Masterwork Plaques Inc.

When was your firm founded?
2014

Who founded your firm?
Jennifer Andrews (President and CEO) and Gregg LeFevre; who were formerly a public art/sculpture team.

Where is your firm based?
Brooklyn, NY

How big is your firm?
5 people

Is the company a family-owned business?
No, we are a woman-owned business. Perhaps some day my sons Atom and Orion will join me in the signage business but at ages 3 years and 9 months their current roles are to look cute and give me grey hair.

What type of subcontractor are you?
Division 10 Specialties subcontractor/supplier focused on Signage, Plaques and ornamental metals.

What have been some of the firm’s major accomplishments; major projects?
– Teddy Roosevelt Memorial Medallion, American Museum of Natural History
– Stainless NYS Seals for the interborough bridges and tunnels, NYC TBTA
– Memorial wall and medallions for Baku White City, Azerbaijan
– High Bridge Park Historic Medallions, Bronx – DDC project
– Apollo Walk of Fame, Harlem NYC
– Madison Square Garden Walk of Fame, NYC

Where does Your firm operate-just NY or other areas?
Our projects have been installed internationally, however our sole office is in Brooklyn.

What have been some of the unique traits of the firm?
One of our signature products is inset bronze relief. We have developed specialty finishing and installation techniques for permanent sidewalk panels that are ADA compliant. These are used by designers for Walks of Fame, campus wayfinding programs, historic and literary trails, store entrance medallions and donor walks.
We are also uniquely known for our historic replications in metal – both architectural details and plaques. For example the NYC Parks department frequently uses us to re-create plaques from photographic references that were lost (or stolen) over the years. As a custom shop we’re able to match details from different time periods and patina the metal to look like it’s been hanging out in the park for years!

How has your firm been involved in the construction industry?
(Associations, etc.) We help construction estimators develop fast and accurate bids on metal signage, medallions and plaques. Our competitive prices and WBE/DBE status help contractors win bids and our high quality products make their finished projects stand out. Masterwork Plaques has assisted hundreds of architects and contractors on signage packages – from writing initial bid specifications to supervising installations.  We’re a great asset to a contractor’s team, making sure that everyone is on the same page and using the correct materials for the job.

What are some challenges the firm has overcome?
It has been important to us to maintain our Made in the USA status and support American manufacturing. With so much casting work now going overseas, we’ve seen a number of foundries close and have had to work hard to maintain a quality supply chain. Because of our unique background in the sculptural arts, we’ve developed strong relationships across the country with a number of foundries casting in different metals and are able to take on large projects with short timelines as a result.

What does the firm think it’s legacy has been for the NY construction industry?
Bronze and stainless plaques, medallions and signage are made to last and look great for generations. They are a natural fit for prestigious construction projects in NY. From bridges to buildings to streetscapes, our work has provided the finishing touch to a wide range of projects in the industry.

Why did you join the Subcontractors Trade Association?
We are excited to join the STA to meet more subcontractors involved with construction in NYC. We hope to share our resources and knowledge of metal, discuss best practices and new technologies in the industry as well as partner with other subcontractors on government and private contracts.

We will include your mailing address, location, contact information – but please let us know of anything else you would like to include in your STA new member profile:

We invite other STA members to reach out to us as a resource for advice on custom metals in the built environment. Even if you’re not currently bidding a project, we always welcome your call – we’re here to help! Also note that our 100 North 1st Street design studio is by appointment only where we have a variety of material samples for review.