RIA recognises firms with Phoenix Awards for restoration and reconstruction

The Restoration Industry Association has presented its highest honours for innovation in restoration and reconstruction to two member firms. The Phoenix Awards are presented each year to recognise achievement in the areas of restoration and reconstruction. Winning projects exemplify the complement of skills required to restore a project to pre-loss condition.

This year, two projects were recognised from a field of 12. Three-time Phoenix Award winner Kelmann Corporation of Wauwatosa, Wi., won the Phoenix Award for Innovation in Restoration for its work on Saint Patrick Church near Milwaukee. This 114-year-old church suffered an electrical fire, which destroyed most of the basement and first floor. The work required ranged from new electrical systems to stained-glass restoration.

"We are proud to be a member of RIA and humbled to receive the Phoenix Award for the 4th time. We thank and credit God for blessing us with the skilled and dedicated employees that made this possible," said Dick Niggemann, president of Kelmann Corp.

Crawford, Smith and Sharp, located in Barlett, Tenn., was the winner of the Phoenix Award for Innovation in Reconstruction. The company was contracted to help reconstruct an apartment building in Nashville that was in danger of collapsing.

The deadline for submission of projects for the 2009 award will be December 15th

T: 443-878-1000

E: pharman@restorationindustry.org

W: www.restorationindustry.org

1st May 2008