in Construction Techniques or Materials Constructor Winner: Syblon Reid, for Flume 51 Replacement in Pollock Pines. Also selected as finalists in this category were: Blach Construction Co. for The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation in Palo Alto, and Turner Construction Co. for The Frontier Project in Rancho Cucamonga.

Meeting the Challenge of the Difficult Job � Builder Constructor Winner: Clark/McCarthy A Joint Venture (Clark Construction Group � California LP), for Tom Bradley International Terminal Interior Improvements and Baggage Screening Systems Project at LAX in Los Angeles. Also selected as finalists in this category were: Hensel Phelps Construction Co. for San Quentin State Prison Central Health Services Building in San Quentin, and Unger Construction Co. for AHU #10 Replacement in Roseville.

Meeting the Challenge of the Difficult Job � Heavy Engineering Constructor Winner: C.C. Myers, Inc. for 2009 Detour Tie-In Bay Bridge Roll-Out/Roll-In in San Francisco. Also selected as finalists in this category were: Balfour Beatty Infrastructure, Inc. for Freeport Regional Water Project Intake Facility in Freeport; Flatiron Construction for Interstate 238 Widening in Hayward and San Leandro; Granite Construction Co. for Design-Build, Construction of Monument 250 Roadway and Primary Border Barrier Fence in the San Ysidro Mountains; and William P. Young Construction, Inc. for Wolfe Road Overhead Rehabilitation project in Sunnyvale.

Contribution to the Community Constructor Winner: Unger Construction Co., for Make A Wish � The Wishing Place in Sacramento. Also selected as finalists in this category were: Barnhart, Inc. for Ronald McDonald House in San Diego, and Panattoni Construction, Inc. for Congregate Residence in Sacramento.

A team of seven individuals served as judges for this year's competition. They included Jon Ball, AGCC Building Division Chair, Hensel Phelps Construction Co.; John Douglas, AGCC Joint Engineering Division Chair, Granite Construction Co.; Jim Troup, Joint Engineering Division, Monterey Mechanical Co.; Dave Garese, 2010 Awards Committee Chair, Excel Bonds & Insurance Services, Inc.; Randy Douglas, 2010 Awards Committee Vice Chair, Tierra Contracting, Inc.; Don Bradley, 2010 Awards Committee, Musick, Peeler & Garrett LLP; Randell Iwasaki, Caltrans Director, outside industry representative; Mike Huhn, Jones, Henle & Schunk, an Accountancy Corp., Danville, served as the Official Accountant to the Awards Committee.