Bayview Construction wins prestigious Aurora Award for The Esplanade at Downtown Stuart

Stuart, Fla. (August 21, 2008) - Competing against quality builders from across the Southeast United States, Stuart-based Bayview Construction Corporation was chosen as an Aurora Award winner (Commercial Project - Mixed Use/Retail/Residential) by the Southeast Building Conference (SEBC) for The Esplanade at Downtown Stuart.

Ken Ringe, president of Bayview, accepted the award during the SEBC awards ceremony held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. The event coincided with the SEBC's regional conference that attracted more than 10,000 building professionals.

The Aurora Award competition is open to builders, architects, interior designers, landscape architects and other building professionals in the Southeast United States. Some of the award categories include attached for-sale homes, detached for-sale homes, custom homes, kitchens, baths, residential developments, commercial projects, rental apartments, landscape design, remodeling and green construction.

The Esplanade at Downtown Stuart, located at 50 SE Ocean Boulevard, is a 22,904 square-foot, three-story building that sits upon less than one acre of land. It includes an existing and now renovated single-story commercial building that houses the Edelweiss Cafe and Deli. The building is owned by Otto Vitale.

The building contains two large retail suites and covered parking on the ground level, five office suites on the second floor and five condominium residences on the third floor ranging from 1,150 to 1,800 square feet. It boasts balconies, a barrel tile roof, coquina stone accents and a first-floor tropical-landscaped courtyard complete with hand-painted Mediterranean wall murals, a terracotta water fountain and stone benches below a half-round pergola. Another terracotta water fountain is located in the public area facing the courthouse.

Other highlights of the project include:

· 17 species of plants for landscaping including Jasmine plants and hundreds of ferns

· Recycled Chicago brick throughout the gated courtyard, private entrance area, streetscape outside the gates and on-street public parking

· High efficiency air conditioning system and the use of ceiling fans and tinted solar glass.

· Installation of ultra efficient toilets and automatic faucets

· Virtual soundproofed (from exterior noise) building

· High impact glass with a 140 mph hurricane rating

"It's not often that you have the opportunity to build a project that creates such a positive impact on the community that we all share," said Ken Ringe, president of Bayview Construction. "Being selected as an Aurora Award winner is truly an honor, especially given the caliber of the competition from across the Southeast."

The Aurora Award adds to the growing accolades for Bayview for the construction of The Esplanade at Downtown Stuart, which also received a Gold Medallion Award from the Treasure Coast Builders Association (TCBA) in the Architecture Design-Commercial Property division. The TCBA created Medallion Awards six years ago to recognize and honor excellence within the building industry.

Bayview was also selected as a national Awards of Excellence winner for the project from the National Association of Home Builders' National Commercial Builder Council.

The SEBC is a 12-state regional conference attended by more than 10,000 home building professionals. In addition to the Aurora Awards, SEBC features 1,000-plus product and service exhibits, the New Southern Home, Hurricane Alley, more than 80 educational programs, a keynote speaker, and the Excel Awards. For more SEBC information, visit www.sebcshow.com.

Bayview, headquartered in Stuart, is a certified state-licensed general contractor. A national award-winning company and a Builder of the Year award recipient by the Treasure Coast Builders Association (TCBA), Bayview celebrates its 30 th anniversary this year. For more information on the company and its capabilities, visit www.BayviewConstruction.com or call 772-283-9300.