The first-of-its-kind facility at Syracuse University has earned a national construction honor

The National Veterans Resource Center (NVRC) at the Daniel and Gayle D’Aniello Building has won a 2021 Construction Risk Partners Build America Merit Award. The Associated Builders and Contractors (AGC) of America holds the annual competition to recognize members for the nation’s most impressive projects. NVRC, which is located at Syracuse University, won in the category for Building New, $10 million to $75 million.

A first-of-its-kind facility, NVRC is a center for research and programs aimed at enhancing the lives of our nation’s veterans and their families. It will also serve as a community hub for student-veterans and the entire Syracuse University campus. LeChase was construction manager for the 114,000-SF, three-story building.

“The Build America awards recognize the best of the best among construction projects, and the NVRC’s unique design and purpose make it a very deserving recipient,” said LeChase CEO and Managing Partner William H. Goodrich. “We are proud to have been part of the team building this remarkable facility, which will serve 40,000 veterans annually and host many campus and community gatherings. Congratulations to our colleagues at Syracuse University for their vision and commitment to those who have served our country.”

In addition to LeChase, the project team for NVRC included SHoP Architects, M/E Engineering and Thornton Tomasetti. The project involved construction of many unique elements. The full glass façade features decorative aluminum fins on the top floor, and there is also a rooftop parade grounds. Inside, a towering tree-like feature wall – made up of 8,400 individual planks – arches across the ceiling outside the Center’s auditorium. An extensive series of ramps enables visitors to move between the Center’s entrances and the auditorium’s upper-level without use of stairs or an elevator.

Previously, LeChase won a Jeffrey J. Zogg Build NY Award, presented by AGC NY, for the project. AGC President Bob Lanham and Construction Risk Partners representatives will present the national award this fall during AGC’s Annual Convention.

About LeChase Construction Services, LLC
Established in 1944, LeChase prides itself on offering the capabilities of a large firm while maintaining the personalized service of a small firm. Today, the company ranks among the nation’s top contractors – providing general construction and construction management services in a wide range of industries and on projects of all sizes. With a dedicated team of talented professionals striving to deliver excellence, the firm has earned a reputation for quality, safety and integrity. In addition to serving customers from its operations across the East Coast, LeChase can provide resources to meet the unique needs of clients no matter where they are located.