History of CBF

Cornerstone Building Foundation was founded in 1994 by Robert Hershberger, FAIA, then Dean of the College of Architecture at the University of Arizona, along with Dan Cavanagh, then Director of the ABA Southern Division and Brent L. Davis, then Executive Director of the AIA.  All three individuals were awarded the Cornerstone Founders Award in 2019 at the Cornerstone Awards Banquet.

In 1994, Dean Hershberger asked the American Institute of Architects Southern Arizona Chapter to join with the Arizona Builders Alliance Southern Division to form a 501(c)(6) nonprofit group whose purpose would be simple and straightforward: 

  • To bring architects and contractors and later, other collaborating organizations in the construction industry together, to foster an exchange of ideas in a free flowing environment in order to develop stronger working relationships.
  • To honor the best in project delivery through an annual awards program that recognized all members of the building community in the format of a “dream team.”
  • To raise money for scholarships and other worthy projects related to the design and construction industry at the University of Arizona, Pima Community College, TUSD, other educational institutions and programs.

To accomplish these goals, the Foundation has held an annual Building Industry Golf (B.I.G.) tournament each year for the past 29 years and holds the annual Cornerstone Awards Banquet each year.

The Foundation expanded its membership in 1999 to include the American Council of Engineering Companies of Arizona (ACEC) and the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC). In 2000, the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) was added. Today, Cornerstone’s Board of Directors is comprised of two representatives from each of these groups and three representatives from both AIA and ABA. The Board meets quarterly and directs activities of the Foundation.

The Foundation has participated in the funding of several scholarships at the University of Arizona, Pima Community College, the Arizona Builders Alliance and other institutions and prides itself in supporting these design & construction programs.

Southwest Gas was a partner with the Foundation from its beginning. In 2021, the Foundation marked the 27th anniversary of the Southwest Gas sponsorship of the annual Cornerstone Awards Banquet, its last year of sponsorship.  Cornerstone and the construction industry would like to thank Southwest Gas for its 27 years of sponsorship!

In 2011, BizTucson Magazine joined as the official media partner of the Foundation. The issue following the 2022 banquet will include full coverage of all Cornerstone Building Foundation award recipients and is circulated to more than 30,000 individuals and firms.

In 2022, the Foundation was pleased to have Chasse Building Team and Core Construction serve as the co-named sponsors of the annual BIG Tournament. We hope this will be a long relationship with these two fine companies!

In 2010, Southern Arizona’s construction industry lost one its well-respected members, Jerry Wyatt. To honor Jerry, the Foundation created the Jerry Wyatt Community Service Award. This award, given to Jerry in 2010 posthumously, has become an annual program for the Foundation. The award is given to an outstanding person who best emulates Jerry’s efforts to improve the Southern Arizona commercial construction industry and the Tucson community. We are especially pleased to have many past winners of the award with us at this banquet. The 2022 winner of the Jerry Wyatt Community Service Award is Jim Luckow (with Pima JTED) !

In 2022, the industry also lost a beloved member, Shirley Dail. Join with us tonight as the Cornerstone Building Foundation announces a Community Service Award to honor Shirley. This first annual award will be presented to Shirley posthumously and her son and husband will be present tonight to accept on her behalf.
The Cornerstone Building Foundation is approaching $330,000 raised to fund scholarships and other construction related programs since 1999 with the following recipients (partial list):

In 2009, the Foundation created a separate 501(c)(3) organization, the Cornerstone Building Foundation Charities doing business as CBF Charities, Inc.. With this entity, tax deductible donations are accepted. This corporation, which has its own Board of Directors, has become the depository of Cornerstone’s endowment funds and granter of Cornerstone scholarships. In 2010, the Charities Foundation received its first contribution for the NAWIC Shirley Dail Scholarship, totaling $35,000. Other funds have been created to honor Chuck Albanese, FAIA, former Dean of the University of Arizona College of Architecture and Larry Monrad, Electrical Engineer. Including additions to the other scholarship funds, the Foundation has total assets of about $50,000.

In 2021, Cornerstone announced the establishment of the Lawrence Monrad Engineering Scholarship with an initial donation of $15,000 and commitment of $22,500 more from Monrad Engineering. A commitment to raise an additional $30,000 over the next 4 years from Cornerstone was made.

In 2022 and beyond, the Cornerstone Building Foundation will continue to focus its efforts on creating an active fund-raising presence for its member organizations in order to continue to fund scholarships on an annual basis. The CBF Charities, Inc. Board dedicates its efforts to raising money and will continue to be the primary funder of scholarships for students in architecture, engineering, design, and construction.

In the past, the Foundation has supported the Al Burlini, AIA Scholarship, the Cornerstone Robert & Dee Hershberger Traveling Scholarship, the Philip W. Dinsmore, FAIA Scholarship, the Charles & Claire Albanese Traveling Fellowship, and the Harold Pedersen, AIA Scholarship, all of which are endowed at the University of Arizona. Last year, the Foundation began its funding of the Lawrence Monrad Engineering Scholarship. The endowments are made possible by contributions from the Foundation and many other sources, including their families and friends.

With the support of Southern Arizona’s design and construction industry and the guidance of its Board, Cornerstone looks forward to continuing its efforts to annually honor the construction dream team, to provide a forum for discussion of issues related in the construction industry in Southern Arizona, and to fund scholarships for students training to become part of the Southern Arizona design and construction industry!

Cornerstone thanks you for your support!