Walsh Brothers Boston Symphony Clerestory Window Restoration AON Build America Award Winner

Press Contact:  
Sarah Cotter, Marketing Manager
Walsh Brothers, Incorporated
210 Commercial StreetBoston, MA   02109
617-878-4864
scotter@walshbrothers.com

For Release: Immediately

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – March 17, 2009 – The Associated General Contractors (AGC) of America recently honored Walsh Brothers, Incorporated with the prestigious 2009 AON Build America Award. This national award was given in recognition of Walsh Brothers’ stunning restoration project at the Boston Symphony Hall.

Having had the distinct privilege of working with the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) over the last 20 years, Walsh Brothers, Inc welcomed the challenging and historic Clerestory Window project.  Walsh Brothers, Inc is proud to have taken part in the restoration of one of the City of Boston’s most prestigious landmarks.  The key objectives of the Clerestory Window program was to bring to life the original details, natural lighting and statuary in the Hall, as well as improving the already infamous acoustics by restoring the windows to their original design  completed by renowned firm of McKim, Mead, and White some 108 years ago.  The care taken to accomplish that was extraordinary.  Shuttered since World War II, Symphony Hall had not been exposed to natural light for over 65 years. The windows were unveiled to the public last fall during the first concert of the BSO’s 128th season. The Boston Globe reported on the unveiling: “Last night's early start-time meant that the sky was still lit for the downbeat, and the effect was striking, less for the quantities of actual daylight entering the hall than for the way the space itself seemed to breathe more easily. It's a real improvement.”  The final results generated positive feedback from the Boston Symphony Orchestra stakeholders, media, patrons, and members of the Orchestra.  Walsh Brothers’ work on the Clerestory Windows not only elevated the aesthetic of Boston Symphony Hall, but it improved upon its already infamous acoustics and further strengthened Boston Symphony Hall's reputation as one of three perfect concert halls in the world. 

The Aon Build America Award winners were announced as part of AGC’s 90th annual convention in San Diego, CA. For over two decades this prestigious award has been given in recognition of a project’s complexity, innovation, success, and significance within the construction industry and this great country’s history.   The Build America Awarded is the industry’s most  coveted and selective with the winners being carefully selected by a panel of seasoned industry peers. Century hold construction techniques and replication methodologies were utilized in the project approach making it a stand out in the Building Renovation Category for the award.  The project was completed in an impressive  timeline of 76 days.

A fourth generation-managed, family-owned firm, Walsh Brothers was recognized for its contribution to the advancement of the construction industry along with its community involvement and philanthropy, project innovation, leadership and collaboration and environmental stewardship. Over its 108 year history the firm has had a major impact on Boston’s skyline through its construction of some of the city’s largest and most complex buildings in the arts, cultural, academic and healthcare markets. This is the second Build America Award received by the firm – having gotten a similar award for the renovation of Fenway Park in 2006.  To find out more about Walsh Brothers visit us on the web at www.walshbrothers.com.

This project was profiled as a front page cover article for Constructor Magazine; view the cover story here: http://constructoragc.construction.com/mag/2009_5-6/features/0905-46_AGC.asp