West Virginia Members' Craft Skills Abound on Annex to Historic Federal Building

The original Federal Building and Courthouse in Wheeling, WV, at left in above photo, will be connected by glass to the new $42 million annex, where Local 1 WV members have been on the job installing tile, brick, block, and stone.

For years now, space has been in short supply at the venerable Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in Wheeling, West Virginia. Although a modest addition was completed in 1999, a full-scale annex, one that would meet both near and long term requirements of its federal occupants, has been on the drawing board for years and was finally given the green light by the General Services Administration (GSA) in March 2002.

A Local 1 WV member hooks up a limestone panel to be set.	Area where new construction begins on the 90,000 square foot annex, to be completed in early 2004.

“That was good news for Local 1,” says Leroy E. Hunter, Jr., Director, of the West Virginia Administrative District Council, who oversees and coordinates operations among the state’s six Locals. Hunter predicts more good news is in store for WV Locals with “work picking up as much as it has, especially if the weather holds.”

Lewis “Scotty” Rodgers sets a large section of stone in place.	Allan Kloss prepares anchors and relief iron for stone.

Since construction began on the new federal annex in late summer 2002, twenty Local 1 members – cross-trained bricklayers and stonemasons employed by M.I. Friday Masonry, Inc. of Pittsburgh, and tilesetters and finishers employed by AIC Contracting of Cincinnati – have been installing the $42 million project’s extensive brick, block, glazed block, stone, and ceramic tile. Local 1 MD/VA/DC members employed by Roman Mosaic of Philadelphia are performing the terrazzo work.

“The project has really peaked our members’ interest because of all the masonry being used and the quality required on a federal job like this,” says WV ADC Field Representative Richard Wilson. “That’s the best of all worlds for our members – they want to work on a project where high standards are the rule, not the exception.” Wilson expects the annex to be completed early next year.

Frank Eberhart, left, and Brian Gay work on an anchoring system for stone.	Steve Schmitt makes a final check after a large stone is set in place.

The original Federal Building, completed in 1914 and considered
a prime example of the Beaux Arts style of architecture, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Its distinctive and defining presence in Wheeling’s downtown Historic District could easily overwhelm a nearby structure.

Local 15 WV cement masons Cecil Biller, left, and Walter Wilson, front right, screeding concrete at a BB&T Bank in Fairmont, WV this summer.	Anchoring relief irons before continuing with stone work are Chuck Gagus, left, and Larry Lemmon.

Although the annex’s proportion and masonry elements give a respectful nod to the original building, an understated confidence shines through. Its exterior is comprised of a granite base, accented with limestone, brick, and glass, which provide a transparent link between the old and new structures. The interior of the annex features a jaw-dropping four-story atrium at the single point of entry, and will soon have large areas of granite floors and steps using two kinds of stone installed by Local 1 members.

Brian Gay, with drill, prepares for anchoring of stone work.	Frank Eberhart III washes down and seals completed stone work.

In another significant WV ADC development, Director Leroy E. Hunter, Jr. reports that Local 15, which has not represented cement masons or plasterers in Monongalia County in the past, has been organizing those trades in view of the OPCMIA’s abrogation of the longstanding jurisdictional agreement with BAC.

Almost as soon as Local 15 signed an agreement with RC General Contractors, Local 15 cement masons were on the job at a BB&T Bank in Fairmont, WV.