Mary Burke, secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Commerce, speaks to a crowd of about 250 people from the construction industry at The Daily Reporter Publishing Co.'s Top Projects Awards Banquet on April 20.

Best foot forward

Photos by Troy Freund

The construction industry cleans up well.

There wasn't a hard hat in sight.

The steel-toed boots were either left in the closet or buffed to a nice shine. It was time for the architects, engineers, subs and contractors who don't know the meaning of relaxation to take a night off and enjoy their accomplishments.

It was The Daily Reporter Publishing Co.'s third annual Top Projects Awards Banquet on April 20 at the Country Springs Hotel in Waukesha, and about 250 construction industry professionals showed up to honor the best projects of 2004.

But don't let the nice suits and party dresses fool you. These were the same people who sweated deadlines, met challenges with ingenuity and literally worked in the trenches to make sure they did their jobs better than anyone else.

The evening kicked off with Mary Burke, secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Commerce, discussing the importance of construction to the state's overall well-being. And then it was time to honor the projects.

The team from J.P. Cullen & Sons Inc., Janesville, that worked on the Janesville Performing Arts Center enjoys a moment in the spotlight after winning its Top Projects Award for the job.

The winning jobs ranged from the high-profile Overture Center for the Arts-Phase One in Madison to the historically significant Community Credit Union in La Crosse.

There was tragedy in the spire replacement at Madison's St. Raphael Cathedral, which burned down shortly after the project's completion. And there was Kraemer Brothers LLC's response to tragedy after an explosion at the Foremost Farms Plant in Reedsburg.

But more than anything else, there was quality and dedication. And it was Wisconsin Builder's chance to tip its cap to jobs well done.