October 9, 2003 SIDNEY EPSTEIN AWARDED THE CHICAGO BUILDING CONGRESS 2003 AWARD OF HONOR Recognizing a long and distinguished career spanning more than 60 years, the Chicago Building Congress (CBC) has chosen Sidney Epstein, chairman of the Chicago-based architecture and engineering firm A. Epstein and Sons International, Inc., as the recipient of its 2003 Award of Honor. Each year the CBC honors a single, outstanding individual for his or her significant contribution to Chicago's building industry. Formed in 1939, the CBC's diverse membership includes architects, engineers, real estate professionals, general contractors and builders. The CBC's mission is to unite the building industry and advance the art, science and technology of building and to promote the continuing education, welfare and fellowship of its membership. The award will be presented Wednesday, October 15, 2003. Mr. Epstein began work with the firm in 1943 as a structural engineer and currently is licensed as both an architect and engineer. He has served as the firm's chairman since 1983. Established in 1921 by his father Abraham Epstein, A. Epstein and Sons International, Inc. is one of the largest and oldest full-service architectural, engineering, construction, interior design and graphic design firms in the US. Under Mr. Epstein's leadership, the firm has recognized the changing needs of the design, real estate and development communities and has maintained the firm's core competencies of architecture and engineering while offering complimentary services such as interior and graphic design. A. Epstein and Sons projects are an integral part of Chicago's architectural landscape. One of the more recognizable is the Smurfit Stone Container Corporation's headquarters located at Michigan Avenue and Randolph Street. With its sloping, angular top, the diamond-shaped apex of this structure stands out as a familiar landmark on southern Michigan Avenue. A. Epstein and Sons has been integral to a number of architectural and engineering success stories throughout Chicago including the Harold Washington Library Center, the Museum of Contemporary Art, the underground parking structure and Great Hall at the Museum of Science and Industry, and the United Airlines Terminal at Chicago O'Hare International Airport. The firm currently is providing architecture and engineering services for the latest expansion of McCormick Place (as part of the Mc4West LLC team) and serves as architect of record for the Hyatt Center Office Tower project currently under construction on Wacker Drive. Throughout his career, Mr. Epstein has recognized areas ripe for growth and development and has provided the necessary architectural and engineering expertise to help those areas grow. In the 1970's, A. Epstein and Sons was one of the first American firms to do business in Eastern Europe. In 1972, the firm signed a contract to undertake the first turnkey construction project by an American company in Poland and has maintained an office in Warsaw since that time. Today A. Epstein and Sons remains one of the leading US firms completing design and construction work in Poland including the Warsaw Financial Center, one of the most modern office buildings found in that city today. Recognizing additional areas of growth, the firm currently is pursuing a number of master plan design projects in China. Beyond his professional accomplishments, Mr. Epstein is committed to a number of civic and charitable causes. In 1956, he founded the Chicago Youth Centers (CYC), an organization working to meet the needs of children growing up in some of Chicago's more disadvantaged neighborhoods. The CYC serves more than 11,000 young people annually, with more than half living below the poverty level, and is the largest Chicago-based independent youth organization in the city. The CYC offers academic, athletic and counseling programs for children ranging from three to 19 years of age and has grown from two community centers in 1956 to eight centers, 10 Head Start sites, a licensed child welfare unit and a year-round overnight camp. In addition to the CYC, Mr. Epstein is committed to a number of additional civic and charitable endeavors including the Polk Bros. Foundation, the Chicago Sister Cities Program, the University of Chicago Hospitals, the Michael Reese Health Trust, and the Orchestral Association. A. Epstein and Sons International, Inc. maintains its Chicago headquarters along with offices in Los Angeles, California; Warsaw, Poland; and Tel Aviv, Haifa and Beersheba in Israel. The Epstein family of companies also includes ISI, the firm's interior design unit and annex|5, the firm's in-house design studio.