The elaborate structural steel framing at the New Albany Performing Arts Center is the work of Ralph Conner and his crew of nine.

Framing at the site was demanding due to the circular-domed roof over the auditorium and the serpentine-shaped balcony. The measurements and geometry of these compound angles had to be virtually error-free to avoid a domino-effect of mistakes.   

The work was pre-fabricated in the shop to exact dimensions. Conner took the raw steel shapes and accurately cut them to size. The shapes were then welded and drilled as required to allow the framing to precisely fit when erected.

Conner has been employed by Concord Fabricators, Inc. for 19 of his 41 years in the trade.

Architect: Westlake Reed Leskosky
Engineer: Barber & Hoffman, Inc.
General Contractor: Corna/Kokosing Construction Co.

A three-time Craftsmanship Award recipient, Connor received an award in 1991 for fabrication work at the COSI Exhibition pavilion and in 1995 for the structural steel dome at New Albany High and Middle Schools. Conner began working in the trade after high school for a friend’s father who owned a steel erection company. He has one son working in the industry as an iron worker.

Updated 9/24/2007