West Construction Company, established in 2014 and headquartered in Savannah Georgia, has received the prestigious 2024 Build America Award for the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist Regina Coelia Hall.  West Construction has received 7 Build Georgia awards however this is West’s first Build America Award. 

 The Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist has undergone many changes and renovations since its construction in 1876. The French Gothic building survived a fire in 1898, was renovated in 1959, 1985, and the most recent Jubilee renovation in 2000 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Savannah. In 2020, the building was named a minor Basilica by his Holiness Pope Francis and underwent one of its most dramatic renovations, this time, to the Lower Level and Chapel sections of the church. 

“The opportunity to work with a building of such reverence and significance wasn’t lost on us, according to Matt West, President of West Construction Company. “We are grateful for the trust placed in us by the Diocese, Monsignor Schreck, and the team at Sottile + Sottile. This award is recognition of the hard work put in by many people. We look forward to Regina Coeli Hall serving as a blessing for the parishioners of the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist for generations to come."

“The opportunity to work with a building of such reverence and significance wasn’t lost on us,” according to Matt West, President of West Construction Company.  “We are grateful for the trust placed in us by the Diocese, Monsignor Schreck, and the team at Sottile + Sottile. This award is recognition of the hard work put in by many people. We look forward to Regina Coeli Hall serving as a blessing for the parishioners of the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist for generations to come." 

The project scope included the demolition of the former parish hall, the construction of new architectural plaster vaults in the ceilings of the chapel, new flooring, the construction of a new chancel, the new flooring, construction of a new chancel and other related renovations to help bring the appointment and finish level of the Sanctuary to other areas of the church. This project took over 8 years to plan and prepare for and was completed with a tedious attention to detail keeping the sanctuary in full operation throughout construction. 

West Construction Company recognized that this special project was a collaboration of a team of experts from Sottile and Sottile, Tharpe Engineering, Smith and Vandenbulck as well as many local and nationally recognized talented tradespeople who came together to make this project a success.  

“The project presented a rare opportunity to bring together old world craftsmanship and modern construction to develop a truly beautiful space that will endure for a century to come.  The West Construction team skillfully orchestrated the many unique trades, artists, and artisans needed to create this stunning space--and executed on a very complex decorative program to arrive at a breathtaking result,” according to Christian Sottile, FAIA of Sottile & Sottile. 

The Build America awards honor AGC members who build the nation's most impressive construction project across the building, highway and transportation, utility infrastructure, and federal and heavy divisions. Recognizing state-of-the-art advancement, project management, innovation in construction techniques or materials, safety record, client service, community relations, environmental sensitivity, and partnering excellence.   

In the words of AGC's Past President J. Doug Pruitt, “These projects, with their vision, scope and grandeur literally dare to challenge, dare to change. Chosen by you, the contractors, recipients of the Build America Awards have demonstrated the very best when it comes to building a better America and improving our quality of life.” 

West Construction was awarded the Build America Award at AGC's Annual Convention last week in San Diego, California. West Construction has received 7 Build Georgia awards since inception in 2014 however this is West’s first Build America Award. 

West Construction has previously been awarded Build Georgia Awards in 2022 for Savannah Country Day Mingledorff Hall, 2021 SCAD School of Film Entertainment, 2020 Scottish Rite Masonic Center, 2020 Tybee Island Marine Science Center, 2019, St. Francis Xavier Narthex, 2019 Enmarket Corporate Headquarters and 2017 Bouhan Falligant.