Contractors Give Awards

Contractors give awards

An Ann Arbor architectural firm and the executive ’ secretary of the Washtenaw Contractors Association have been honored by the association for their contributions to the contracting industry.

Fry/Peters Associates and its owners Richard E. Fry and David 0. Peters, and Richard Brunvand, executive secretary of the organization, received the W. Nelson Vander Hyden Memorial Award during the annual contractors association meeting Sunday.

Brunvand, who said the award came as a “complete but great surprise,” said Fry/Peters Associates was chosen for the award because of its “faith in the community.”

“They put effort, time and creativity into making it an interesting and attractive place,” Brunvand said.

He cited the architects’ Northern Brewery Associates and its design of the downtown fire department headquarters as examples of their creative work.

Northern Brewery, on Jones Drive off Broadway, was a dilapidated former foundry until Fry and Peters began what will be more than $1 million worth of improvements to the 105-year-old structure.

Part of the two-story building has already been renovated and occupied, and the two architects are seeking tenants for the remaining space.

Brunvand has served as executive secretary of the contractors group since 1971. He is also president of Wallaby Advertising Inc., in Ann Arbor.

Award recipients were chosen by a selection committee composed of representatives from the construction industry, Brunvand said.

The award, created in 1977 after the death of contractor Vander Hyden, is given annually to an individual, firm or activity which represents the high ideals and professionalism that characterized Vander Hyden, he added.

Vander Hyden came to the area with the construction firm of Jeffress-Dyer in 1956 and became president of the company in 1964. The Ypsilanti firm has built many Ann Arbor buildings, including the Institute for Social Research and the Kresge Medical Research Facility.

Renovated Northern Brewery, one of Fry/Peters’ projects
News Photo by Robert Chase

BRUNVAND