McGough Construction to receive Colman J. Barry Award April 22

McGough Construction will receive the 20^th Colman J. Barry Award for distinguished contributions to religion and society from Saint John's University on Friday, April 22.

The construction company, incorporated in 1956 and based in St. Paul, Minnesota, has had a major role in the physical development of the SJU campus. Most notably, the company built the Saint John's Abbey and University Church.

"The Abbey (Church) was one of the first, and continues to be the most important, construction project in our company's portfolio," McGough wrote on its website.

McGough is currently working on the renovation of Alcuin Library and the construction of the Dietrich Reinhart Learning Commons at SJU. The groundbreaking ceremony for the project is at 4 p.m. that day, which has been designated "Saint John's Day."

The award was established by SJU in memory of Barry, a Benedictine monk of Saint John's Abbey, professor of history and eighth president of SJU (1964-71). His life was distinguished by initiatives designed to enrich the cultural and religious life of society, and was especially passionate about the intersection of culture and religion.

Among Barry's many contributions was the founding of the Hill Museum and Manuscript Library, establishing Minnesota Public Radio and creating the Jay Phillips Chair in Jewish Studies and the Jay Phillips Center for Interfaith Learning.

Past winners of the award include Donald Jackson, the artistic director of The Saint John's Bible, and his wife Mabel Jackson, an enthusiastic supporter of the project (2011); radio pioneer William Kling (2007); author and professor emeritus Jon Hassler (2003); and architect Marcel Breuer (2002), who designed the Abbey and University Church and other buildings at SJU.