The Chicago Building Congress conferred top honors to two HPA projects at its annual Merit Awards Dinner on May 16, which recognized outstanding construction projects in Metropolitan Chicago.

Hairpin Lofts was selected as the winner from a panel of four finalists in the Rehab Construction category. Accepting the award on behalf of the project team were Ray Hartshorne and Paul Alessandro from Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture, David Brint from Brinshore Development, and Dawn Marie Galtieri from Voice of the City. Hairpin Lofts is a LEED Gold-certified project that consisted of the adaptive reuse of the landmarked Morris B. Sachs Building into a mixed-use development with affordable housing units, the Hairpin Arts Center and retail space.

Teen Living Programs’ Belfort House was chosen as the first-ever recipient of the Merit Award in the Charitable Project category. Jim Plunkard, Tim Holleran and Aracely Nevarez from Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture, Betty Bogg of Teen Living Programs, and Mark Heffron of Summit Design + Build accepted the award on behalf of the project team. Belfort House is a new 12,000 SF contemporary facility with an expansive green space for Teen Living Programs, a non-profit organization that provides transitional housing and social services for youth who are homeless.

The Chicago Building Congress is a trade organization drawing together its multi-disciplinary members to advance the art, science and technology of the building industry. For 56 years, CBC has recognized building projects based on the quality of their design and construction, safety record, and impact on the community.