London and District Construction Association launches awards to recognize best in ICI

The London and District Construction Association (LDCA) has recognized the best in industrial, commercial and institutional (ICI) construction in the region in an inaugural awards program.

Derek Smith, the association’s executive director, said the initiative was prompted by the association’s desire to increase the visibility of its member companies and to raise the brand recognition of the LDCA as the voice for ICI construction in the six-county region surrounding London.

“We also wanted to recognize excellence in a peer-to-peer environment,” Smith said.

Awards of construction excellence were presented in seven categories.

Winners included: Ro-Buck Contracting for the West London dike replacement; JMR Electric for its head office project in Exeter; Hayman Construction for the DaVinci Business Park in Dorchester; Norlon Builders for the Avian Research Centre at the University of Western Ontario; and MCI Design-Build Corporation for the Anjema Eye Institute in Chatham.

McKay-Cocker Construction was recognized for two projects — the Stoney Creek YMCA in north London and Goodwill’s Social Enterprise Abilities Centre, also in London.

A special award recognizing a member of distinction was presented to Frank Baratta, president of the Bernardo Group. Baratta, who has served on the LDCA board for over 25 years, has been in the tile, marble and granite business for more than 50 years.

Smith said submissions were judged on the basis of customer and trade satisfaction, workmanship and complexity, LDCA trade loyalty and qualification, project management and execution, and safety record.

In all, 22 submissions were received.

“The quality of submissions was exemplary, especially for an inaugural event,” said Smith, whose association represents 575 companies.

The awards will be presented every two years.

This year’s judges were David Murphy of Murphy & Murphy Architect Inc., Peter White, president of the London Economic Development Corp., and Sheila Zsoldos of Zsoldos Consulting, a firm which represents employers in WSIB matters.

Established in 1898, the LDCA represents contractors, manufacturers and suppliers, and allied professionals operating in the counties of Middlesex, Oxford, Elgin, Perth, Huron and Bruce.

The awards were handed out at a recent gala in London.