Window Restoration Project in Historic Northern California Courthouse Wins Mellon Award for Excellence

MAULDIN, S.C.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The Harry H. Mellon Award of Excellence in Job Order Contracting for 2012—a top annual award recognizing excellent and innovative uses of Job Order Contracting—was awarded to Mark Scott Construction, Inc. and the Administrative Office of the Courts for the State of California for the restoration of 200 windows at a Northern California courthouse. Job Order Contracting is a competitively bid procurement process that building and infrastructure owners use to save money by fast-tracking repair and alteration projects based on locally priced construction tasks and competitively awarded contracts.

“We are proud to be a part of the team that completed the historical renovation of the Wakefield Taylor Court House”

Restoration of the 80-year-old Wakefield Taylor Courthouse—which serves the Superior Court of Contra Costa County in the county seat, Martinez, Calif.—presented two challenges. The courthouse is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places, a fact that required use of historically accurate methods and materials in the restoration. The project also required all work to be completed without disturbing normal building operations. That meant working overnight and on weekends and holidays when the court was closed.

The project encompassed removing all the windows, restoring them partially or completely, and then re-installing them. Depending on the condition of the double-hung windows, individual wood sash pieces were either restored or replaced. When a window could not be repaired, it was replaced with one that was built according to original designs and using original construction methods. Due to the age of the windows, lead-paint abatement was required during removal and refurbishment, which was done off-site. Temporary windows were installed while original windows were being refurbished.

Mark Scott Construction located in Pleasant Hill, Calif., was the contractor selected to work on the project. Because of the company’s expertise in historic restorations, it was able to mobilize quickly on the replacement project, working with the Historical Society who viewed this project as their highest priority.

“We are proud to be a part of the team that completed the historical renovation of the Wakefield Taylor Court House,” said Mark Scott, President of Mark Scott Construction. “Our staff worked very hard to maintain the historic character of the building, while being conscious and considerate not to disrupt the court’s ongoing day-to-day activities.” Mark Scott Construction is a prior 2011 Mellon award recipient and the only contractor honoree to be given this award twice.

The Harry H. Mellon Award of Excellence in Job Order Contracting, established in 2008 and awarded annually, recognizes excellence in using Job Order Contracting principles and practices while identifying unique and innovative ways the process can function in renovation work.

Previous recipients of the Mellon Award of Excellence include:

• Challenger Center for Space Science Education, New York City Department of Education
• Chicago Cultural Center Tiffany Dome Restoration, City of Chicago Department of Public Works
• Headquarters Building Seismic Retrofit, Los Angeles County Department of Public Works
• Healdsburg Post Office Fire Replacement, United States Postal Service, Healdsburg, Calif.

The award is named for Harry H. Mellon, the inventor of Job Order Contracting, and is one of the industry’s highest honors. The Gordian Group sponsors the award.