January 2023: Forecast 2023

3Point Foundation Honors Four at Annual Gala Griffin Electric Celebrates National Apprenticeship Week

IBEW Local 103, NECA Partner to Diversify Greater Boston’s Electrical Trades Industry

AGC MA Maintains Focus on Workforce Development in 2023

KBE Announces Two Major Higher Ed Projects, Adds to Extensive Portfolio Bond Issued for University’s Science & Engineering Building

BPDA Delivers Over $11M in Funding to Local Orgs Resulting from New MGH Project

Provisional Designated Developer Selected for New Bedford State Pier

BU’s Center for Computing & Data Sciences is the university’s most energy-efficient building and one of the most sustainable buildings in Massachusetts.

Photo by Janice Checchio and Cydney Scott for Boston University Photography / Full story page 22

A new year is always a fresh start, and the last couple years have presented our industry with a lot of challenges, and reasons for optimism, as we move into 2023.

On page 13, Richard Friedman of Friedman & Partners gives a nice snapshot on what we might expect in the different sectors in the coming months, including how the public sector will benefit from Biden’s Infrastructure Investment and

Jobs Act (IIJA) and support at the ballot box. Friedman mentions renewable energy as a market that will also do well next year.

With labor shortages continuing to plague our industry, AGC Massachusetts does a nice job laying out all of their initiatives they have put in place to educate the youth about the trades, including becoming an approved professional development provider (PDP) for educator credits by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). That means AGC MA is the only industry association able to provide professional training to educators statewide. Read more on page 14.

As many of you know (or may not know), High-Profile is celebrating its 25th year in business. We’re all very excited to put together our special anniversary

Introducing....

edition, HP25, which will share HP’s evolution over the years, as well as take a look at the growth of some of New England’s most popular urban areas and highlight the stories and evolution of some of the companies and organizations making an impact in the AEC space. I hope you enjoy what we put together. It will be a departure from our regular monthly issue!

Have you seen our 2023 media kit yet? We’ve done a complete redesign for the new kit and we are introducing HighProfile Media Group (HPMG)! HPMG is what I named the company when I bought it from my father in 2020. Under the umbrella of HPMG is High-Profile Monthly, the Build Better podcast, and our newest offering, ON SITE. ON SITE is a specially curated video series featuring today’s most innovative and complex projects and the teams responsible for

developing and executing them.

Do you have a project that you think the masses should know about? Ping me, and let’s chat. We also have some cool new newsletters, which means more opportunities for exposure! To request the full media kit, visit https://www.highprofile.com/advertise/ or contact your account executive.

This year, we will continue to share stories of what companies are doing to build more responsibly, more in harmony with our planet, and about the people that are working to change our industry for the better. Whether it be through the use of technology, by providing pathways for the youth, or in other ways, let us know!

Have a wonderful new year, and we hope you enjoy our first edition of 2023!

Anastasia Barnes

Up-Front

BPDA Delivers Over $11M in Funding to Local Orgs Resulting from New MGH Project

Boston – The Boston Planning & Development Agency announced the delivery of approximately $11 million in funding to the West End Museum, Museum of African American History, Boston Preservation Alliance, Old West Church, the Boston Transportation Department, and the Boston Public Works Department. This funding is provided by Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) as a result of its clinical building project currently being built on Fruit Street in the West End. The clinical building project will include new beds and clinical facilities for the hospital.

“Collaborating with the organizations endeavoring to preserve and celebrate the West End’s rich and important history is an integral part of our Cambridge Street Project,” said MGH president, David F. M. Brown, MD. “We are thrilled to support so many important programs and institutions, while also reaffirming our commitment to strengthening our area communities.”

MGH’s commitment to supporting the West End Museum includes ongoing monetary contributions of $250,000 per year for ten years for operating support,

the inclusion of historic displays in the Clinical Building, the provision of an MGH-affiliated individual to serve on its board, and an endowment of $1 million. These commitments total approximately $3,650,000.

The Old West Church, which serves the West End with a variety of social programs and stewards the main remaining historic community building of the Old West End, received funding for historic rehabilitation and/or programmatic support. MGH will also make an annual payment to the church for five years in support of food justice and community-building in the West End.

These commitments total approximately $2,500,000.

MGH will also partner with the Museum of African American History, which provides programming aligned with MGH’s diversity and inclusion initiatives. This funding will allow for the design and renovation of the museum’s exhibit hall, a museum presence in the clinical building with exhibit space curated for museum content, and a corporate sponsorship over ten years. These commitments total approximately $3,050,000.

The hospital remains committed to providing a financial contribution supporting the Legacy Fund, established

through the advocacy of the Boston Preservation Alliance as a mechanism for development to enable local historic preservation projects. MGH will also continue to involve the Boston Preservation Alliance in its efforts to preserve the façade of the Winchell School. The funding commitments for the Preservation Alliance total approximately $1,100,000.

In addition to these local organizations, the Boston Transportation Department and Public Works will receive more than $4 million to study design changes and improvements that can be made to Cambridge Street, Blossom Street and the North Grove/Cambridge Street intersection.

This funding is part of the community benefits and mitigation agreements that the BPDA negotiated with Massachusetts General Hospital for its new clinical building project. Community benefits and mitigation from projects are negotiated via the Article 80 review process with developers as a way to ensure significant and long lasting improvements to the public when new developments are built in their neighborhoods.

Boston Plasterers’& Cement Masons Local 534 serving: MA, NH, ME & VT

AMERICA’S OLDEST BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION TRADES INTERNATIONAL UNION SINCE 1864 Our trained and skilled craftsmen are just a phone call away. We offer reliable, responsible, highly qualified and competent personnel. State certified apprenticeship and training program. OSHA certified membership

Island Industries NE, LLC

A1 Concrete

AET Painting, Inc.

Angelini Plastering

Austin Ornamental, Inc.

Back Bay Concrete Corp.

Bass Restoration & Waterproofing

Bidgood Associates

Boston Building & Bridge

Boston Concrete Artisans, LLC.

Buonopane Inc.

Cavalieri Construction Co., Inc.

CDS New England

Century Drywall, Inc.

Cherokee Construction, Inc.

Coastal Marine Construction

Cooper Plastering Corp.

Coviello Inc.

Custom Drywall, Inc.

Dandel Construction, Inc.

East Coast Fireproofing

Esposito Construction

Evergreen Architectural Arts

G & C Concrete

G & G Plastering, EIFS, & Drywall

Gallagher Construction

Gleeson Powers Inc. Total

H. Carr & Sons

Hart Engineering Corp.

J.C.M. Concrete Contracting, Inc.

J.L. Marshall & Sons, Inc.

J R J Construction Co.

Kiewit Cherne

LBM Construction

MacKay Concrete Construction

Marguerite Concrete, Inc.

Markus Tech Co., Inc.

Mass Acoustics, Inc.

Mattison Concrete Construction

McDonald Drywall Co.

N. E. Finish Systems

NESC Inc.

New England Decks & Floors, Inc.

Northern Contracting Corp.

Prime Concrete & Sitework

Ricmor Construction, Inc.

S & F Concrete

Select Demo LLC.

Select Spray Systems

Silverback Construction

Skanska USA Civil Northeast

Stallion Concrete

Triad Associates, Inc.

Walsh Construction

For more information please call

William Redmond, Industry Analyst

Office: (617)825-5200

Cell: (617) 901-5550

www.bostonlocal534.org

Boston Plasterers & Cement Masons Local 534

Boston Nonprofits Partner to Create Recreation & Education Campus

Boston – Boston Scores, a nonprofit organization providing urban youth in grades K-12 with after-school soccer and enrichment programs, and the Salesian Boys & Girls Club of East Boston are partnering to bring additional programming and opportunities to Boston students, with significant improvements of the facility and campus at the existing Salesian Boys & Girls Club location.

The two nonprofits held a groundbreaking on Dec. 19 to officially announce the Salesian Heights Recreation & Education Campus and to celebrate their new partnership that will create more educational and recreational opportunities for the children and families in East Boston. Representative Adrian Madaro, Councilor Gabriela Coletta, Senator Lydia Edwards and Region 1 School Superintendent Dr. Tommy Welch were among the attendees and spoke at the event.

The newly renovated facility will provide world-class athletic and community facilities for local youth programs and establish sustainable programming for the youth of East Boston and surrounding communities. Highlights of the facility renovation include a multi-field soccer facility, playground, community gardens, outdoor classrooms, state of the art homework help and

coach training spaces. In addition to the programming the Salesian Boys & Girls Club already offers, Boston Scores brings extensive soccer programming and teambased enrichment programs, including poetry and civic engagement. The facility will offer flexible program options to serve the needs of local families, including year-round and weekend programming. With this partnership, the organizations will also be able to offer enhanced programs for students at

neighboring schools, including Brooke Public Charter School, Excel Academy Public Charter School, and nearby Boston Public Schools. All programs will be free or low-cost. Boston Public Schools is the largest program partner of Boston Scores

and the facility renovation will help support and expand that relationship in East Boston and across the city.

Renovations to the Salesian Boys & Girls Club building are slated to be formally unveiled in fall 2023.

AGC Releases Mental Health Resources

Arlington, VA – The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) is launching a new effort to combat the high suicide rates and improve mental health among construction workers.

As part of this effort, it is releasing a series of mental health PSA’s that show all sides of mental health issues in the industry, including those struggling firsthand with addiction and mental illness, those concerned for a co-worker that they believe may be grappling with these issues, and what strong leadership and supporting staff can do for helping people feel comfortable enough to seek help when they need it.

In addition to the videos, the association’s Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Task Force has put together an open forum for productive ideas related

to suicide prevention and mental health efforts, and a collection of resources available to all construction firms, free of charge, available online at agc.org/ mental-health-suicide-prevention.

The construction industry has the highest rate of suicide at 53.2 per 100,000 U.S. workers. That rate is four times greater than the national average and five times greater than that of all other construction fatalities combined.

“We cannot stand by while a silent epidemic of suicide takes place within our industry,” said Stephen E. Sandherr, AGC of America’s chief executive officer.

“We want to reduce the stigma of mental health issues in this industry, let people know it is okay to ask for help and, ultimately, save lives.”

Photo by Tim Carey

Bond Issued for University’s Science & Engineering Building

Boston – MassDevelopment has issued a $378,510,000 tax-exempt bond on behalf of Northeastern University, which is using a portion of proceeds to build and equip a new science and engineering complex at 815 Columbus Ave. in Boston’s Fenway neighborhood.

The 340,000sf science building, dubbed EXP, will include laboratories, shared core research, makerspace, robotics facilities, faculty and administrative offices, a faculty club dining facility, and classrooms. Construction began in July 2020 and is expected to be complete in fall 2023. The bonds, sold through a public offering underwritten by a syndicate of banks led by Morgan Stanley & Co., Inc. and Barclays Capital Inc., will also be used to refinance previously issued debt.

“Northeastern University has a legacy of providing generations of engineers, scientists, and scholars with exceptional academic and research opportunities,” said MassDevelopment president and CEO, Dan Rivera. “MassDevelopment is pleased to issue tax-exempt financing that will help the university advance the construction of its new 8-story science and engineering complex in Boston’s Fenway neighborhood.”

Founded in 1898, Northeastern is a global research university that integrates

real-world experience with education, research, and innovation. Northeastern’s research enterprise, with an R1 Carnegie

EXP / Rendering courtesy of Northeastern University classification, is solutions-oriented and spans the world. Northeastern’s global university system includes 13 campuses

across the U.S., U.K., and Canada; 300,000-plus alumni; and 3,000 partners worldwide.

Local 103, NECA Team Up with Patriots

Boston – Since its opening in 2002, union electricians and technicians from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 103 and contractors of the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) Greater Boston chapter have helped light Gillette Stadium by providing comprehensive electrical services to the home of the six-time Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots. IBEW and NECA Greater Boston contractors are also playing a key role in the construction of Gillette Stadium’s $225 million north end expansion project.

Now, IBEW Local 103 and the NECA Greater Boston contractors have forged a broader strategic advertising relationship with the New England Patriots that will help power several key initiatives. As part of the partnership, Gillette Stadium concourses and video boards will display the IBEW Local 103/NECA Greater Boston Contractors Powering Boston emblem.

“IBEW Local 103 is very excited about this new partnership,” said Lou Antonellis, business manager of IBEW Local 103. “Our charitable efforts and work in the neighborhoods we serve align nicely with Kraft Sports + Entertainment and all of

“The Patriots’ organization personifies the excellence and the commitment to skills, professionalism and dedication to the electrical industry every single day,” said Kristen Gowin, NECA Greater Boston executive manager. “We’re looking forward to a strong and productive partnership.“

“The entire Patriots’ organization knows that we can count on our electrical and lighting infrastructure for every game, every concert and every stadium event without exception,” said Jason Stone, VP of site operations for Kraft Sports + Entertainment. “The professionalism of IBEW Local 103 and NECA Boston Contractors is unmatched in the industry, and we are proud to have them as part of our family.”

Fort Eddy Shopping Center Acquired

Concord, NH – Torrington Properties announced it acquired the Fort Eddy Shopping Center in Concord on Dec. 15 for $30 million. The 175,000sf shopping center is fully leased and is the current home of Shaw’s, BooksA-Million, Staples, Eastern Mountain Sports, Five Guys Burgers & Fries, GameStop, H&R Block, Moritomo Japanese Restaurant and more. The center joins Torrington’s growing list of recent retail and commercial acquisitions and developments.

“We are grateful to both Eastern Retail Properties and the seller for the opportunity to acquire the Fort Eddy Plaza,” Torrington chief operating officer, Matt Morgan, said. “With its high visibility and excellent location off Interstate 93, the Fort Eddy Shopping Center is a tremendous opportunity for us, and a welcome addition to Torrington’s retail and commercial portfolio.”

Morgan said Torrington believes in the economic strength of Concord and the Fort Eddy Shopping Center while seeing an opportunity to further elevate the center to a premier retail destination over the next several years.

Eastern Retail Properties was the sole broker involved in this transaction. The shopping center was sold by Eddy Plaza Associates LLC, which has owned the

property since it was built in 1979.

With about 67,500sf, Shaw’s is the primary anchor to the shopping center, followed by Staples in 35,000sf and Books-A-Million’s roughly 31,000sf.

Emergency

Lou Antonellis Patriots Nation.”

AGC MA Maintains Focus on Workforce Development in 2023

Based on local and national industry forecasts, the Associated General Contractors of Massachusetts (AGC MA) and our member companies are predicting a positive outlook for 2023.

Our member firms have strong project backlogs and continue hiring for a wide range of positions across their companies. However, like other industries, the pool of talent available to fill these positions is limited. The Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation recently released a report indicating that aging and declining populations in the Commonwealth mean there are more than two jobs for every job seeker.

This is why AGC MA devotes considerable time and resources to our workforce development efforts. In 2021, we launched the Building Advancement Externship (BAE) to build a strategic alliance with educators and academic leaders. This led to continuous engagement from educators to assist students in maximizing their career pathway exploration.

Participating externs came from each of the seven workforce regions across Massachusetts. They worked at both vocational and comprehensive high schools, held a diverse range of roles within education, and represented a diverse student body.

Following the externship, AGC MA

and our members maintained engagement with the externs by organizing job site tours and facilitated career panels, internships, and co-op placements. In 2022, AGC MA became an approved professional development provider (PDP) for educator credits by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). That makes AGC MA the only industry association able to

Here Comes 2023:

continued from page 13

ballot box. In the midterm elections, nearly every ballot question seeking infrastructure funding passed.

provide professional training to educators statewide!

In addition, AGC MA created a new role within the association and hired Marion Jones as director of workforce development & industry inclusion. Jones has become a conduit between our workforce development and diversity initiatives, leading community engagement efforts like adopting the fifth grade classrooms at Mattahunt Elementary School during Construction Inclusion Week, distributing the Robert L. Petrucelli Scholarship micro-grants, and managing ongoing relationships with schools and educators.

Looking to 2023, AGC MA is redeveloping our ACE Mentorship Program at Blackstone Valley and seeking to increase our partnerships across the industry. Already, we are proud supporters of YouthBuild, Building Pathways, Massachusetts Girls in Trades, and many other pre-apprenticeship and workforce groups. We also support AGC Student Chapters at Wentworth, WPI, UMASS Amherst, and Fitchburg State University.

If you are interested in joining our effort or our association, contact Lisa Frisbie at frisbie@agcmass.org. You can find many of our industry events at www.agcmass.org, and our workforce development resource page is www.constructingma.org.

To build a profitable company you must make the numbers work. The accounting and business advisory services you’ll receive through our Power of More® approach provide more support, more attention and more solutions to help you meet the challenge.

Make the call to Marty Prendergast today at (781) 407-0300 to discover how we can help you build a better architecture, engineering, design or construction business.

In PSMJ Resources’ Quarterly Market Forecast (QMF) survey of proposal activity in the 3rd Quarter, the two leading major markets among 12 surveyed were water/wastewater and transportation. Of the top 10 submarkets (of 58), four were from water/wastewater and three were from transportation.

Energy

Also in the PSMJ QMF survey, Renewable Energy has been the leading submarket throughout 2022. In the third quarter survey, 73% of respondents working in renewables said that proposal activity grew from the second quarter, while only 3% said it declined.

Education

In the PSMJ survey, education lagged along with commercial markets throughout most of 2021 before bouncing back to more-than-respectable levels in 2022. The AIA Consensus survey anticipates a decent growth rate of 5.2% for educational projects in 2023.

Healthcare

The COVID-19 pandemic initially created some uncertainty in the healthcare market, but the interruption was brief. The AIA Consensus forecast projects 5.7% growth for healthcare in 2023, while the PSMJ QMF had it the fourth-strongest major market in the third quarter.

Manufacturing

Growth in manufacturing facilities, potentially bolstered by the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, appears solid in 2023. This follows a year-to-date (through October) in which value of construction put in place grew by 43.3% year-over-year, and 7.6% quarter over quarter.

Public Safety

The AIA projects public safety construction to grow by 5.5% in 2023, with Moody’s Analytics and Dodge Construction Network both calling for a rise of better than 10%.

Richard Friedman is founder and president of Friedman & Partners, a management consultancy to the AEC industry.

Submitted by Associated General Contractors of Massachusetts

2023 Forecast: Change is a Constant in the Workplace

would follow.

By Janet Morra and Jenna Meyers

One of the business world’s most sacred traditions at year-end is for industry leaders to predict what’s in store for the coming year. After nearly three years of coping with a pandemic that has changed mindsets as well as the physical work environment, we and our clients have learned two important lessons: Change is the only constant, and flexibility is key to adaptability.

As architects and interior designers, one of the questions we are frequently asked is, “What are you seeing as the office environment of the near future?”

During the pre-vaccine pandemic, the answer was easy: Modify the work environment to protect workers at all costs. We collectively bought into the notion that once vaccines were available, things would return to a “new normal,” and a mass return to the office

Now, in a volatile health and economic landscape, our response varies depending on the decisions we see our clients struggling with and how they address them. We know of one company that had an epiphany when they realized that the 100,000sf building they own sits mostly empty, because in their new hybrid work environment, they have never had more than 50 people show up to work in the office on any given day. Possible solutions included selling the building, relocating to less space, and designing it for how their staff works now – or subletting half the square footage and proceeding with redesigning the space they occupy. This is but one example of our certainty that there will be no return to the 2020 B.C. (before COVID) work model soon – or maybe ever.

Management is coming to terms with the new reality of employee expectations. Whereas pre-pandemic, they were assigned a specific workspace and that was often enough, today’s office environment is more employee focused, with incentives to bring back those workers who work remotely with some regularity and consistency. That said, there are many types of businesses that cannot function with remote workers, such as hospitals and

research labs. Many of these businesses have a mix of remote and essential on-site workers, which can create experiential disparity among employees.

Incentivizing remote staff to return to the office is management’s holy grail, and we have created a roadmap to achieve it through the introduction of collaboration space. At Margulies Perruzzi, we often compare the plan for a successful physical work environment that empowers employee choice to that of a three-legged stool because it relies on three essential components for stability: physical space that can be curated to be an asset for employees; supportive technology for that physical space; and an HR policy that balances flexibility with fostering culture and knowledge sharing.

Though none of us truly know what the future may hold, emerging trends

are often reliable predictors. To foster collaboration and bring workers into the office with some regularity, we are seeing the introduction and enhancement of “neighborhoods” aligned by either functional teams or acoustic preferences, and a rich variety of formal and informal meeting and social gathering spaces. We recognize that there will always be a need for some personal, heads-down space. But no matter what the use or type, standardizing and strategically sizing spaces to allow for future flexibility is paramount, as is integrating supportive technology that will enable employees to choose where and how to work.

Janet Morra, AIA, LEED AP is a principal and partner, and Jenna Meyers, IIDA, NCIDQ, LEED AP is a senior interior designer and partner at Margulies Perruzzi.

Municipal

CTA Completes Burlington DPW Facility

Burlington, MA – Construction of the second building that was part of the 2-phase, $24 million Burlington Department of Public Works (DPW) and Parks & Recreation Facility project was recently completed by CTA Construction Managers. CTA, as well as members of the building committee, community, DPW staff, and the rest of the project team were on hand for the recent ribbon

cutting ceremony.

Phase 1, which houses the DPW Vehicle Maintenance and Parks & Recreation Maintenance Department, was completed last year by CTA Construction.

In Phase 2, the second building was constructed for the Department of Public Works, which includes the town’s highway and water & sewer divisions. The new buildings, designed by Weston

& Sampson, replaced the original DPW building, which was demolished. The new buildings house a truck bay wash as well as inside vehicle storage for the town’s DPW vehicles, neither of which the town had previously.

“We worked with the town to design new state-of-the art facilities that incorporate Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) principals, compliant storm and water management systems, secure hazardous material and liquid petroleum product storage rooms, indoor vehicle storage, and a vehicle wash bay that treats and discharges wash water to the sanitary sewer system. The project also removed preexisting pavement areas along the resource areas, which allowed previously disturbed areas to be returned to a natural vegetated state,” said Jeff Alberti, COO of Weston & Sampson.

“The DPW is pleased that Phase 2 is complete and our staff is settling in,” said John Sanchez, Burlington’s DPW director. “The substantially improved facilities are a great relief to our staff. We have offices now, where before we had to use whatever available space could be found in vacant buildings. Now we have a room to hold training classes in as well as morning muster. We also now have shower facilities for our staff to clean up after handling messy repairs such as sewer repairs, as well as overnight facilities for use during storm emergencies.”

This is CTA Construction’s third municipal project for the town of Burlington. It previously built the new Memorial Elementary School and completed the addition and renovation of the Marshall Simonds Middle School.

THE FACTORY ON WILLOW - MANCHESTER, NH

TFMoran, Inc. Engineering Excellence Since 1968!

Burlington Department of Public Works and Parks & Recreation Facility / Photos by Greg Cooper

Mixed-Use

BPDA Approves Affordable Housing Developments

Boston – The Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) board of directors recently approved new development projects representing 893,407sf. The projects will create 485 residential units, nearly half (46%) of which will be designated incomerestricted, and will support approximately 906 construction jobs and 770 permanent jobs.

A BPDA-owned parking lot at 49-63 Hudson Street (Parcel R-1) is set to be transformed into a 12-story affordable housing development with the new Chinatown branch of the Boston Public Library (BPL) on the ground floor. The housing will be a mix of rental and homeownership units. This project is subject to the Coastal Flood Resiliency Overlay District and will meet those guidelines, as all residential uses are above the 21 foot elevation requirement.

accessible plaza space along the front of the building.

Located on what is now the campus of the Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology (BFIT), the project at 41 Berkeley Street is made up of three different buildings, including a senior care facility, residential homeownership housing with ground floor retail, and an age and income-restricted residential housing building. This project will secure the financial future of BFIT by enabling it to relocate to Nubian Square.

What is now a parking garage will be demolished to build a new office and lab space at 17 Farnsworth Street in Fort Point. The new building will have a height of approximately 67 feet to account for sea-level-rise-design flood elevation, which was set for the site by Boston Zoning Code Article 25A. This project will make substantial public realm improvements to the surrounding streetscape on Farnsworth Street to improve accessibility.

The project at 800 Morrissey Boulevard will build a new 6-story residential building in Dorchester. Of the 229 units, 34 will be income-restricted. This project will include an urban plaza with outdoor seating, bike storage, and pedestrian and bicycle-friendly landscaping along Freeport Street and Morrissey Boulevard. It will promote multimodal transportation and increase access to the future DCR/MassDOT multi-use paths directly adjacent to the site.

A project in Jamaica Plain will adaptively reuse the landmarked Blessed Sacrament Church building, converting it into a mixed-use development while preserving the historic building. The project will include 55 income-restricted housing units and a community room operated by the Hyde Square Task Force. As part of the project, there will be a new

The project at 1 Taber Street in Roxbury will build a new 6-story building consisting of housing and commercial space. Of the 40 total units, seven will be income-restricted. The project will help deliver on many of PLAN: Nubian Square’s goals of job creation, development of income-restricted housing, resilient and sustainable construction, and a commitment to diversity and inclusion in the community.

49-63 Hudson Street (Parcel R-1)

Berkeley Street

361 Centre Street (Blessed Sacrament)

KBE announces two major higher ed projects, adds to extensive portfolio

As the demand for student housing on higher education campuses continues to rise after a pandemic-driven decline, two major institutions - University of Connecticut and Hood College - have recently selected KBE Building Corporation to help their campuses fulfill students’ accommodation needs.

Building on higher ed campuses has been one of KBE Building Corporation’s strongest market sector for many decades, with more than $1.4 billion in higher ed construction volume and 5 million square feet of campus facility construction. Clients include University of Maryland, St. Mary’s College of Maryland, University of Virginia, Connecticut College, SUNY, University of Bridgeport, American International College, and the Connecticut State University System.

With projects on campuses throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, the 64-year-old firm has built residence halls, sports and recreation centers, libraries and media centers, dining halls, learning labs, academic buildings, and administrative offices.

The latest additions to this portfolio include the new South Campus Residence Hall and Dining Facility at University of Connecticut in Storrs and the extensive renovation of CoblentzMemorial Hall at Hood College in Frederick, Maryland.

KBE has built more than $1.4 billion and 5 million square feet of campus facilities for higher ed institutions throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic.

University of Connecticut, South Campus Residence Hall and Dining Facility, Storrs, CT

KBE has been selected as the Design-Builder for this 200,000 sf, seven-story residence hall. Currently in the preconstruction phase, this project is KBE’s third residence hall for the Storrs campus . It will provide 650+ student beds and a 500-seat dining hall. As part of the University’s long-term sustainability goals, the project is being designed to achieve LEED Gold.

At UCONN’s Storrs campus, the firm has completed 10 projects to date, with the 11th – the $175M South Campus Residence and Dining project underway.

KBE’s Design-build team includes Newman Architects, DiBlasi Associates, Langan Engineering, and Van Zelm. Bridging documents were provided by Sasaki Associates. While the progressive design and preconstruction phase is completed, KBE has mobilized on site and commenced construction. The $215 million project is slated for completion in fall 2024.

To date, KBE has delivered many projects for the University of Connecticut’s multiple campuses. At the Storrs campus, KBE has completed ten projects which include the Peter J. Werth Residence Hall and Garrigus Suites – as well as dining facilities, academic spaces, the Student Union, and recreational facilities.

Hood College, Coblentz-Memorial Hall, Frederick, MD

Another long-time client, Hood College, recently awarded KBE the contract for the comprehensive renovation and upgrades to Coblentz Memorial Hall, a five-story, 28,000 sf residence hall. After an extensive preconstruction phase, construction is now underway, including demolition, haz-mat abatement, installation of new building systems, and comprehensive interior re-construction.

Designed for Hood College by Spillman Farmer, the $11.5 million renovated residence hall will be “an important continuation of the College’s comprehensive Housing Master Plan, which focuses on creating more attractive housing options for students,” according to the College.

This is KBE’s eighth project on campus. Past projects include improvements to Huntsinger and Coblentz Hall dining facilities, new athletic fields, tennis court and pool center upgrades, and overall campus infrastructure improvements.

An Overview of the KBE Companiess.

With 200+ construction professionals and support staff, the KBE Companies works with clients throughout the United States.

KBE Building Corporation Our Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and West offices povide comprehensive preconstruction services, designbuild, construction management, and general contracting to a diverse range of clients throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions – including higher education, senior living, retail, corporate, hospitality and entertainment, and government, and is led by our senior management team of Mike Kolakowski, CEO and President.

KBE-NY, LLC Located on Manhattan’s 6th Avenue, KBE-NY is a full-service construction firm, providing preconstruction and construction management services to clients in the hospitality, institutional, community and arts organizations, corporate, and multi-unit residential markets throughout metropolitan New York and northern New Jersey. The firm is led by principal Bruno Guarini, who brings more than 35 years of construction experience with the New York A/E/C industry.

University of Connecticut, South Residence Hall and Dining Facility

Hood College, Clobentz-Memorial Hall, Frederick, MD

Education

Construction Complete on BU’s 100% Fossil Fuel-free Center for Computing & Data Sciences

Boston – Suffolk announced it has successfully delivered the Boston University Center for Computing & Data Sciences. The 19-story, 345,000sf facility, which is the tallest building on Boston University’s urban Charles River campus, is the university’s most energy-efficient building and one of the most sustainable buildings in Massachusetts.

The facility itself is designed with intellectual collaboration in mind, featuring an all-glass interior that creates transparency

and invites light deep into the building. The unique design of the structure, which is composed of a series of floorplates shifted and cantilevered around the building’s central core, creates a vertically stacked and staggered layout of “neighborhoods” for each academic discipline.

The Boston University Center for Computing & Data Sciences building is the first of its kind on the school’s campus and in the city of Boston. It is 100% fossil fuel free due to a geothermal bore

system installed by Suffolk. The Suffolk team drilled and installed 31 bores, each approximately 1,500 feet deep into the earth, or approximately twice as deep as the tallest structure in Boston is high. The bores harness the thermal resources of the earth to heat and cool the building without the need to connect to a gas line, putting Boston University ahead of schedule for Carbon Free Boston, the city’s 2050 carbon neutrality goal.

The new facility also features

Massasoit Community College Opens Data Science Center

Brockton, MA – Massasoit Community College is celebrating the opening of the new South Shore Bank Center for Data Science and Analytics. The new center will serve as a resource for the college’s new data science transfer program, providing a dedicated space for the study of data science and the technology resources needed for in-person classes, lectures, student study, and research. The center was made possible by South Shore Bank to make data science study accessible to community college students and to replenish the workforce with new talent.

The South Shore Bank Center for Data Science and Analytics at Massasoit is designed to provide students with stateof-the-art technology to enhance study and student collaboration. It features a new 75-inch interactive touchscreen display and a new 43-inch display panel in the student workshop area. Students will be using the Python language and the IDLE and Anaconda navigator integrated development environments. Students in the data science transfer program will take classes in data science, Python programming language,

data visualization, data structures, and algorithms. The center provides the environment and resources for Massasoit students to complete the first two years of study toward a bachelor’s degree in data science, which saves them considerable costs when compared to enrolling in a four-year program.

“South Shore Bank is proud to help

provide access to valuable data science and analytics training to Massasoit’s students,” said South Shore Bank CEO James Dunphy. “We are supporting those interested in earning degrees and pursuing careers with opportunity while helping our industry attract the brightest and best-trained workers for the future.”

“The knowledge and experience

triple-glazed windows that help contain heat inside the building, staircases that reduce elevator use and promote energy reduction, and terraces and green roofs that offer views and reduce the urban heat island effect.

The new building will be home to Boston University’s Faculty of Computing & Data Sciences interdisciplinary academic unit, as well as a number of other departments and faculty members from throughout the university.

Massasoit’s students will gain in this classroom are readily transferable to real world use. There’s a need for trained data science and analytics professionals, not only at South Shore Bank, but it’s also a growing field,” added Chris McGowan, chief data and robotics automation officer, South Shore Bank.

Boston University Center for Computing & Data Sciences / Photos by Janice Checchio and Cydney Scott for Boston University Photography

(l -r): Janet Brown-Sederberg, Massasoit computer science professor; Dr. Michael Roggow, dean of Massasoit’s Business & Technology Department; Ray DiPasquale, Massasoit president; James Dunphy; Chris McGowan; and Ann Sullivan, Massasoit Trustee

Site Work Completed at Cashman Elementary

Amesbury, MA – CTA Construction Managers recently completed extensive site work at the Charles C. Cashman Elementary School in Amesbury. CTA worked on the project alongside DiNisco Design and owner’s representative NV5, as well as the City of Amesbury.

As part of the Sgt. Jordan Shay Memorial Lower Elementary School project, the renovations to Cashman Elementary School site are part of the city’s plan to create an elementary school campus, including the new Sgt. Jordan Shay Memorial Lower Elementary School currently under construction. Cashman Elementary School is currently home to students in pre-kindergarten through fourth grade and will house grades 3-5 once the new school, which will hold

pre-kindergarten through second grade, is complete.

“A tremendous amount of work was performed over the summer break,” said Jeff Hazelwood, principal at CTA. “The entire project team worked side by side collaboratively to expedite the resolution of many challenging and unforeseen conditions encountered.”

Jim Shuttleworth of DiNisco Design, the architect on the project, added, “The renovations to Cashman School site

included the removal and replacement of the entire site including new drainage systems and utilities, sidewalks, plaza areas, paving, curbing, fencing, and landscaping. We are very excited that this part of the City of Amesbury and Amesbury Public School’s overall vision for their elementary school campus is coming together.”

“CTA completed the connecting site work for our new campus in a short amount of time and delivered for the

opening of school,” said Mayor Kassandra Gove. “The team has been attentive to and conscious of the students and teachers in session as they construct our new elementary school adjacent to our existing one.”

Ed Pereira, CTA’s project manager, said, “It was a total joint effort, and we look forward to continuing our work together on the adjacent new school, Sgt. Jordan Shay Memorial Lower Elementary School.”

Charles C. Cashman Elementary School site

Jeff Hazelwood, principal at CTA

Metro Walls Opens New York Office

Manchester, NH – Metro Walls announced it is expanding the company’s operations and presence in the Northeast with the opening of a New York office. With this new location, Metro Walls will have four offices, including its headquarters in Manchester, N.H.; Portland, Maine; and Westport, Mass.

This expansion will allow Metro Walls to continue to broaden its reach by servicing a vast new territory, including the New York Metropolitan area and regions of New Jersey bordering the Hudson River.

“Over the past several years, our team has done a tremendous job developing an incredible team of people, implementing new processes and procedures, and maintaining a commitment to exceptional service for our customers,” said Bryan Hussey, president at Metro Walls. “Because of those efforts, we have evolved by growing geographically and expanding the services we offer. Having the opportunity to continue this

growth in New York and build upon our well-established reputation is extremely exciting, especially with the addition of two new team members who already encompass the values and cultural traits that have contributed to Metro Walls’ history of success. We are looking forward to this next chapter and seeing

what the future holds.”

To ensure the highest quality framing, drywall, and acoustical ceiling services to new and existing regional customers across the Northeast, Metro Walls has brought on two experienced professionals to lead the charge in New York and oversee this new office.

Vantage Builders Opens Rhode Island Office

Lincoln, RI – Vantage Builders, Inc. announced the opening of its Rhode Island office, located at 42 Albion Road in Lincoln. The office is the firm’s third, joining its headquarters in Waltham, Mass. and a branch in Orlando, Fla.

More than 50 clients, team members and friends joined Vantage at Narragansett Brewery in Providence on Dec. 6 to celebrate the grand opening of the office.

“We are very excited about the opening of our Lincoln office,” said John Connor, principal of Vantage Builders. “Vantage Builders was founded in 2000 and we have completed many projects in Rhode Island during our 22 years. We are looking forward to growing our presence in the state as we target exciting new opportunities.”

The new office was opened in response to growing demand for the firm’s services, as Vantage continues to expand in the Rhode Island market, as well as to provide an additional option for the members of the firm’s growing team who live in the area. The office features an open work environment with “hot desking,” which will allow Vantage employees the flexibility to work in either the firm’s headquarters in Waltham or the new location.

The office was opened within weeks of Rhode Island beginning adult-use cannabis sales. Vantage has either completed or is in process on 1 million sq. ft. of cannabis projects, including cultivation, processing and dispensary facilities.

Vantage Builders has completed work in Rhode Island for a wide range of clients, including The Learning Experience, Neon Marketplace, the Viking Hotel, and National Grid.

Denis O’Sullivan, who has nearly a decade of experience working as a project manager and director of estimating for an open shop contractor, joins Metro Walls as the vice president of pre-construction for the New York office. O’Sullivan has extensive experience estimating and managing projects of varying sizes and segments and is skilled at developing, maintaining, and strengthening relationships with customers.

Robert Moran, who joins Metro Walls with over 14 years of industry experience and previously worked as a project manager for a merit shop drywaller in the New York area, will serve as the vice president of construction for Metro Walls’ New York office. He is experienced in overseeing multi-million-dollar projects and developing and growing divisions within an established company.

Metro Walls’ new office is located at 5 W Main Street, Suite 105 in Elmsford, N.Y.

Denis O’Sullivan

Robert Moran

Grand opening celebration

J.E.D.I.

HP’s new J.E.D.I. section is designed to highlight the people, companies and organizations that are implementing principles to further justice, equity, diversity and inclusion in their workplaces and communities.

IBEW Local 103, NECA Partner to Diversify Greater Boston’s Electrical Trades Industry

Quincy, MA – The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 103 announced that it recently partnered with the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) to hold the Turning Commitment Into Action summit. The event was held

on Nov. 2 at the NECA Boston Training Center in Quincy.

A unique partnership of union workers and business contractors has made significant strides in transforming the region’s electrical trades industry to include greater numbers of women

and people of color, according to representatives of IBEW Local 103. Expanding this partnership to produce more minority and women-owned businesses, as well as promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) throughout the industry was center stage at the firstof-its-kind event.

The summit illustrated IBEW Local 103 and NECA’s diversity, equity and inclusion priorities, including:

• Increasing awareness about public sector policies and regulations requiring increased DEI in projects.

• Creating roadmaps for contractors to integrate DEI best practices in their business planning, proposal responses and bids.

• Illustrating how essential diversity, equity and inclusion is to the growth of the industry and to the individual career paths of women and people of color.

The summit also featured remarks from Senator Lydia Edwards, and civil rights leader Tanisha Sullivan.

Through apprenticeship programs and efforts like Empower DEI, an advanced and accelerated support program for experienced, licensed minority and women electricians seeking to open their own businesses, IBEW Local 103 representatives say this partnership between workers and business has expanded the level of diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout the Greater Boston construction industry, opening up family-sustaining careers for workers and contractors.

“I became the first Black woman to serve as a business agent in any union construction trades in Boston nearly five years ago. I was able to help people every day by making their families and

communities stronger. With helping them start the same rewarding career that gave me so much, I continue to advocate to make sure highly-trained members constantly have new work opportunities,” said Kenell Broomstein, KB-Mac. “I think it also helps for them to know the journey I made to owning my own business; that it is something they can aspire to as well.”

The electrical union recently welcomed its most diverse class of students in program history, with women and people of color comprising 50% of the class.

“Diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility are at the core of our efforts,” said Lou Antonellis, business manager/ financial secretary at IBEW Local 103. “We must provide resources to those who lack economic opportunity, and create equitable access to well-paying jobs to economically distressed communities, women, and people of color.”

“We are proud to celebrate and guide the next generation of electricians and technicians as they power their futures in the ever-growing electrical construction industry,” said Kristen Gowin, executive manager, NECA.

“I moved here from Thailand in search of better economic opportunities… with my union’s apprenticeship training program, I was able to start my journey to becoming a Telecom technician apprentice and earn a good living,” said Sasirin Suriyamongkol, third-year apprentice. Telecom apprentices make over $60 per hour as a union apprentice.

Empower DEI participants were awarded 2022 MWBE Business Growth Champion for their commitment to fostering the growth of MWBE electrical contractors. (l-r): Bob Sheehan, president of IBEW Local 103; Josué Pierre, DEI coordinator; Kenell Broomstein; Alecia Comer, ACES; Edson Hilaire, EH Electric & HVAC; Justin Sheridan, Mass Signal Service; and Kristen Gowin

Northern New England

ReArch Celebrates Ribbon Cutting for Bayview Crossing

South Hero, VT – On Nov. 14, ReArch Company and Wiemann Lamphere Architects joined Cathedral Square, along with state and local officials, affordable housing advocates, area residents and representatives from local nonprofit Champlain Islanders Developing Essential Resources (C.I.D.E.R.), for a ribbon cutting celebration at Bayview Crossing, a new Cathedral Square community with 30 apartments for older adults and new offices for C.I.D.E.R.

Construction began on the project in September of 2021 and was completed in one year, with ReArch Company as the construction manager and Wiemann Lamphere as the architect. Bayview Crossing offers one- and two-bedroom apartments for Vermonters 55 and older at subsidized, tax-credit and market-rate rents. Rent includes heat, air conditioning, hot water, electricity, water and sewer, trash and recycling services, and free use of laundry facilities – all utilities except telephone and cable TV.

Offices for C.I.D.E.R., which provides transportation, meals, home-modification and other services for older residents on the islands, were incorporated into the

development, which had overwhelming support from local residents and town officials. C.I.D.E.R. supporters raised over $450,000 in just six months to help fund the project.

Bayview Crossing is a Support and Services at Home (SASH) location, with a full-time SASH coordinator and part-time wellness nurse who plan and implement health and wellness programming, social activities, and one-on-one support

as needed.

Amenities in the 2-story building include a spacious community room with kitchen, garden planters, gym, onsite laundry facilities, on-site parking (some covered), an EV charger, air conditioning, secure building access, and an elevator. The building exceeds Efficiency Vermont’s High-Performance Multifamily Building standard.

Bayview Crossing / Photo by Sally McCay

Photo courtesy of ReArch Company

Training and Recruitment

Griffin Electric Celebrates National Apprenticeship Week

Holliston, MA – The U.S. Department of Labor recently held its annual National Apprenticeship Week, with Wayne J. Griffin Electric, Inc. (Griffin Electric) once again having celebrated the event by recognizing the hardworking men and women who teach or are enrolled in the company’s in-house Apprenticeship Training Program. Griffin Electric has participated in the event every year since its inception eight years ago.

The company provided a gift for every instructor and apprentice in each of its office locations in Holliston, Mass.; Raleigh-Durham, N.C.; Charlotte, N.C.; Pelham, Ala.; and Doraville, Ga. Additionally, Griffin Electric raffled off a series of prizes while also providing food trucks or catered lunch to everyone during their Saturday classes.

Griffin Electric has prepared hundreds of men and women in pursuit of their license through its electrical and telecommunications program for almost 30 years. The free, in-house program is accredited by the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) and designated as an approved training site by the U.S. Department of Veterans

compensation and are eligible for wage increases every six months, based on grades and work performance, according

the

representatives. They also receive full benefits while having the opportunity to gain 8,000 hours of practical field experience under the

Affairs. Throughout the Apprenticeship Training Program school year, classroom and hands-on instruction takes place in the 27,500sf of dedicated training space

that is part of the company’s headquarters in Holliston, and on-site at each of its regional offices in the Southeast.

Griffin’s apprentices earn excellent

to

firm’s

supervision of a licensed journeyperson.

Trends and Hot Topics Decades Old JFK Middle School Returns as New Building

By Ilona Prosol

When the John F. Kennedy Middle School opened this fall to greet students and faculty after a nearly two-year renovation, the original building, constructed in 1969, was literally just a shell of its old self. Renovations and new construction transformed the over 50-year-old building into a cohesive series of state-of-theart learning spaces featuring universal access and deep flexibility. With updated systems to provide comfort, efficiency and resiliency, the “new-old” school will serve the Enfield community for decades to come.

As a “Renovate-as-New” status with the State of Connecticut, the project encompassed a full renovation of the entire original building and all its MEP systems. An 18,610sf auditorium addition on the northeast portion of the building created a new public entry to the community-use spaces, bringing the overall renovations and addition to 198,000sf.

One of our first priorities was to replace the heating plant, which was out of service when the project started, running on temporary boilers situated outside the building. This setup allowed the modernization of the boiler room with new high efficiency boilers with minimum interruption. A phased approach to maintaining electrical service centered on creating a new electrical room in the building addition and switching over wing-by-wing to new service as construction proceeded.

The “hub and spoke” configuration of the school helped with phased construction. The hub, however, where all school traffic flowed throughout construction, required multiple approaches, modified after each phase, to keep all MEP systems operational while allowing safe access to all parts of the school.

The lack of swing spaces throughout the town of Enfield was a major driver of design and phasing. Since no buildings were available to accommodate a large student population, the school would remain occupied throughout the renovation. Swing spaces were established within the school (cafeteria and media center) to allow students and faculty to occupy parts of the building while construction took place in dedicated wings. The auditorium was temporarily modified as a food serving space.

Specifying and installing systems into a 1960s building that was not designed to accommodate current ventilation rates and air conditioning can often prove challenging. Dedicated outdoor air units coupled with variable refrigerant flow terminal units were utilized in classrooms wings. We installed major, durable (phenolic pre-insulated) ductwork runs on the roof. Interior design of the classrooms benefited from that approach, allowing the restoration of clerestory windows in corridor walls, which was highly valued by staff and students.

The project was designed and constructed in accordance with statemandated High Performance (Green) Building Standards. The MEP design

focused on reduced energy use, air quality and acoustic management. Collaboration with Eversource to apply incentive programs allowed for installation of very efficient lighting and HVAC systems and controls.

Cooperation with the team and stakeholders from the beginning of design and highly detailed phasing plans played a critical role in delivering the project on time. Prior project experience in Enfield, along with decades of experience working with JCJ Architecture, CSG (owner’s CA) and Gilbane (CMR) helped expedite the approval process with the Office of

School Construction Grants and Review, as well as with the town’s building committee and local town inspectors and fire marshals.

With the school’s official dedication ceremony on the near horizon, we look forward to celebrating the success of this project knowing that this state-of-the-art school will provide an amazing place for teachers, students and the town of Enfield well into the 21st century.

Ilona Prosol, PE, LEED AP is vice president at BVH Integrated Services, a Salas O’Brien company.

John F. Kennedy Middle School rendering

John F. Kennedy Middle School

PropTech

ECI Group Deploys Tour24 Platform

Boston – Proptech firm Tour24 announced that multifamily owner and developer ECI Group has started deployment of its platform across its entire portfolio. According to ECI, 85% of tours organized through Tour24 are completed on the day that they are scheduled and 72% occur within an hour.

Tour24 has also expanded its leadership team with the addition of Dorota Firek as VP of marketing. Most recently, she was head of partnerships for KnockCRM, a technology platform that was recently acquired by RealPage, and her project management and brand experience cover a broad array of sectors including multifamily, healthcare, hightech, and sports.

“Self-guided tours are no longer an emerging technology – they are an essential technology in the multifamily space today because there is such a focus on working smarter, not harder, by streamlining and automating processes onsite,” said Tim Johnson, vice president of customer experience at ECI Group. “The ECI-Tour24 partnership is a powerful combination. Tour24 has proven their worth as a critical tool in our leasing

“This is an exciting time for us as we continue to grow our user base and add to our outstanding leadership team,” said Georgianna W. Oliver, founder and CEO of Tour24. “ECI Group is already showing significant success using our platform in a very short time, and the addition of a multifamily industry veteran like Dorota is proof that we are on the right path to success.”

Partnership Increases Service, Efficiency

National – Property Inspect, an inventory and property reporting app for inventory providers, agents and property professionals, has partnered with MRI Software, a global firm specializing in real estate software and solutions, to further its goal of making property management, property inspections and reporting faster and more efficient for all stakeholders.

MRI’s approach to open and connected technologies is shared by Property Inspect and serves the unique needs of real estate businesses and property professionals all over the world. The Property Inspect app will now be readily available for many of MRI Software’s 45,000 clients in over 170 countries through the MRI Partner Connect program.

“Our partnership with MRI Software solidifies Property Inspect’s ambition to speed up the property process and drive cultural and operational change in a fragmented industry,” said Steve Rad, CEO of Property Inspect. “Joining the Partner Connect program enhances our relationship with MRI Software, bringing our solution to a more diverse range of users and industries. As a result, their workflows and processes will be more connected, benefiting from integrations

that make a real difference for their business and the industry as a whole.”

Through App Connect, MRI customers can now connect all of their property service providers together with in-house management teams to collaborate, outsource and centralize property documentation, inventories and certificates, providing both in-house reporting tools and collaboration tools to streamline property processes.

“We’re excited to partner with Property Inspect, a company that plays a crucial part in ensuring leasing agents are able to efficiently run every part of their business and provide high-quality service to tenants and landlords,” said Sean Slack, vice president of partnerships at MRI Software. “Many of our clients already use Property Inspect, so this partnership is a natural progression in our relationship as we work to serve our mutual clients and the industry better.”

Property Inspect’s integrations, made possible by its open API, have become far-reaching, with over 150,000 users across the globe relying on the multiplatform application to deliver more than 3.4 million property reports.

Dorota Firek toolkit and they are a valuable part of our strategy for continued growth and success.”

ReArch Announces 2022 Employee Driven Philanthropy Recipients Philanthropy

South Burlington, VT – ReArch Company recently announced the 2022 Employee Driven Philanthropy Recipients. This year’s donations totaled $32,000.

With a mission to “Improve Lives Through the Built Environment,” ReArch is committed to donating a substantial percentage of its profit every year to local charities and nonprofit organizations.

In 2019, ReArch implemented an employee-driven donation program that allows employees to submit donation requests for fundamental causes important to them and their individual communities. This year, 14 submissions were received with monetary requests totaling $32,000, and ReArch supported all 14 causes.

• J.T. Imming – Humane Society of Chittenden County; provides for the health and well-being of companion animals that need a loving home and promotes the animal-human bond through outreach, humane education, and therapeutic programming.

• Mary Ann Wood – Green Mountain Club, a nonprofit organization that is committed to maintaining the Long Trail.

• Holly LeClair – Mahana Magic Foundation; funds help support children affected by a parent’s or provider’s illness.

• Holly LeClair – Sail Beyond Cancer, which offers free 3-hour sailing excursions for families and/or friends to help and honor those who are challenged by cancer through harnessing the healing powers of wind, water, and sail.

the center’s long-term goal to have its own facility dedicated to research and patient care.

• Ted Assur – Mercy Corps, a humanitarian NGO that works worldwide to alleviate suffering, poverty, and oppression by helping people build secure, productive, and just communities.

• Calvin Russell – East Randolph Baptist Church; contribution goes toward playground upgrades.

• Trevor Marcy – Alzheimer’s Association; helps with operational costs, supporting the caregivers and patients.

• Erik Heikel – Magicians without Borders (MWB), which entertains and

educates refugees all over the world and helps to bring normalcy to their lives.

• Kim Brown– Vermont Family Network (VFN), which supports Vermont families of children with special needs or who are struggling in school and offers medical grants for families struggling financially to meet unexpected medical needs.

• Danylo Whalen– UNICEF; supports humanitarian Effort in Ukraine.

Griffin Electric Supports Veterans

Below is the list of employees who participated, along with their chosen cause:

• Jordan Royer – NEK Tri-Force; supports ongoing expenses for a girls’ softball team in the Northeast Kingdom due to their local league ending.

• John Wells – The Vermont Children’s Hospital; helps with ongoing operations.

• John Wells– Classic Mike Loyer Foundation; supports families who have lost loved ones in a construction accident, and other community needs.

• Michael Biama – The University of Vermont Cancer Center; funds support

Iron Workers Local 7 Donates to School

Boston – The Iron Workers Local 7 Retiree Association donated more than $8,000 to the Boston Higashi School for Autistic Children. Local 7 members raised the funds during the union’s 18th Annual Golf Tournament. The donation was presented at the union’s hall in South Boston.

“This donation allows our students to develop a love for learning so they may fully enjoy their family, community, and all that life has to offer,” said Deborah Donovan, principal of the Boston Higashi School. “As each student grows and learns, their personality and individual character matures, allowing them to benefit from, and most importantly, contribute to society as adults.”

Founded over 30 years ago, the Boston Higashi School’s mission is to help children and young adults with autism spectrum disorder learn to reach their full potential, providing a broad curriculum that includes academics, art, music, physical education, technology, and social education. Students take on challenges, learn to overcome obstacles, and gain confidence from their own success. According to the Centers for Disease Control, autism affects an estimated one in 44 children in the U.S.

“It is a privilege to partner with the Higashi School as they provide such critical support and educational services for children with autism,” said Local 7 business manager, Michael Hess.

Holliston, MA – In honor of Veterans Day, Wayne J. Griffin Electric, Inc. (Griffin Electric) recently donated hundreds of personal care items in benefit of veterans and their families through Project New Hope. Founded in 2010, Project New Hope is a nonprofit organization that aims to “find and deliver the wellness resources needed by veterans, service members, their families, and full units that have deployed together.”

Griffin team members contributed to this initiative to help military families who may be facing difficult times, especially given the challenges of rising costs. Employees throughout the company’s New England region donated various personal care items such as

deodorant, shampoo and soap, as well as toilet paper, toothbrushes, and toothpaste.

Representatives of Griffin Electric say that, with many employees throughout the company having previously served in the military, the company understands first-hand how impressive these men and women are and the special qualities they possess.

This sentiment of giving back to others aligns well with Griffin Electric’s culture and the emphasis it places on community service, according to the firm’s representatives. Throughout the year, the company and its team members in all regions actively participate in initiatives that benefit various charitable causes.

Holly LeClair presenting donation check to Mahana Magic Foundation

J.T. Imming presenting a check to Humane Society of Chittenden County

Kim Brown and Jessica Harvey presenting a donation to Vermont Family Network

Griffin Electric Veterans Personal Care Drive

Awards

3Point Foundation Honors Four at Annual Gala

Boston – The 3Point Foundation recently held its annual gala celebrating ten years of partnership with Boston Public Schools to provide high quality, impactful educational programming to underserved, economically disadvantaged youth in Boston’s neighborhoods.

The event, held at the Fairmont Copley Hotel in Boston, honored four individuals who have provided exemplary support to the 3Point Foundation and have made a profoundly positive impact on its mission: U.S. Labor Secretary and former Boston Mayor Marty Walsh; Intercontinental Real Estate Corporation CEO Peter Palandjian; Boston Police Superintendent Nora Baston, and Charlie Cofield of the New England Regional Council of Carpenters.

The 3Point Foundation is an organization working with the Boston Public Schools to close the opportunity and achievement gap caused by economic inequality for underserved, low-income Boston elementary and middle school youth. The nonprofit organization provides free community-based programs that integrate project-based learning, athletics, dance, and other activities.

(l-r): Charlie Titus, Susan Levine, Peter Palandjian, Eliza Dushku, U.S. Labor Secretary Marty Walsh, Neil Jacobs and Tina Ramos

The 3Point Foundation was founded 10 years ago by Neil Jacobs with the vision that all Boston’s youth should have an equal opportunity for achievement. The foundation is a community partner of

Kaplan Recognized by ABC MA

Boston – Kaplan Construction announced its work on the Edgerley Family Horizons Center has earned an Excellence in Construction (EIC) award from the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) of Massachusetts.

Kaplan received the Eagle Award, which recognizes overall excellence in project execution, craftsmanship, safety, innovative elements and challenges, and client satisfaction. This is the fifth time Kaplan has earned the Eagle Award. Over 225 ABC members gathered at the Westin Waltham Hotel on Nov. 17 to celebrate the award winners.

“One of the biggest challenges we faced was the construction shutdown in

Boston in March 2020, caused by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Nathan Peck, president of Kaplan Construction. “We worked with the City of Boston to get the renovation approved as an essential construction project, citing the emergency nature of the families that are served by Horizons. Working closely with the organization, the City of Boston, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, we implemented a site-specific safety plan to comply with all COVID-19 related regulations throughout the project. We delivered this project safely, on time, and on budget and are honored to be recognized for our work with this EIC Eagle Award.”

Horizons for Homeless Children,

the Boston Celtics’ Shamrock Foundation and provides programs in collaboration with the University of Massachusetts Boston and Emmanuel College.

The foundation’s work is sponsored by

private business individuals, foundations, the city, and the state. The organization serves approximately 500 students in its in-school, after-school, and summer programs.

a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of young children and their families, selected Kaplan for the construction of a new 55,000sf early childhood center and headquarters at 1785 Columbus Avenue in Roxbury. The new facility consolidated three existing centers into one, allowing Horizons to serve 30% more children in a space better suited to high-quality early childhood education and programming for families working to establish stability. The Edgerley Center enabled Horizons to create a social

services hub and a sense of community for families experiencing homelessness. Serving 225 children experiencing homelessness ranging in age from two months to five years, the center began welcoming families in April of 2021.

The project team members for the Edgerley Family Horizons Center also included Jonathan Lavash Project Management, LLC, owner’s representative; Watermark Development, Inc., developer; studioMLA Architects, architect; and AHA Engineers, MEP engineer.

Edgerley Family Horizons Center / Photo by Rosemary Fletcher

The Kaplan Construction team

Westborough, MA – American Energy Management (AEM) announced that Ryan O’Connell has joined the team as a senior sales executive.

He will be bringing over 15 years of experience as a licensed HVAC professional and building systems’ automation specialist to the AEM group. His strength is working with owners,

developers, engineers, and contractors to find effective “smart” solutions meeting customers’ needs, according to the firm’s representatives.

In his new role at AEM, O’Connell will focus on expanding the customer base in the commercial real estate, manufacturing, and educational markets.

Design Firm Promotes Two

Hartford, CT – TSKP STUDIO announced the promotion of Michael C. Scott to senior associate, and Mehmet Sahin to associate.

Joining TSKP in 2019, Scott has over 25 years of design experience. He has worked on notable projects, including the Beman Middle School in Middletown, and the newly opened Buckley Elementary School in Manchester, the first net zero public school in Connecticut. He is currently managing projects at Yale University.

Before joining TSKP, he was involved in various project types and scales throughout the country, from a corporate campus for Pixar in Northern California

and university projects. He implements technology for continuous quality improvement and risk mitigation.

Since joining TSKP, Sahin has worked on Hartford Public Library’s Dwight Branch, CCSU Willard and DiLoreto Halls, Western Connecticut State University Higgins Hall, Hartford

Springer Named Head of Talent

Boston – BOND Brothers Inc. announced the hiring of Neisha Springer as head of talent management.

In this newly created position, Springer will be responsible for the strategic talent management of the company, including managing the needs assessment, development, and implementation of cross-company talent programs and processes; leading the design and execution of new employee immersion and integration; spearheading

Mgmt.

employee growth opportunities; and assessing BOND’s current workforce needs and methodology to determine effectiveness. She will work closely with the HR department, specifically the chief human resources officer and head of talent acquisition, to meet staffing needs and design and implement employee retention initiatives.

Springer brings over 10 years of human resources, operations, and people management experience to BOND.

Andrzejewski Elevated to Counsel

New York – Robinson+Cole announced the elevation of Lisa B. Andrzejewski to counsel, effective Jan. 1.

Andrzejewski represents clients throughout the construction industry, including owners, contractors, subcontractors, design professionals, sureties, DBEs/WMBEs and high networth homeowners. As a member of the firm’s Construction Group, she manages complex construction matters through litigation, mediation and arbitration. In addition to providing construction agree-

Andrzejewski

ment transactional services, Andrzejewski also specializes in drafting and negotiating access agreements and DBE/WMBE certification and appeals.

Prior to joining Robinson+Cole, Andrzejewski worked in a boutique, New Yorkbased construction firm, where she was involved in multi-million-dollar, complex litigation and transactional work for subcontractors, architects, high-networth individuals and public owners.

Scott Sahin

Springer

BSA

January 17 at 5:15 PM

Design for Aging Outdoors

In this virtual webinar, the Boston Society for Architecture will present the tools that landscape architects have used for intergenerational design and the considerations that help meet the changing needs of the aging community. Presenters will highlight landscape opportunities to integrate these concepts toward better intentionally designed senior communities and equitable civic spaces.

January 18 at 5:00 PM

2022 Awards Gala

The BSA will be honoring its 2022 award recipients at the Artists for Humanity EpiCenter in Boston. Participants will have the opportunity to network and celebrate while enjoying music, photo opportunities, and a meal.

IFMA Boston

January 18 at 12:00 PM

Economic Trends for 2023:

An Expert’s View

In this virtual webinar, learn from Dorian Klein, MBA, economics instructor from Harvard Extension School, as he looks at past trends and economic theory to understand what is impacting the supply chain demands and failures, the volatile economy, the job market, and the impact that hybrid work could have on it all.

IIDA NE

January 20 at 7:00 AM

2023

Ski Trip

IIDA NE’s Sponsorship Committee will be hosting its annual ski trip to Loon Mountain Resort in Lincoln, N.H. With coach bus service from Boston and Woburn, breakfast, lunch, après ski appetizers, and dedicated lodge seating is included for all attendees.

ABC NH/VT

January 20 at 8:00 AM

Job Training Grants

Hear presenters from NH Employment Security, NH DOE/CTE, and VT DOL speak about how to utilize available training grants and tax reimbursements to support workforce development. The event includes coffee with contractors and brunch with builders, with two workshop sessions at the Tim Barton Education Center in Concord, N.H., and at VHV in Winooski, Vt.

AIA CT

January 24 at 3:30 PM

Defining

a Case for Electrification

In the first of three virtual sessions, AIA CT will provide an overview of electrification in Connecticut and the New England region. There will be a discussion on the role of architects in design projects and client education and a presentation

Next Issue

on the Inflation Reduction Act. Some of the presenters include executives from CT Green Building Council, Acadia Center, and Eversource.

PWC CT

January 24 at 5:30 PM

Paving the Path to Diversity… A View from the Road

During this event, participants will hear from an all-female panel that will discuss their experiences with diversity, equity, and inclusion goals, strategies, and challenges. The panel, held at the Sheraton Hartford South in Rocky Hill, Conn., includes professionals from Turner Construction, Ducci Electrical Contractors, O&G Industries, and more. The event is also PWC CT’s annual Professional Achievement awards ceremony.

NAIOP MA

February 1 at 5:00 PM

Sip ‘n Skate

This outdoor ice skating and networking event is hosted by Samuels & Associates and will be held at The Rink at 401 Park in Boston’s Fenway neighborhood. Snacks will be provided by Time Out Market. Tickets include entry, skate rentals and light refreshments.

ISPE

February 2 at 5:30 PM

Winter Social ISPE Boston’s Social Committee will be hosting a winter social at Sam Walker’s American Tavern in Woburn, Mass. to celebrate the new year and plan for its

upcoming ski trip. Tickets include drink tickets and appetizers.

BRAGB

February 15 at 5:30 PM

Bowl-O-Rama 2023

BRAGB will be partnering with IFDA NE and HBRACM for an evening of bowling and socializing at Apex Entertainment in Marlborough, Mass. Attendees can enjoy private lanes, a cash bar, food, and competition for the Bowl-O-Rama trophy. Non-bowler tickets are available.

ASM

February 15 at 6:30 PM

Young Professionals 6th Celtics Outing Join the Associated Subcontractors of Massachusetts Young Professionals as the Boston Celtics take on the Detroit Pistons and network with other young professionals in the industry at the Top Shelf Bar at TD Garden in Boston.

CI

February 16 at 4:00 PM

2023 Visionaries Forum

High-Profile is a media sponsor for this Construction Institute event, which invites industry thought-leaders to the Mark Twain House and Museum in Hartford, Conn. to share their experiences with innovations that didn’t quite make it to the success side and what can be learned from these experiences. Panelists include leaders from DesignIntelligence Strategic Advisors, Massport, Shepley Bulfinch, AECOM, and ICON. There will be a reception following the panel discussion.

FEBRUARY

Restoration and Renovation Cannabis Facilities

Restoring a historic building or old factory? Perhaps you are renovating an office or lobby? Do you assist owners and/or developers in the planning, design, or construction of these types of projects? We want to hear from you!

DEADLINE

Participate in HPs fourth annual focus on cannabis facilities. This issue will highlight the unique challenges when it comes to designing and building facilities for growing and retailing cannabis. Share your projects and insight!

: January 23

Editorial submissions are shared on HP’s daily newsfeed, weekly e-newsletter FastFacts Friday, as well as the High-Profile Monthly print and digital edition. Selected submissions are also posted to HP’s Facebook page, Twitter, and LinkedIn. To submit content, email editor@high-profile.com. For advertising queries, email ads@high-profile.com.

A 1,784sf cannabis dispensary recently opened in the heart of Fall River, Mass. Photo courtesy Haynes Group Inc. Read more about this story in our February issue.