Rochester Builder Earns SUNY Fredonia Contractor of the Year Award After First Job

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FREDONIA, NY (03/16/2009)(readMedia)-- LeChase Construction Services, LLC made a strong impression with its first building project at SUNY Fredonia, winning the university's "Contractor of the Year" award for 2008.

Rochester-based LeChase served as construction manager for the complete reconstruction of the 28,000 square-foot Center Pointe Lounge Complex, located in the lower level of the Williams Center, the student union building on the Western New York campus. Components of the $4 million project included a new food court, catering facility, seating area with a television lounge and wireless access and food-service offices.

Criteria for the annual award include: professionalism, overall performance, completion of the project on time and within budget, and ability to adapt to changes that occur, said Tracy Bennett, vice president for Administration at SUNY Fredonia. "On those four points, LeChase excelled on one of the most aggressive construction projects we've done in terms of amount of work to be done within a short time frame."

More than 5,000 patrons utilize the Center Pointe and Trendz eating facilities and lounge areas within the Center Pointe Lounge each day.

"The skill and detailed attention of the LeChase staff, on behalf of the Faculty Student Association, was a tremendous asset. The project was completed on a timely basis with expert results," said Charles Notaro, executive director of FSA, which oversees all dining operations on campus. The primary construction phase was May 12 through Sept. 1, 2008.

LeChase officials, including William Goodrich, president and CEO; Lyle Corey, senior vice president; Scott Chamberlain, project superintendent; and Sean Hoban, senior project manager, received the award from SUNY Fredonia President Dennis Hefner at a luncheon held March 9 on campus.

SUNY Fredonia has presented the award each year since 2001 to recognize significant contributions that contractors make to the quality of life and the physical appearance of the campus.

More than 140 contractors serve SUNY Fredonia every year. During 2008, 122 contractors that did work for the university were from Western New York, including 45 from Chautauqua County. Recent recipients of the contractor award include BECC Electric, Dunkirk, 2007; Clark Companies, Delhi, 2006; and Kideney Architects, Buffalo, 2005.

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Photo cutline: William Goodrich, CEO of LeChase Construction Services, fourth from left, receives the "Contractor of the Year" award from SUNY Fredonia President Dennis Hefner, center, at a luncheon held to honor the Rochester firm. Joining in the presentation are (from left): Charles Notaro, executive director of SUNY Fredonia's Faculty Student Association (FSA); Matt Snyder, FSA controller; Lyle Corey, LeChase senior vice president; Scott Chamberlain, LeChase project superintendent; Ron Wasik, FSA's director of Support Services; Tracy Bennett, SUNY Fredonia's vice president of Administration; and Sean Hoban, LeChase senior project manager.