BRUSSELS — The Immaculate Conception (St. Mary) Church reconstruction project was recently submitted by HBD Construction, Inc., to the Associated General Contractors of Missouri (AGCMO) for the 2015 Construction Keystone Award.
The Keystone Award honors the achievement of member firms and their employees in building the facilities that support and enhance quality of life. The awards are in recognition of the skill, teamwork and spirit of innovation needed to address project-specific challenges to jobsite safety, communications, diversity and quality of construction.
The St. Mary reconstruction project was selected as one of three finalists in the General Contractor/Construction Manager/Prime Contractor-Building Construction projects under $10 million category.
The following description, along with a photo of the sanctuary, regarding the St. Mary project was printed in the Awards Gala program: "Historic St. Mary's Catholic Church, founded in 1863, was destroyed by a devastating fire on Christmas Eve 2011. Only the charred masonry walls remained. HBD was selected for rebuilding this ornate sanctuary and coordinating recasting of the bells, steeple, pipe organ, liturgical appointments, artisan paintings, and historic stained-glass windows. St. Mary's is once again a beloved house of worship."
The AGC of Missouri Awards Gala took place Nov. 12 at the RiverCity Casino and Hotel. Those attending from St. Mary to receive the award were members of the rebuilding committee Charles Burch, Dale Hagen and Yvonne Macauley. Representing HBD Construction were Mike Perry, president; Brian Kowert, vice president and project manager; and Jason Boyet, superintendent. Steve Rose of Golden Eagle was also recognized as HBD superintendent on Phase I of the rebuilding project. Architect Chris Chiodini also attended.
The church is part of Calhoun County's Blessed Trinity Parish, with Father Don Roberts as its pastor. The parishioners of St. Mary celebrated the first anniversary of "being back home" at Mass on Dec. 8 at 8:30 a.m. The Mass observed the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, the church's patroness.
Tours of the church are available by contacting the church office at (618) 883-2400.