Stevens Masonry’s dedication and professionalism gives one high school an award-winning facility
It may have been the largest project in this small western Pennsylvania town in 80 years. It may have cost a whopping $50 million to local taxpayers. And for one group of alumni – it was a chance to prove itself on its old stomping grounds.
The new, gleaming New Castle Junior/Senior High School is a state-of-the-art educational facility with 335,000 square feet of new construction space and a 30,000-foot Fieldhouse. This brick, cast stone and ground-face CMU structure, a combination of steel and masonry loadbearing, also houses the majority of this city’s youth in grades 7-12. It is also the product of superior craftsmanship by Stevens Masonry Inc., of New Castle, PA.
Stevens recently won the 2007 International Masonry Institute’s Golden Trowel award the best-in-category of educational facilities section for interior work, and was first runner up for the entire project. Stevens’ masonry work included interior walls, wall foundations, load-bearing stairways, and exterior cavity wall veneer construction. Work was judged on Phase II of the facility’s project.
In fact, Stevens won first-runner up honors for its work in Phase I of the school project, as well.
All told, about 10,000 tons of masonry material was used in the project, including 13.5 million pounds of CMU units and 1.125 million pounds of Belden face brick of all shapes, sizes and colors. Over 10,000 bags of masonry mortar were mixed with 1,200 tons of sand and 50,000 gallons of water.
Stevens President Ed Stevens believes his company gained recognition by meeting or exceeding all scheduling dates, properly manning the project, being a team player and communicating with the general contractor, contract manager, and owner.
“We produced quality masonry work in an economic, timely manner for the benefit of all involved: the owner, the students and the taxpayers,” he said.
Stevens, is a third-generation family business, founded in 1986. It is currently operated by brothers Edwin G. and George M. Stevens, who took over the reins from their mom and dad, Ed and Esther. Grandfather George C. Stevens founded the family-based business. Uncle George C. continued the family tradition. Today, Edwin’s wife, Jeananne, is office manager and George’s son, George Jr., is an apprentice in the craft.
The company completes institutional, industrial and commercial projects, ranging in size from office structures to 300,000-sq.-ft. shopping plazas. Around the region, one can spot the work of Stevens Masonry in corporate, industrial, healthcare, educational, municipal and civic buildings.
But when the multiple phase, two-year New Castle High School project was landed, the Stevens family had something more to work for. “Our whole family graduated from the original New Castle High School. Seldom do you get the opportunity to construct a brand new school, in your own community, especially your alma mater,” said Stevens.
Stevens Masonry, Inc. is also a member of The Builders – the Builders Association of eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania. The Builders, representing employers in Trumbull, Columbiana and Mahoning counties eastern Ohio and Mercer and Lawrence counties in western Pennsylvania, services 15 different skilled trades in the region, and is an ongoing resource for union construction contractors such as Stevens Masonry. Members of The Builders have access to state-of-the-art education and training, unlimited manpower from apprenticeship and union labor halls, contract negotiation support, and a pool of technical, administrative and support resources.
Edwin Stevens, the current president (president and vice-president rotate annually between Edwin and his brother), says his company’s dedication to customers and professionalism is what sets them apart from competitors. Every job, he says, is approached as if it’s being done for a beloved family or friend.
“And no job is too big or too small for us,” Stevens adds. “We will continue to be a resource to the construction community for years to come, and we will continue to bring our best to every jobsite. Our family name guarantees it.”
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About Steven’s Masonry:
Stevens Masonry Construction, Inc.
175 Olde Colony Drive
New Castle, PA 16105
Phone: 800-498-4435, 724-652-4285
Fax: 724-656-9760
Email: stevensmasonry@aol.com
Contact Person: George Stevens, Edwin Stevens
