Stairway stars

The Stairbuilders and Manufacturers Association recently announced nine winners of its StairCraft Awards competition. The annual contest, open to SMA members, recognizes the best staircase projects based on aesthetics, stair safety, quality workmanship and technical challenge. All contestants compete anonymously and are judged by their peers in the industry.

“There were 29 entries and each year the bar gets raised higher and higher,” SMA executive director David Cooper says. “Typically, the entries seem more complex and challenging each year. They involve an aesthetic that mixes composition of materials, textures and finishes in technically creative ways.

“Last year was very unusual in that we had record entries with the economy just beginning to emerge. However, this year we were pressed to have an earlier deadline. Combined with tremendous consumer demand in our industry, many members simply did not have time to submit entries.”

• NK Woodworking & Design in Seattle won in four categories, including best stair part, spiral stairway and curved stairway (modern and traditional).

• Heartland Stairways in Holmesville, Ohio, won for best balustrade and straight stairway (traditional).

• Skyhook Stairs and Rails in San Diego won for most unique stairway and best straight stairway (modern).

• JD Stairs of Las Vegas won for best straight commercial stairway.

Winners were announced at the SMA’s 29th annual conference, which was held March 30-April 1 in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

“The winners are judged by their peers on the basis of aesthetic value, stair safety, quality of workmanship and technical achievement as only an experienced stairbuilder can appreciate. There is no higher honor than being esteemed by your peers. Although it is not a design contest, it is certainly influenced by creative design,” Cooper adds.

For more, visit www.stairways.org.

This article originally appeared in the July 2017 issue.