The Craftsman:  Bob Quesenberry of International Masonry, Inc.

His Winning Work:  Concrete masonry unit and brick work at St. Mary's Macedonian Church 

His Challenge: Bob Quesenberry’s consistency and quality was the key to the detailed brick and block work at St. Mary’s Macedonian Church in Reynoldsburg.

More than 220,000 bricks were used to complete the project, with the color alternating every six courses of brick. Keeping this pattern level throughout the entire building was vital. The church consists of more than 100 various arched openings including brick arches on 1,500 pound stone columns in the entryway.

All of the entryway arches were hand formed with 90 of the arches preformed and 10 hand-formed on-site. One of the most difficult aspects of the project was creating the sawtooth border around the building.

Safely building the scaffolding on top of the roof and using that to lay the brick on the four dome cupolas also created a challenge. Quesenberry and his crew of 48 completed the majority of the work under temperature tents and winter protection.

He has been employed with International Masonry, Inc. for the past 20 of his 43-year career.

Craftsman’s Comments:  “The finished product is extremely rewarding.”

Architect: Kontogiannis & Associates
Engineer: Jezerinac Geers & Associates, Inc.
Contractor: Corna/Kokosing Construction Co.

Quesenberry is a first-time Craftsmanship Award winner. Originally from West Virginia, his brother-in-law introduced him to the industry and gave him his first job as a mason. He then recruited his brother, Leonard, who worked with him on this project.

Updated 7/24/2006