In its sixth year, Technology Publishing Company’s Elevation Awards, the commercial painting honors program, was again hosted in partnership with the Commercial Painting Industry Association. For the first time since the program’s inaugural year, the competition underwent a restructuring, which involved redeveloping the program’s project categories and eligibility criteria.
This year’s group of outstanding projects completed between January 1, 2021, and July 15, 2022, recognized an impressive collective of not just commercial painting contractors, but also architects, interior designers, decorative artisans, manufacturers and suppliers throughout the industry.
On Oct. 12, 2022, former Commercial Painting editor-in-chief Destiny Johnson and TPC CEO Brion Palmer presented the winners of the 2022 competition.
“We were so pleased to see how many CPIA members, commercial contractors and suppliers participated in this year’s honors program,” said Johnson. “Thanks to our panel of expert judges, it is with great pleasure that we are able to formally announce the 2022 Elevation Awards winners.”
New Construction: Nvidia Voyager by Magnum Drywall
Project Location: Santa Clara, California; Contractor: Devcon Construction, Inc.
Products: Carboline ThermoSorb, Sherwin-Williams Acrolon 100, Sherwin-Williams Loxon Primer, Sherwin-Williams Pro Industrial Acrylic HP, Sherwin-Williams ProMar 200 and Sherwin-Williams Super Paint
The Nvidia Voyager project is the second Nvidia Headquarters facility built in Santa Clara, California. Magnum Drywall Painting & Wallcovering Division was contracted for the project after they had helped to successfully complete the Nvidia Endeavor in 2017.
Serving as the architect, Gensler worked to design the new 750,000-square-foot facility known as the Nvidia Voyager. In 2019, Magnum applied intumescent coatings to the primary steel beams at the high-overhead ceiling areas and the columns throughout—many measuring 85 feet high. The steel was previously shop-primed off-site by the steel subcontractor, however, the contractors noted that sections of the steel had transportation and erection damage which had been spot-rusted.
Another notable challenge over the course of the eight-month intumescent scope was applying the paint in two very different temperature periods: September-October and January-March. As a result of moisture from a roofing issue, crews experienced coating failures on 19 columns, which required removal, surface preparations and reapplication. This portion of the project was completed in April 2020.
For the wallcovering portion of the project, Magnum worked alongside Sherwin-Williams as its architectural coatings partner. The scope included top-coating 620,000 square feet of exposed ceiling areas, which included the intumescent primary beams and columns already finished, the secondary structural supports and the deck system at the high ceiling areas. This would also require the masking and protection of 246,852 square feet of glass and a curtain-wall system.
Other steel-coated items included the window girt structure supporting the 65-foot-high curtain wall system, some 17 metal stairs, metal balcony railings, hollow-metal doors and door frames. Further, Magnum shared that it had applied coatings to over 445,000 square feet of interior wall surfaces, 896,000 square feet of parking garage walls, ceilings and columns on two underground floors. Almost 40,000 square feet of walls were also primed in preparation for the company’s wallcovering and acoustical wall panel scope. The biggest challenge faced for this portion of the project were raw material shortages and supply availability, according to Magnum.
In total, Magnum handled roughly $17 million of work in the entire painting scope. According to the company’s submission, Devcon Construction, Magnum, Carboline and Sherwin Williams succeeded collaboratively in turning over a stunning facility on time and within budget.
Mixed-Use Commercial: Grand Central Station by Evergreene Architectural Arts, Inc.
Project Location: New York City; Contractor: Nicholson & Galloway, Inc.
Products: Benjamin Moore Aqua Lock Primer, Benjamin Moore Regal Select, Dumond Smart Strip Pro, Edison Coating Interplast 57, Larsen Plaster-Weld, Smooth-On Cab-o-Sil, Smooth-On Mold Max 30, Smooth-On Mold Release, Smooth-On Poyo Putty, USG Moulding Plaster and Villeroy & Boch Metalyn
EverGreene was contracted in 2020 to restore the decorative plaster elements on the iconic ceiling of the Grand Central Station Main Concourse. Originally opened in 1913, the Main Concourse ceiling features a gigantic celestial mural depicting 12 zodiac constellations. After the original full-scale restoration of the mural in 1996, the ceiling continued to experience some water damage and general degradation.
Those at EverGreene shared with TPC and the CPIA that the walls at Grand Central are composed of molded plaster elements attached to a terra cotta substrate and made to resemble architectural Caen stone blocks.
As part of the project, EverGreene performed a conditions assessment and was then hired to complete the faux Caen stone restoration, plaster restoration and decorative painting on the areas surrounding the mural. The project scope included replacing damaged plaster panels, completing crack repairs, larger surface repairs and re-adhering delaminated panels. In addition to faux Caen stone repair work, additional plaster repairs and flat painting were completed on the West Balcony Ceiling Arch and above three clerestory windows of the Main Concourse.
“In areas of flat painting, thin decorative pin stripes were recreated based on existing historic layout to mimic the appearance of joint lines of an Ashlar block pattern,” wrote Evergreene in its submission form.
The project was completed in September 2021.
Multifamily/Residential High-Rise: Halstead Exterior Repaint by W.T. Kenney Co., Inc.
Project Location: Framingham, Massachusetts; Contractor: W.T. Kenney Co., Inc.
Products: Benjamin Moore Ultra Spec Masonry Interior/Exterior 100% Acrylic Sealer 608 and Benjamin Moore Exterior Aura, Multi-Purpose Cleaner N318 and Corotech Waterborne Bonding Primer
Last year, W.T. Kenney Co spent six months on towers at the Apartments at Halstead Framingham in Massachusetts to bring color to the neighborhood.
“When it comes to painting, masonry can be a fickle partner for painters,” wrote Brian Jurgens, W.T. Kenney. “If it’s done improperly, peeling, cracking and efflorescence all can be problems that rear their ugly heads down the line. For homeowners and building owners alike, it’s extremely important to hire a painting contractor skilled at working on one of the more challenging substrates.”
It is for these reasons, it is paramount for the commercial coatings contractor to have a strong knowledge of proper product and surface preparation. To complete the job, facility owners selected W.T. Kenney, a fourth-generation commercial painting firm that has been known to complete up to 500 commercial jobs in a single year.
For the project, crews first pressured washed each vertical masonry tower. This was then followed by the application of sealer and two coats of a spray-applied finish. The method of application was selected to ensure that the paint found its way into all the nooks and crannies of the fluted block. Each of the 504 patio panels was degreased, primed and painted as well.
In total, crews worked on 20 vertical masonry towers and 504 individual patio panels. Two aerial boom lifts carried two crew members at a time, each rising to heights as much as 80 feet from June through November.
The seven-story fluted block masonry towers required nearly 1,200 gallons of paint and primer, and a couple hundred more for the panels.
Institutional: Palouse Discovery Science Center by Wiser Painting LLC
Project Location: Pullman, Washington; Contractor: Wiser Painting LLC
Products: Benjamin Moore Regal Select Moorgard, Sherwin-Williams Pro Industrial DTM Acrylic, World's Best Graffiti Remover Muralshied and Zinsser 1-2-3- Primer
Completed in August 2021, Jesse Wiser of Wiser Painting shared that work at the Palouse Discovery Science Center in Pullman, Washington, was the company’s largest undertaking at the time. Not only would crews be required to prep and paint the entire structure’s exterior, but they would also have to prep the front of the building for a mural.
The building had originally been used for a manufacturing company and was not aesthetically pleasing for a building that would one-day house children and visitors eager to learn more about science. To achieve this feeling of excitement, the Center’s board landed on a bright yellow. Although the industry was battling an ongoing paint shortage, Wiser was able to work closely with two different coatings suppliers to complete the project, which took about 100 gallons.
Wiser shared in its submission form that the structure was “very weathered.” To get it in a condition suitable for coatings applications, crews cleaned and prepped the exterior surfaces using a 1-2-3 primer as a base for the top coat. In effort to avoid any timeline issues with the muralist, crews focused first on the front and sides of the building. These were applied with a Gesso primer, as recommended and requested by the muralist.
The project was carried out in stages due to labor shortages. After the front and sides were completed, Wiser moved on to the back and even assisted in the repair of what was once a window, carrying out cement patchwork.
After the mural was completed, crews also spray-applied a clear protective coating to extend the life of the artwork.
“Our bold new exterior paint job has been transformative for our science center. Not only was the repair long overdue, but vibrant color(s) brought a sense of renewal and revitalization to our facility,” said Center Director, Meri Joswiak. “We knew it was going to be a challenge trying to find the right contractor to work with us on this project, and in the middle of a pandemic and supply shortages, but Wiser Painting was there with us every step of the way.
“As a small nonprofit organization, we relied on Wiser Paintings experience and guidance through this project to ensure we were sticking within our budget and timeframe for completion.”
Floor Coatings: Western Aircraft Maintenance Hangar Floor Rehabilitation by Sherwin-Williams High Performance Flooring
Project Location: Boise, Idaho; Contractor: Consurco Concrete
Products: Sherwin-Williams High Performance Resuflor 3561 Epoxy Resin Glaze, Sherwin-Williams High Performance Flooring Resuflor 3569 Multi-Purpose Epoxy and Sherwin-Williams High Performance Flooring Resutile 4638 HS Polyurethane Floor Enamel (mixed with an aluminum oxide additive)
Private airline transportation company Western Aircraft, Inc. launched more than 60 years ago. Beginning as a corporate flight department of Morrison Knudsen Corporation in Boise, Idaho, the company has since expanded to become the world’s largest PC-12 dealer and an Authorized Falcon Service Center.
Of Western’s maintenance facilities acquired over the decades, and the one most notably showing its age, was an 18,000-square-foot aircraft maintenance hangar built in the 1990s.
“Maintaining a clean, professional image from our jets to our personnel to even our aircraft maintenance hangars is critical to supporting Western Aircraft’s sophisticated reputation,” said Austin Shontz, General Manager, Western Aircraft. “It was time to restore that image at our Boise maintenance hangar and find a better solution that would help us better maintain aesthetics over the long term.”
Western Aircraft called on Consurco Concrete Surface Technologies, a specialty contractor with deep aviation experience and a history of successful installations was selected for the project, which would require careful planning to ensure the facility was not out of service for more than 10 days during the renovation.
The hangar’s original floor was relatively thin for an aviation environment, measuring approximately 10 mils dry film thickness (DFT) in total. Abrasions and gouging were also accelerating the decline in appearance and functionality of the coating system.
“Generally, a thicker coating system is better for long-term floor durability and performance,” said Consurco’s Tim Ling, Regional Manager. “For this project, our assignment was to provide a flooring solution that would provide higher performance via an increased surface profile and a higher film build than the original floor. We also needed to be sensitive to budget and product availability requirements.”
For the rehabilitation, Western Aircraft selected a 45- to 50-mil DFT coating system and would require approximately 400 gallons of material. Applied on the jobsite, the Elevation Awards submission form explained that the project utilized a phased product delivery and on-site technical support as well.
Before applications could begin, crews removed the entire existing coating system using planetary diamond grinders and then shot-blasted the substrate. For any repairs, installers used a 100% solids epoxy crack filler.
Before intermediate and topcoats were applied, a 100% solids epoxy base coat was applied at 8 mils. This was followed by an epoxy resin glaze intermediate coat at 35 mils. For the topcoat, the installation team applied 5 mils of polyurethane floor enamel. Installers applied the topcoat by dipping and rolling the mixed resin and additive solution.
This project was completed in October 2021.
Ancillary/Misc. Services: Illinois American Chouteau Island Pump House by Bazan Painting Co.
Project Location: Granite City, Illinois; Contractor: Bazan Painting Company
Products: Sherwin-Williams Waterbase Dryfall Coating, Sherwin-Williams Waterbase Epoxy Gloss, Sherwin-Williams Waterbase Epoxy Safety Yellow Gloss
Based out of St. Louis, Bazan Painting opened in 1977 and has been providing full-service painting and decorating contractor services across the country. Reported to take on commercial, industrial, institutional and residential projects, the company notes that it specializes in sandblasting, water blasting, power washing, corrosion prevention and concrete floor polishing.
In late 2020, Bazan was hired by Illinois American to repaint its pump house on Chouteau Island. Located just west of Granite City, the island spans three parcels west of the Chain of Rocks canal and adjoining the Mississippi River. Combined, all these islands provide wildlife habitat, recreation opportunities, and flood storage on over 5,500 acres.
In the pump and screening rooms of the facility, crews were required to clean, scrape and apply waterbased dryfall paint to the exposed ceilings. Workers were also required to clean, scrap and prime areas in those spaces where paint had become loose and was failing. These efforts were followed by the application of epoxy.
Floors in the pump room also required workers from Bazan to clean, remove failing paint, additional surface preparation, pirming and new coating applications. These same procedures were also carried out on the pump house’s equipment, pumps, various piping and supports.
Surface preparations, prepping and painting were also performed on the facility’s elevator steel, steel stair and railings, walkway railings and structural steel. Stuart Skillington also noted that the Bazan team cleaned, abraded, patched and coated the pump house walkways and screen room floor with an epoxy system.
“Bazan did a masterful job in restoring this space,” wrote Elevation Awards Judge Michael Capulong. “The before and after photos really demonstrate the scale of the job and how impactful their work is.”
The project was noted to have reached completion by the end of February 2021.
Judges' Choice: Industry by Accent Painting
Project Location: Salt Lake City, Utah; Contractor: Makers Line
Products: Sherwin-Williams HP 200, Sherwin-Williams Pro Mar 200 Primer, Sherwin-Williams Pro Mar 400 and Sherwin-Williams Waterborne Urethane
Taking the 2022 Elevation Awards Judges’ Choice category is Accent Painting’s Industry submission.
“I felt the Industry project, as a whole, was the best demonstration of reuse in all categories,” wrote Elevation Awards Judge Jeff Theo. “While other projects were good examples of repair, rehabilitation, or refurbishment, Industry was reused rather than demolished and reconstructed for another purpose.”
Created by the Winklers, Industry was established from reusing a 300,000-square-foot Silver Co. Foundry in Salt Lake City, Utah.
During the remodel of the warehouse, Accent Painting was instructed to leave any original art and structures untouched because the owners felt that preserving the old charm and character of the facility was important.
Accent Painting was really excited to work on The Industry project and be a part of the reviving of one of the communities it belongs to.
“My overall favorite is the Industry renovation,” commented Elevation Awards Judge Andre Omer Desjarlais. “Starting with a pretty crappy building, they worked magic.”
The building includes a local coffee shop/restaurant, however, the space will also offer shared areas for tenants including kitchens, conference rooms, outdoor spaces and more. The Industry is also working with Salt Lake City’s planning and transportation division to help rejuvenate the, currently, run-down road where the building is located.
The owners are hoping that Industry will help revive the area, calling it their “community-driven adaptive reuse project.” The Winklers added, “We prefer adaptive reuse projects partly for environmental reasons and partly because the approach gives their developments a connection to the past.”
Accent Painting completed coatings work at Industry in January 2022.
