Two Commercial Rastra Projects Awarded Best Building 2003

In a May 29th, 2003 celebration held in the Mariott Hotel Albuquerque, NM, 2 commercial projects built with the Rastra system have been recognized with the award for the “Best Buildings 2003” by the Associated General Contractors of New Mexico in the category of design and energy consciousness. Award Certificates have been presented to the architects, and contractors of each project by Matt Martin, AGC president and Stan Woody, Publisher, New Mexico Business Journal.

The project awarded for design

SAN ANTONIO de PADUA CATHOLIC CHURCH, SANDIA PUEBLO.

Architects: Lloyd & Trick Architects, Santa Fe, NM

General Contractors: Jaynes Corporation, Albuquerque, NM

Rastra Contractor : New Tradition Builders, Inc., Albuquerque, NM

In the laudatio the jurors explained:

The new San Antonio de Padua Catholic Church was built to replace the old church, which was built in 1860 on a foundation of rubble and ash. Over the years, the old Church shifted and began to crack. Three years ago it was deemed too decrepit and dangerous for worship. The Pueblo wanted a design that would accommodate the future while paying respect for the past. Lloyd and Tryk worked closely with the Pueblo; Bob Montoya, a Bureau of Indian Affairs architect; and Anthony Gutierrez, the sacristan (a member of the Pueblo chosen to be the caretaker of the church). The design resulted in a sleeker, larger version of the old adobe church. The quality of construction is reflected in the finish work in the interior and exterior plaster wall finishes, the wood floors, and the hand carved wood doors and casework. While the new church looks like adobe, it was constructed of Rastra block, a recycled foam product held together with concrete and rebar. The walls are designed of two layers of Rastra the outer of which is leaning to resemble the adobe look. This design demanded great skill from the installer of the walls. It has been accomplished in stunning perfection by New Tradition Builders, Inc.

The project awarded for energy conscious design

DESERT SPRINGS CHURCH

Architects: Insite Woks, Albuquerque, NM

General Contractor and Rastra installer: Gerald Martin General Contractor, Albuquerque, NM

In the laudatio the jurors explained:

This 40.000 square foot structure is located on a major thoroughfare. Expansion concerns, parking, and neighborhood wishes were negotiated while maintaining the highest quality building material palette. An extremely high standard of workmanship has been fused with a slate of high tech materials and systems. In spite of budgetary constraints, the design and materials of construction did not suffer. The walls were constructed of load-bearing Rastra, which was produced out of recycled, post consumer plastics such as expanded polystyrene, which is mixed with cement. This system provides an insulation value of R-40, more than twice that of standard material.