August Wilson House Awardee – MBA 2023 Night of Excellence Award: Renovation Projects between $2million to $5million
A. Martini & Co. was the Night of Excellence 2023 MBA winning General Contractor for the renovation of the August Wilson House, the playwright’s former childhood home. The multi-million-dollar restoration and addition led by the architect in collaboration and direction from the Daisy Wilson Artist Community, transformed the long-neglected property into a destination arts center that serves as a cultural hub in the Hill District neighborhood.
Angelo Martini Jr., the company’s COO, says being able to work on the project was humbling in and of itself. “To have any part in remodeling his house was a true honor,” Martini says.
Martini & Co. served as the project’s construction manager and general contractor from before the Covid-19 pandemic until its completion in 2022. Set on increasing community participation in the project, the company reached out to local unions that had members within the neighborhood to have as many local contractors as possible.
A. Martini & Co. worked with the August Wilson House team for nearly five years on preconstruction activities, keeping the vision and design intent intact; RACP and CITF funding was secured as well as numerous grants from regional foundations. Due to the distressed condition of the home, AMC needed to address many unforeseen conditions throughout construction. Our team worked collaboratively with the design team – including Pfaffmann + Associates, along with the subcontractors and MWDBE firms for this project. The team has secured 28% MWDBE participation for the project.
Completed, the August Wilson House restored and re-imagined August Wilson’s childhood home as an interpretive exhibition space; provide culturally compelling community programs for the black arts tradition and aesthetics; and has elevate artists and scholars to develop and co-develop works within the Hill District. Projects like the Wilson House are challenging because old aspects of the home not only need to be maintained but blended into the modern addition.
“The merging of styles was a big aspect of why the project stood out against its peers”, Angelo Martini Jr. said
