MIM Masonry Honor Awards

Words: Francine AbramoffOn May 4, 2006, in the midst of glitz, glamour and Hollywood stars, the 31st Annual Masonry Honor Awards banquet was held at Laurel Manor in Livonia, Michigan During the event, the Masonry Institute of Michigan Inc. and the AIA Michigan recognized Michigan architectural projects for their excellence in masonry design.

The star-studded event featured a "Hollywood awards" theme, with guests walking the red carpet, as they were harassed by Michigan's own version of Joan Rivers and Jack Nicholson and hounded by a makeshift paparazzi. The emcees for the evening featured a version of the Blues Brothers and their personalized "roasts" of some of the 24 M-Award presenters.

The 43 entries submitted were divided into categories and reviewed previously by a jury from AIA Toledo, Ohio. A record 13 awards were presented to nine different AIA firms in Michigan.

To qualify for entry, the project had to utilize masonry as the primary building material or must show that masonry was an important element in the overall solution of the design.

New this year, the more than 250 attendees had the opportunity to vote on the "2006 People's M Award." All projects were displayed during the cocktail hour, and each attendee voted for his or her favorite project by ballot. The victor received the much sought after inscribed, crystal "People's M Award."

Established in 1969, the MIM is a non-profit corporation. The MIM dedicates its efforts toward education and promotion of the masonry industry. For more information on the Masonry Institute of Michigan, visit www.mim-online.org.

Educational, K-12

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Byron Center West Middle School
Byron Center, Michigan

Architect: Tower Pinkster Titus Associates, Inc.
Mason Contractor: Burggrabe Masonry, Inc.

Educational, K-12

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Detroit School of Arts
Detroit, Michigan

Architect: Hamilton Anderson Associates
Mason Contractor: Leidal & Hart Mason Contractors

Educational, Continuing Education

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College of Health and Human Services, Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, Michigan

Architect: SmithGroup
General Contractor: Granger Construction

Retail

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Royal Park Hotel
Rochester, Michigan

Architect: Victor Saroki & Associates Architects PC
Mason Contractor: Durkin & Company Contractors
* People's M Award winner

Government

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Clinton Macomb Library
Clinton Twp., Michigan

Architect: TMP Associates Inc.
Mason Contractor: Durkin & Company Contractors

Institutional, Health Care

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David D. Hunting YMCA
Grand Rapids, Michigan

Architect: Integrated Architecture
Mason Contractor: Burggrabe Masonry, Inc.

Institutional, Religious

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Arab American National Museum
Dearborn, Michigan

Architect: Ghafari Associates LLC
Mason Contractor: Pomponio Construction

Residential, Single-family

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Private Residence
Oakland County, Michigan

Architect: Victor Saroki & Associates Architects PC
General Contractor: Thomas Sebold & Associates

Residential, Multi-family

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Metro Lofts
Royal Oak, Michigan

Architect: Neumann/Smith & Associates
Construction Manager: Cornerstone Building Group

Office

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NextEnergy Center
Detroit, Michigan

Architect: Ghafari Associates LLC
Mason Contractor: Giannola Masonry Company

Restoration

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Castle Farms
Charlevoix, Michigan

Architect: AZD Associates, Inc.
General Contractor: Lazer Construction

Unique Use of Masonry

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Jack and the Beanstalk
Ann Arbor, Michigan

Architect: Elizabeth R. Baird, AIA
Construction Manager: O'Neal Construction

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