ST. LOUIS – Five projects by IBEW/NECA Electrical Connection contractors are finalists in the prestigious Associated General Contractors (AGCMO) of Missouri Keystone Awards.  Guarantee Electrical and PayneCrest Electric are being saluted for project excellence in the annual award program.  Since 1997, 115 IBEW/NECA projects have been honored in the AGC Keystone Awards. The Electrical Connection is a partnership of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1 and the St. Louis Chapter of the National Electrical Contractor Association (NECA).

The honored projects span healthcare, office, aviation, solar and agriculture industries. NECA contractor Guarantee is being honored for four projects including:

·         USDA Food Safety & Inspection Service Lab in Normandy, Mo. – The 18-month project tasked Guarantee with helping to engineer and install power, safety, and communications technology at the lab, all within strict federal guidelines. As one of only three such facilities in the country, the project represented both a technical achievement and a new cornerstone of the nation’s food security system.

·         Gary C. Werths Building at Siteman Cancer Center in St. Louis – An already unforgiving 47-month schedule for Guarantee was condensed to just 36 months due to the Covid pandemic. Guarantee prioritized prefabrication, communication, and flexible problem-solving to accommodate last-minute changes even on a shortened timeline.

·         East St. Louis Energy Center II - A community-based 1.8 MW solar array tasked Guarantee to build Ameren Illinois’ first solar energy project with battery storage capabilities. The project created new purpose in an East St. Louis brownfield site, replacing disused buildings with a more-than-3,000-panel array providing renewable energy to 650 homes.

East St. Louis Energy Center II

·         Gulfstream in Cahokia, Ill. -- Guarantee met meticulous technical, aesthetic, and service standards in the renovation of three hangars and two workshop areas. It collaborated closely with Gulfstream stakeholders to deliver customized monitor rigs and lighting systems, among other specialized installs, while working seamlessly around set plant production schedules.

Meanwhile, NECA contractor PayneCrest was honored for delivering with meticulous attention to detail to transform open office space on the Express Scripts campus into Clayco’s dynamic new St. Louis headquarters with numerous amenities. PayneCrest adroitly managed a shifting schedule and budget priorities, meeting all expectations in an unforgiving 13-month project.

Clayco Lobby

 The AGC Keystone Awards salute projects for safety, proficiency in overcoming challenges and the quality of delivery, including maintaining budget and schedule. 

Winners of the 27th Annual Keystone Awards will be announced and celebrated at the AGCMO’s Construction Awards Gala this fall.

The Electrical Connection partnership provides safe and reliable commercial, industrial and residential electrical construction, maintenance, repair and replacement services across Missouri, the nation and the world. It is an important resource for business and civic leadership for new technology, including disruptive technologies, advancing electrical and communication infrastructure.  Learn more at www.electricalconnection.org.

-end-