Compass Ironworks has been awarded three more “Top Job” awards by their peers for outstanding work. The “Top Job” competition, hosted by NOMMA in Indianapolis last week, is a contest among the top artists and fabricators across the nation. Competition entries range from driveway gates, to terrace railings, to modern stairs, to iron sculpture. With these three awards, Compass Ironworks now has a total of 12 awards, including the 2016 Mitch Heitler Excellence in Craftsmanship Award, the highest award achievable in the industry, globally.
In the “Non-forged Driveway Gates” category, Compass won a silver award for a New Jersey driveway gate in which the client wanted to replicate their bronze railing, both in design and patina. The gates were challenging to design, but the bronze patina was a much bigger challenge. After many days, and revisions to the finish, the client was ecstatic with the finished project.
In the “Exterior Railings, Forged Category,” Compass won a silver award for a forged aluminum railing on a curved travertine staircase. Hand-forged scrolls and leaves were used for the design; the biggest challenge was curving the railing design to the difficult radius. The caprail was solid bronze, finished with an antique tarnish and renaissance wax.
In the Residential Stairs” category, Compass was awarded a bronze for a modern, curving glass stair at a New Jersey Shore home. The treads were done with 1-1/2” thick glass and the railings were polished stainless, all mounted onto a floating double stringer steel structure. This two-story project’s design challenge was the weight of the glass, suspended from two floors. The biggest install challenge was maneuvering the stairs through the front door opening. With proactive planning, the stairs were handled with special fixtures and the install went smoothly.
The milestone of 12 national awards in less than a decade is a testimony to the dedication and quality the craftsman at Compass Ironworks have been producing, and will keep producing for years to come.
