High-Profile: March 2023

March 2023

Schools and Institutions

FEATURING:

The 2023 North Atlantic Regional Conference page 10

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

Operating Engineers Union Donates $100,000 to Fight Alzheimer’s

AGC MA Expands Program for Students in Mattapan

Maugel DeStefano Completes Base Building at Baker Hollow Logistics Center

CHA Completes Sustainable School Renovation

Florence Roche Elementary School Tops Off

Mayor Wu Appoints New BCDC Leadership and Commissioners

Awards Announced to Support Deep Decarbonization in Affordable Housing

Petersen Engineering Expands to Boston

The new 154,000sf Boston Arts Academy, recently completed by Perkins Eastman and Wilson Butler Architects, includes a recital hall that can accommodate up to 60 performers and 100 audience members. / Photo courtesy of Robert Benson Photography / Full story page 19

INDUSTRY EXPERT ARTICLES:

Heather Taylor

Laura Pirie

Yvonne Kielb

Mike Moss

Peter Bachmann

Nasrin Fatima

Michael Fancher

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to elevate the student experience. While some pandemic-related challenges are still with us, teams are expertly navigating those obstacles and producing next-level environments for K-12 and university students all over New England.

Kielb, chairs of this year’s conference, give a more in-depth overview of the event on page 11. I’m looking forward to attending and seeing some of my fellow colleagues. Please let me know if you’re attending so we can connect!

March is always a fun and educational issue to put together. See my pun there?

This year’s issue is packed full of industry insights and news on innovative projects in the education sector. It’s exciting to see how educational institutions are incorporating sustainability goals, new technologies, and new design elements

This year’s Society for College and University Planning (SCUP) North Atlantic Conference will be held in Albany, N.Y. on March 22-24. This year’s conference theme is “Data and Demographics: Driving the Future of Higher Education.” The three-day conference will explore how the use of technology can facilitate planning processes and provide quality education and how the collection of data can create more equitable, accessible, and welcoming environments. Nasrin Fatima and Yvonne

One article that I was excited to publish is Michael Fancher’s article entitled “Academia Driving Deployment of Digital Twins for Zero Energy Market Adoption.” I am not a tech person, but I can appreciate the use of this futuristic technology. Information technology (IT) solutions have transformed many sectors of the economy over the past few decades, often driven by emerging economic, business and societal challenges. With the global climate change crisis accelerating, deployment of IT solutions for the design and operation of the built environment offers enormous potential for integrated solutions, dynamic careers, and sustainable communities. Academia is proving to be a key to success by driving deployment of digital twins serving as technology and workforce test-beds necessary to overcome market challenges for wide scale adoption. This kind of technology is new to the construction industry, but it will no doubt revolutionize the way projects are managed. Read

Michael’s full article on page 14. Have you seen our amazing Women In Construction supplement? Yes, I called it amazing because this supplement highlights women in a variety of roles including electricians, project managers, marketing professionals, engineers, controllers, and CEOs. I love shining the spotlight on women and their successes. I always will. I hope you all get a chance to find a way to elevate or celebrate women in construction. I’ll be at some events in and around New England during WIC Week (March 5-11).

I am always curious how HighProfile Media Group can improve. If there is a topic of interest that we’re not covering, give us a call or drop us a line. And don’t forget to submit your content for our upcoming April issue with a focus on Multi-Residential and Senior/ Assisted Living facilities, and the 2023 Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing (MEP) Supplement.

Enjoy this last month of winter, spring is just around the corner!

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Up-Front

RISE Breaks Ground on The Ellery

Boston – RISE, a Boston-based minority owned developer and construction firm, along with development partner DivcoWest, has broken ground on The Ellery, a new residential community at 199 Gardner Street in West Roxbury. The project will revitalize a former commercial site in West Roxbury, replacing several industrial buildings with an approximately 84,000 gross sq. ft. residential building.

As part of RISE’s equitable development model, and continued mission to create housing options in the Greater Boston region, The Ellery will consist of a 4-story residential building with 70 rental housing units, including one- and two-bedroom unit options. Nine units will be designated as affordable and will be available to individuals and families earning up to 70% of the area median income (AMI).

The Ellery will feature a number of green and sustainable components, exceeding what is required by the city, in an effort to ensure this community contributes to the overall health of the neighborhood. The building will target LEED gold certifiability and includes allelectric mechanical and energy systems.

This effort is in line with the city’s Carbon Free Boston initiative.

Eighteen of the 70 on-site parking spaces, or 25% of total parking supply, will be designated for electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. The remaining parking spaces on-site are EV-ready and able to adapt as alternative and green transit continues to evolve and grow. With this long-term viability and adaptivity in mind, the building will be solar panel ready.

For those opting for alternative transit options, the project contributed funds to

the City of Boston to support the creation and installation of a BlueBikes Station

in the immediate area. The project also incorporates a Transportation Demand Management (TDM) program that includes a shuttle service for residents to access the West Roxbury Commuter Rail Station, and 70 on-site bicycle storage spaces, as well as additional bicycle racks for building visitors and the public. The surrounding area and pedestrian experience will be enhanced with new sidewalks and landscaping along Gardner Street, a new public crosswalk, street striping, and signage.

The new residential community includes a variety of amenities including a club room, on-site bicycle storage areas, a fitness center, work-from-home stations for any hybrid or remote work scenario, and resident storage areas.

The team includes Monte French Design Studio Architecture and Planning, Bohler Engineering, H+O Structural Engineering, McPhail Associates, and Wozny/Barbar & Associates (WBA).

The joint venture, DW RT Ellery, LLC, acquired the site and project in June 2022. Demolition of the buildings that occupied site occurred in July-September 2022. Project completion is expected by May 2024.

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The Ellery / Renderings courtesy of Monte French Design Studio

Nauset Begins Final Phase of 90,000sf Data Center

Cambridge, MA – Nauset Construction announced that construction is underway for the third and final phase of renovations to 300 Bent Street, a 90,000sf, 2-story building that serves as the primary data center for the New England operations of Verizon, Lumen Technologies, and other providers.

This phase involves demolition and excavation of the existing lobby to create a new accessible lobby at gradelevel. Features will include a modern front entrance curtainwall system and a new elevator and stairway that will be accessible from the basement level tenant space to the roof. Nauset will also relocate and upgrade the mechanical and electrical systems at the basement level while creating an additional 8,000sf for future tenant space. The data center will continue to remain operational throughout construction for owner CEM Realty Trust.

“This is a small project in scale with a high degree of complexity,” said Ken McClure, VP of development for owner’s project manager The DeNunzio Group, which has worked closely with Nauset on the project. “Working in any occupied area always presents a degree of difficulty,

but working in an occupied data center, a communications hub with extreme vulnerability to dust, situated next to a busy police headquarters, on a zero-lot line site, requires an extraordinary level of awareness and attention to safety during the construction process. We have great confidence in Nauset’s ability to deliver.”

Located in the heart of the high tech and life science epicenter Kendall Square, 300 Bent Street was originally constructed in 1948 as an industrial building. Khalsa Design Inc. (KDI) was selected to design the renovation and reimagination of the facility. “It is a rare opportunity to have such an expansive

canvas to work with,” said KDI project manager, Evan Stellman. “KDI enjoyed the collaborative design process with the owner and Nauset Construction, especially developing the playful gradient pattern that fills out the 200 foot x 48 foot facade of this structure.”

Phase one included the demolition and reconstruction of a new loading dock, and installation of an underground fuel tank. Phase two comprised a complete exterior front facade renovation, where the original concrete exterior was reinforced and clad with modern Nichiha panels in varying shades of grey and blue. The original ribbon windows were replaced with new custom-made storefront windows.

“While Nauset has successfully completed dozens of urban infill projects in Cambridge, working closely with The DeNunzio Group on this data center project allows us to continue to diversify our portfolio,” said Anthony Papantonis, president of Nauset Construction. “Our previous experience working in sensitive, occupied and operational environments has prepared us well for this challenging project.”

Bowdoin Completes Athletic Center

Boston – Bowdoin Construction announced it was hired by Boston Trinity Academy to build its new 8,800sf athletic facility.

Designed by Jones Architecture, the Bradley Athletic Center will host schoolwide assemblies and sporting events, with its 4,200sf basketball court, bleachers, courtside seating, locker rooms, prep kitchen, and office space.

Exterior work involved the installation of new drainage utilities, curbed islands, site lighting, and paving in the parking lot area, along with new sidewalks, fencing, and other landscaping improvements.

The school community celebrated a number of milestones over the course of

a groundbreaking and beam signing ceremony for students, faculty and trustees.

300 Bent Street / Photo courtesy of Khalsa Design Inc.

Entryway construction, including

Bradley Athletic Center gymnasium

Mayor Wu Appoints New BCDC Leadership and Commissioners

Boston – Mayor Michelle Wu announced new appointments and leadership to the Boston Civic Design Commission (BCDC) to bring diverse new voices and perspectives to shape design outcomes in the city.

These appointments are another step toward the mayor’s vision of ensuring that design and development resources are focused on resilience, affordability, and equity. The changes to the commission are designed to ensure that the BCDC’s feedback during its review of projects continues to represent the best and most current design thinking in the city.

“I’m grateful to this group of leaders for agreeing to serve on the Civic Design Commission,” said Wu. “It’s critical that the commission represent new and leading voices in the design and architecture spaces. These new members will provide diverse perspectives that will help shape Boston’s growth in a way that will ensure both residents and visitors experience Boston as a city for everyone.”

The individuals announced represent expertise in national resilience, as well as expertise in the local public realm and the arts. BCDC review is also a requirement of the Article 80 process, which is currently

being revised to make the process more predictable and streamlined. The BCDC will continue to play an advisory role to the Urban Design and Planning staff of the Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA), which will eventually transition to a new City Planning and Design Department.

The changes announced include appointing Mimi Love as chair and Linda Eastley as vice chair. Three commissioners will cycle off the commission and three new commissioners will join ten existing commissioners who will continue to serve.

New appointments include Laura Solano, Shauna Gillies Smith, and Catherine Morris.

Love has served as a commissioner since 2020. She is currently a principal at Utile Architecture & Planning, with expertise ranging from complicated renovation projects to campus master plans.

Eastley has served as a commissioner since 2009. She is a founding principal and managing partner at Eastley + Partners, LLC with 25 years of experience in campus planning and large-scale

urban design.

Solano is a principal and registered landscape architect at Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates (MVVA), where she has worked since 1991. She is currently a board member for the Landscape Architecture Foundation (LAF).

Gillies-Smith is the founding principal of GROUND and oversees the design direction of all the firm’s projects. Currently, she is a trustee of the Boston Architectural College and sits on the advisory board of the Design Industry Group of Massachusetts.

Morris is the director of arts and culture at the Boston Foundation and executive director of Boston Art & Music Soul (BAMS) Fest. Morris has spent her career supporting BIPOC artists by producing shows, creating platforms, and mobilizing and engaging local audiences to experience the arts from a Black perspective.

The three new appointees and two existing commissioners who will take over leadership positions will be instated for the April BCDC monthly meeting. The April BCDC meeting will be the first monthly meeting for the new group of commissioners and leaders.

Mimi Love

Linda Eastley

Focus: Schools and Institutions

2023 Update from SCUP North Atlantic

By Heather Taylor

It is hard to believe I am entering the final stretch of my time as the chair of the Society of College & University Planning (SCUP) North Atlantic Council. It feels like it has gone by fast and also feels like it has been a much longer time. Thank you, Covid! We all have a warped sense of time when we think of the last three years. We pivoted quickly to do many online events that brought us together in new and different ways, erasing the miles between us with a few clicks on our keyboards. We made lemonade out of lemons.

It gave new meaning to being together again. I have to give huge kudos and thanks again to our 2022 conference planning team and hosts at UMASS Amherst. Last year’s SCUP North Atlantic Regional Conference was fabulous. If you were one of the over 400 attendees that embraced all the in-person learning, sharing and networking – Thank you!

Last June, our NYC SCUP team planned and coordinated a great daylong symposium in the Morningside Heights neighborhood of New York City. Working with six institutions, the team orchestrated an amazing day of talks, tours and learning about this unique community of academic institutions. Again, kudos to our planning team.

This fall, we celebrated the 200th anniversary of the birth of Frederick Law Olmsted (FLO) with two events – one at Wellesley College in Massachusetts and a second at Trinity College in Connecticut – two picturesque campuses that benefit from the brilliance of FLO. Talks, tours and receptions were planned with dynamic invited speakers. In January of this year I got Covid, my second round. I passed the time by reading the amazing biography of FLO by our Trinity speaker, Justin Martin. I highly recommend his book, Genius of Place – The Life of Frederick Law Olmsted. Once again, I can’t thank our hosts and event planning team enough.

Most recently we had a gathering in New York City, SCUP After Dark. Hosted by SOM, it was a first-of-its-kind event that could be replicated in other cities. We are thrilled and thankful for our great team of NYC volunteers!

This brings us to the planning efforts that began over a year ago – for the 2023

Regional Conference that will happen March 22-24 in Albany, N.Y. The chairs, Yvonne Kielb and Nasrin Fatima, have been extraordinary and we are in for a treat with our wonderful hosts: SUNY Central Administration, The Construction Fund and the University at Albany. Yvonne and Nasrin have penned a great summary of the event, so I won’t go into detail except to say we are very excited to have on offer some new programming. We are borrowing good ideas from other regions as a result of interaction we have been fortunate to foster with the chairs of the other regions. Please consider coming early to participate in a charrette-style planning workshop focused on a current SUNY planning challenge. You won’t want to miss our chapter’s first fundraiser which supports the Fellows Program, to be held at University of Albany on March 23. The SCUP Fund’s purpose and focus is on the development of next gen leaders in higher education with an aim at advancing integrated planning principles. In other regions, this event has become one of the favorites of the conference. Check out the SCUP website for details.

Each of these events are carefully crafted and involve efforts by our volunteers, our hosts and my fellow North Atlantic Council members and the SCUP central staff. The events are made possible by our amazing sponsors. It does

truly take a village. The last three years have affirmed the strength of our SCUP community. Whether you are a seasoned SCUP member or first-time attendee, you are welcome. We are certain you will find a supportive network, a wealth of learning opportunities, and a community committed to continuous growth and supporting the personal and professional growth of its members. It is fueled by our curiosity and love of learning. Our community continues to thrive by welcoming all voices, views and the influx of the next generation. We are long range planners.

A huge thank you to the whole North Atlantic Regional SCUP Council: Adam Baacke, UMASS Lowell; Peter Bachmann, JCJ Architecture; Alfredo (Fred) DiMauro, Asnuntuk Community College; Jackie Falla, Elaine Construction; Nasrin Fatima, SUNY Binghamton; Mara Hermano, Boston College; Jillian Kavanagh, Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University; Yvonne Kielb,

retired – SUNY System; Michelle Maheu, Wellesley College; Ludmillia PavlovaGillham, UMASS Amherst; Cliff Resnick, Hunter College; Jennifer Stone, RAMSA; Dennis Swinford, UMASS Boston; Chris Timmerman, Rickes Associates

Events to look forward to:

• ELECTION! It’s time to vote for the next chair of the North Atlantic Regional Council! Watch for your ballot in email.

• Want to be a part of the North Atlantic Regional Council – accepting statements of interest – watch your email!

• What are you doing on June 9? Don’t miss SCUP NA’s Spring Symposium in NYC – this year at Cornell Tech on Roosevelt Island! Watch the website for details.

Heather Taylor is campus planner/ architect at Phillips Exeter Academy, and chair of the SCUP North Atlantic Regional Council.

A Message from SCUP President, Mike Moss

As we enter 2023, we look at the upcoming year with gratitude and optimism – gratitude for all that our members have done and continue to do to move higher education through the pandemic and to provide success and support for students, and optimism for what our association can do to continue to serve our members in the evolving and developing transformation of higher education’s future.

This year represents a transition year for the Society for College and University Planning (SCUP). The strategic plan that was launched in 2018 and accelerated during the pandemic is set to expire in December. Over the last few years, we were able to successfully launch new community and learning initiatives like the Emerging Leaders Program and Coaching, and our member community continues to grow with new members from all sectors of higher education. Thank you to all our member volunteers and staff for supporting SCUP during this challenging time and for continuing to lean into the hard work that comes with executing a strategic plan.

We are in the beginning stages of developing

our next strategic plan, and as an integrated planning organization, that starts with stakeholder analysis and environmental scanning. Facilitators from our Planning Institute Program have agreed to guide SCUP on this year’s planning journey. They will be joined by representatives from our board of directors at this year’s SCUP regional conferences to conduct stakeholder surveys and to learn from members about their challenges and the opportunities they see for SCUP and higher education.

The North Atlantic Regional Council has assembled another amazing conference agenda and we know that you will find the event to be valuable for content and connection. As we continue on our learning journeys this year, please drop a line to a fellow SCUPper to check in and to support them on their work. As we all know, integrated planning works best when we do it together.

Mike Moss

Data and Demographics: Driving the Future of Higher Education

tools to collect and support strategic, institutional, academic, fiscal, and space planning. These tools harness abundant data points and provide dashboards that aim to examine overall data governance and drive planning decisions at a system level.

By Nasrin Fatima and Yvonne Kielb

In celebration of the State University of New York (SUNY) System’s successes in higher education planning, the SUNY System Administration, the State of New York Construction Fund and one of SUNY’s premier institutions, the University at Albany, are hosting the 2023 SCUP North Atlantic Regional Conference on March 22-24. This event is an opportunity to bring together our region’s institutions and professionals to answer critical questions about the future of higher education. How do we utilize the abundant data and demographic information available to drive decision-making?

Why does this matter? SUNY is the largest comprehensive university system in the United States, with 64 campuses, and serves over 1.3 million students. SUNY is a leader in developing technological

Keynotes include SUNY System and Construction Fund leaders, our host institution, University at Albany’s, president and an introduction to the Okanagan Charter for Health Promoting Campuses of which our host campus is one of the first adopters. The conference starts with a unique opportunity for planning leaders to work side-by-side in a planning charrette to help our host campus with a critical planning challenge.

The Thursday programming includes an after tour of either the University at Albany Campus or (with pre-registration) a tour of the College of Nanoscale Science & Engineering Campus. Both tours conclude with a first time reception and fundraiser for the SCUP Fund, supporting the SCUP Fellow Program. The event will happen at ETEC, the University at Albany’s new Center for Research and Innovation. The conference concludes with an optional tour to

North Atlantic 2023 Regional Conference

March 22-24 • Hilton Albany

For more information:

www.scup.org/conferences-programs/north-atlantic-2023-regional-conference/

Skidmore College and opportunity to see their new Billie Tisch Center for Integrated Sciences.

There are two days filled with opportunities to meet and reconnect with colleagues and to partake in concurrent sessions with a range of topics including Facilities Assessment, Institutional Assessment and Effectiveness, Student Success, Campus Planning, Space Management, Facilities Design and Renovation and Infrastructure focused

on the information resulting from the systematic analysis of data or statistics, tools, analytics and implementation for college and university campuses.

Nasrin Fatima is associate provost for institutional research, effectiveness, and planning at SUNY Binghamton, and Yvonne Kielb is retired program manager, State University of New York System. Fatima and Kielb are chairs of the 2023 SCUP North Atlantic Regional Conference.

Facilities by Newman Architects Support UConn’s Carbon Neutral, Inclusive Goals

Storrs, CT – In a letter from President Radenka Maric in late 2022, the University of Connecticut announced it was accelerating its goal of carbon neutrality from 2040 to 2030. Newman Architects’ current and recent work on the campus, including two new residence halls totaling more than 1400 beds, is helping move the needle toward this goal with facilities that support equitable environmental sustainability.

our partners in industry, the federal government and state,” Maric said.

Environmental justice is a critical component of UConn’s efforts, and the university says it acknowledges that the engagement and inclusion of historically underrepresented and exploited groups is necessary for achieving equitable sustainability.

At SCUP’s North Atlantic Conference, José Hernandez, AIA, NOMA, LEED GA, principal at Newman Architects, and Melissa Foreman, director of learning communities at UConn, plan to share the results of the university’s investment in the LEED Gold certified Peter J. Werth Living and Learning Tower, an 8-story residence hall that seeks to foster healthy, inclusive, community-based living with as little negative impact on the environment as possible. A review of how the Werth Tower and its eight living/learning houses have served students since opening in 2016 will seek to support decisionmaking at other institutions investing in new housing models and buildings with diversity and inclusion as a key concern.

“Our strategy is to address the existential threat posed by climate change through a comprehensive and holistic approach, through educating our students, through community engagement, and through research and working with

Foreman will report the Learning Communities’ impacts on student academic success and social engagement, including recent data on students’ sense of “belongingness” since the opening of the Werth Tower. She will discuss how

the program has evolved, including with the unexpected challenges of supporting students on campus and at home through the pandemic, continuing enrollment growth, and growing demand to join the Learning Communities. She will also share data on how the building is measuring up to campus sustainability goals.

Peter J. Werth employs a number of energy-saving strategies, including a connection to the campus cogeneration plant, a high-performance building envelope, gray-water-supplied centrifugal chillers with indoor cooling-tower sumps, Energy Star appliances, contact sensors to disable cooling when windows are open, dashboard displays for resident and university monitoring, and rooftop solar thermal and photovoltaic collectors. The tower’s solar array alone has avoided more than 241,000 pounds of CO2 since 2017.

Since 2000, UConn has increased its on-campus square footage by 44%, which includes nearly half a million residential, athletic, and academic square feet designed by Newman. Over that same period, UConn Storrs has also reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 25%.

Newman’s work on campus continues with the new South Campus Residence Hall, which will include 657 beds and a 500-seat new dining hall. In addition to numerous sustainability and carbon reduction strategies aimed at energy conservation, stormwater control and reuse, and a photovoltaic array, the team is exploring the potential for geothermal heat pumps on site. The design-build project is anticipating completion in time for the fall 2024 semester.

UConn Peter J. Werth Living and Learning Tower

“ Our strategy is to address the existential threat posed by climate change through a comprehensive and holistic approach, through educating our students, through community engagement, and through research and working with our partners in industry, the federal government and state,”

– Radenka Maric

Academia Driving Deployment of Digital Twins for Zero Energy Market Adoption

By Michael Fancher

Successful deployment of Zero Energy Buildings (ZEBs) will not only require innovation in the design process, but also the deployment of process-grade facility monitoring and control systems (FMCS) capable of tracking in real time the performance and energy use of highly integrated systems. With recent

With recent advances in energy modeling, data analysis, and continuous commissioning data platforms, minimizing climate impacts from the built environment can be realized if academia can leverage ZEBs for technology innovation through demonstration, and for workforce education through experiential learning ...

advances in energy modeling, data analysis, and continuous commissioning data platforms, minimizing climate impacts from the built environment can be realized if academia can leverage ZEBs for technology innovation through demonstration, and for workforce education through experiential learning, that are both necessary for market adoption.

Located on the Albany Nanotech campus is the largest net-zero energy capable, mixed-use facility at construction completion in the United States that was conceived, designed, and built as a partnership between SUNY Polytechnic Institute’s College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (CNSE) and EYP/ Page as a “living laboratory” for mission critical facilities. The goal for the Zero Energy Nano (ZEN) facility was to demonstrate that an integrated design process – leveraging powerful design tools and affordable technologies –can lead to net-zero capable energy performance, providing a test-bed in technology innovation and workforce development for data analysis, clean energy technologies, and mission critical facility operations.

With the Albany Nanotech

complex hosting industry-compliant semiconductor process cleanrooms used by industry and academia to develop next generation computer chips, the selection of a process-grade FMCS was a natural choice given that a 30,000 sf2 Tier-3 4 megawatt demand load data center was located on the first floor of the ZEN facility. Real time data from over 8,000 sensor “tags” associated with the many components and systems used to operate the ZEN facility are displayed using graphical user interfaces. Each system is displayed as a “flow diagram” providing important operational context for potential upstream and downstream impacts when fault alarms are activated. However, due to the concern that any outside access to the FMCS might jeopardize the mission critical operation of the facility, the ZEN “Living Laboratory” could not be realized.

Completed in 2021 with the installation of dedicated computing infrastructure to establish a ZEN “Data Warehouse” by CNSE to serve as a digital sandbox, and the completion of the “As Built” energy model using open source software by EYP/Page to serve as the foundation for a “digital twin,” CNSE is developing next generation workforce

training curriculum incorporating hands-on learning simulators that utilize real world use-case fault scenarios for applied learning opportunities. Public private partnerships with leading data science and facility controls companies (SeeQ Corp, FacilityConnex, GE, among others) have played an important role in positioning CNSE to drive innovation, collaboration, and education while supporting sustainable operations through a shared vision in our collective challenges and individual opportunities to contribute to the solution.

With the recent enactment of the CHIPS for America Act catalyzing semiconductor research and manufacturing within our country, the potential for co-investment in the ZEN digital sandbox by the semiconductor industry for technology and education initiatives that will harness facility data for advanced manufacturing and a sustainable environment could not be more promising.

Michael Fancher is the director of the New York State Center for Advanced Technology in Nanoelectronics and Nanomaterials (CATN2) at SUNY Polytechnic Institute.

Linking Mission-infused Campus Planning and Project Frameworks

By Laura Pirie

With ever more complex and competing priorities, educational institutions face enormous pressure to ensure that every dollar spent advances the institution and its core mission. Whether the challenges are quality education, recruitment and retention, health and well-being, research and grant funding, or simply protecting the longevity of physical assets, having a framework for built-environment decision-making can help guide complex choices in a way that creates a “whole is greater than the sum of the parts.”

Most campus planning is anchored with a master plan: a literal map of an institution’s goals. The most useful masterplans are both strategic and tactical, defining goals and presenting a physical solution – the masterplan – to accomplish the goals. When working well, a master plan is a living document that invites tactical refinements as conditions and

individual project circumstances emerge while not losing the essence of strategic imperatives. When tactical refinements occur, competing demands can cause an individual project to disconnect from the goals of the masterplan. In this case, the optimal outcome of the whole being greater than the sum of individual projects can be lost. This is where a mission-infused project framework

the institution. It is best used during predesign and programming efforts when facilities groups and institutional units are establishing program, scope of work, and budget. The project framework is a mini strategic plan for a built environment project that outlines and helps prioritize competing needs. It accomplishes this by defining a unit’s individual program goals and then examining potential intra-unit

project efforts to help planning groups coordinate and co-plan projects to meet master plan goals, even with tactical changes. A more limited version of the framework can be used for deferred maintenance projects, which tend to be less strategic and program driven, by helping to prioritize budget pressures. And last, a project framework will create an “impact story” that can be shared with potential donors to aid in fundraising efforts. The takeaway? A short but focused study can amplify the value of any project – a small effort with a potentially huge impact.

can help institutions meet strategic goals to create a more impactful, more aligned whole.

What is a mission-infused project framework and how is it useful?

A mission-infused project framework is a formulation tool that connects individual project goals to the goals of

synergies and alignment of those goals with larger institutional initiatives. Value (both dollars and effort) is also examined as part of the framework to understand balancing short term costs with long term investment and operational considerations.

A project framework can be used to provide consistency across individual

At Pirie Associates, we created this tool while working with nonprofit organizations and have extended its use to independent schools and higher education institutions. For more information on this approach and how it can dovetail with other institutional initiatives such as demographic data usage and energy master planning, please attend the North Atlantic Region SCUP Conference in Albany, N.Y. on March 22-24. Look for the concurrent session called “MissionInfused Project Formulation to Amplify Impact and Value.”

Laura Pirie is principal and founder of Pirie Associates.

A mission-infused project framework is a formulation tool that connects individual project goals to the goals of the institution. It is best used during pre-design and programming efforts when facilities groups and institutional units are establishing program, scope of work, and budget.

High-Profile Focus: Schools and Institutions

Jones Architecture Underway on Higher-Ed Science Projects

Salem – Jones Architecture is currently planning and designing renewal projects for UMass Lowell and Massasoit Community College (MCC) that will serve as catalysts for transforming their science programs. “Each of these projects offer exciting opportunities to breathe new life into older buildings while also enhancing their campuses and supporting unique science programs,” said Lead Principal Rick Jones.

Jones is working with the UMass Building Authority and UMass-Lowell to study space needs for the engineering programs housed in Ball Hall on the north campus. A mid-century building that adjoins the original campus quad, Ball Hall has extensive deferred maintenance needs that need to be addressed to bring it up to par with other campus resources; a $50 million update to the adjoining Perry Hall building was completed in 2019. A 4-story, 100,000sf building, Ball Hall was constructed in 1958 and currently houses programs representing plastics engineering, mechanical engineering, and electrical engineering. The project is currently in the feasibility study phase where the design team is looking at a 10-year plan to renew the building. Phase one will be approximately $15 million estimated construction cost. “We are looking forward to the opportunity of revitalizing this mid-century building and

giving it new life for 21st century learning and research,” noted Rick Jones.

Sixty miles southeast of Lowell, Jones is working with DCAMM and MCC on comprehensive renovations to the sciences, nursing, and allied health teaching, lab, and administrative programs on the Brockton campus. For this project, Jones is the prime and Studio Luz Architects of Boston is a collaborating architect. The study currently underway spans work in three existing buildings from the original 1970s-era campus. A phased approach, de-

signed to minimize swing space challenges, lines up renovations to each of the three buildings in sequence. The result will be state-of-the-art teaching and lab spaces for nursing, allied health, radiation tech, and general science courses. Improvements to deferred maintenance challenges such as envelope and roof are also under consideration. This project is an investment of a $30 million estimated construction cost.

These projects offer an opportunity to transform and modernize MCC to better align academic programs with projected

enrollment growth and to increase flexible spaces for group learning, specialized instructional formats, student study, and office and support spaces for faculty.

Summarizing this work, Rick Jones noted, “It’s exciting for us to be immersed in these types of transformational projects that are certain to have a positive impact not only on the buildings and their campuses, but also provide opportunities for interprofessional education and help to position MCC to be a leader in skilled workforce development.”

One Congress Bullfinch Crossing Boston, Massachusetts

MCC Nursing and Allied Health Teaching Lab / Rendering by Jones Architecture

Expanding the Possibilities of Outdoor Spaces Through Intentional Design

By Peter Bachmann

The need to create outdoor spaces in higher education has always existed, but it was not until 2020 that the possibilities for future use were expanded, largely out of necessity. On campus, when it was no longer safe to congregate indoors, classes and gatherings were forced outside. Historically, outdoor amenities provided campus identity, often created as symbolic gestures to welcome visitors and students or provide informal gathering places. The use of and appreciation for outdoor spaces, and how they connect to learning and campus buildings, has been transformed in the wake of the pandemic and will continue to evolve as designers anticipate the future needs of this sphere. As has happened in other disciplines, the pandemic accelerated forces already in play in the design of outdoor space. Driven by the universal need to build and maintain community, we are seeing a significantly more engaged stakeholder consensus process yielding designs that

have far-reaching, positive educational impacts. A more engaged community results in spaces that speak to the diversity of cultures, program needs, and intellectual thought on campus.

Outdoor spaces have not only become places where classes might be held but teaching tools in their own right. Architects and designers are strategically positioning these communal spaces immediately adjacent to relevant college buildings, providing immediate access. Outdoor spaces are becoming extensions of their adjacent buildings’ pedagogical programs. Not only are they provided with robust technology and connectivity

but also create opportunities to connect teaching and learning to the outdoors, providing for a fluidity of ideas while overcoming the chasm between inside and outside.

The placement of outdoor spaces is also important. In the seasonal Northeast, the pandemic forced institutions to consider how to move programming outside –certainly in warm weather, but also in the shoulder seasons of early fall and late spring. Solar orientation of outdoor spaces along with the ability to provide shade and shelter when needed further extends seasonal utility, allowing educational use through substantially more days of

the year. Designers are adopting this stratagem when conceptualizing how modern campuses will be planned. Some of these new spaces have become so beautiful, flexible, and practical that they have become registrar-assignable teaching spaces.

As universities and colleges see the possibilities of outdoor spaces beyond what the pandemic forced them to consider, higher-education architecture will evolve to include more intentional spaces that vastly improve genuine learning and the overall campus experience.

Peter Bachmann is principal at JCJ Architecture.

JCJ Architecture provided planning and design on the UCONN Recreation Center, featuring an Outdoor Pursuits Center, which serves as a space for students to gather for outdoor instructional experiences and to partake in team building exercises. / Photo courtesy of Robert Benson Photography

Fitzemeyer & Tocci Underway on FSU’s Christa McAuliffe Center

Framingham, MA – Fitzemeyer & Tocci (F&T) announced it is working as the MEP/FP engineers for a major redesign project at the Christa McAuliffe Center on the Framingham State University (FSU) campus in Framingham. The modernization also includes the Challenger Learning Center and the Framingham State University planetarium.

The Massachusetts State College Building Authority (MSCBA) brought the design and construction teams together very early in the process, allowing for collaboration on supply chain issues. The project’s final design as advertised to bidders incorporates equipment and materials that have been vetted to give the best chance of keeping a very tight construction schedule.

The MSCBA, Commodore Buildings, GRLA Architects, STV, and F&T have completed project design and are moving forward into construction for the project, scheduled to be completed this summer. The modernized McAuliffe Center will be designed to function as an innovative and unique learning environment able to carry on Christa McAuliffe’s mission. Starting this fall,

early education and lifelong learning visitors will be able to explore a space designed to inspire through hands-on, immersive, and self-guided exhibits.

For the past 25 years, the McAuliffe Center has maintained its commitment to innovation and a dedication to serving the community, and continues its goal of remaining at the forefront of its field and continuing to make a difference in the world.

Christa McAuliffe Center

Success in the Arts Starts with Having the Right Tools

tics impaired the learning experience and key performance spaces were lacking. While the school did have a small black box theater, it did not have a proper auditorium space where students could present musical theater or dance events.

By Thomas Hains

Creating a school where the classrooms, arts instruction, and performances spaces reflect the talent of its students was one of the primary goals when envisioning the new Boston Arts Academy (BAA). Located next to Fenway Park, the new 154,000sf state-of-the-art school provides over 500 high school students from Boston’s diverse neighborhoods – 91% of them identify as people of color – with a comprehensive and unique learning experience and special focus on theatre, dance, music, visual arts, and fashion technology. As the designers behind this new beacon within the Fenway neighborhood, Wilson Butler Architects joined with architects Perkins Eastman as the architect of record.

Originally constructed in the 1920s, the BAA school building was a former U.S. postal facility that was not conducive for educational purposes, much less for performing arts. Poor lighting and acous-

“Every floor a stage, every wall a gallery” was one of the central tenets of the new Boston Arts Academy and a concerted effort was made to look for opportunities within the design to foster cross pollination between the different art forms beyond the rehearsal spaces and classrooms. A monumental gathering stair with a small stage in the main lobby is a popular location where student lunches often turn into impromptu performances. Additional informal spaces, dubbed “eddies,” provide further opportunities for collaborations, informal presentations, and critiques amongst the students and teachers from various departments.

The former lack of key rehearsal and performance spaces was fully addressed, ensuring that the students have the necessary tools to learn their craft. Their new 500-seat proscenium teaching theater – Boston’s only teaching venue of its kind – boasts ADA accessible technical catwalks and control rooms. While rivaling any professional venue in town, it also provides every student an opportunity to learn aspects of technical theatre in both the auditorium and the 150-seat black box theater.

Rounding out the performance spaces is the Recital Hall. This multipurpose hall can accommodate up to 60 performers and 100 audience members

and opens onto a roof terrace, allowing for performances under the stars with views to Fenway Park and the city beyond. During the school day, the terrace doubles as an outdoor classroom for science and art classes, an important feature for an urban school located on a tight, zero lot line site.

Even before the new school building was planned, the Boston Arts Academy was a resounding success story. With the new building, the students have all the tools they need to reach new heights and will be well prepared for their college and professional careers that follow.

Thomas Hains, AIA is principal at Wilson Butler Architects.

Recital hall

Boston Arts Academy

Florence Roche Elementary School Tops Off

Groton, MA – Officials from Groton Public Schools, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and the Town of Groton joined students, educators, and representatives from Leftfield, Studio G Architects, and Gilbane Building Company to celebrate the official topping off of the 110,000sf Florence Roche Elementary School.

Designed by Studio G, with Leftfield serving as owner’s project manager and Gilbane as construction manager, the new facility will address growing concerns regarding the state of the existing facility, originally constructed in the 1950s, and accommodate 645 students in grades K-4.

During ceremonial remarks, Jack McCarthy, executive director of the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA), noted the continued success of the project team, commending the Town of Groton in assembling the collaborative team of Leftfield, Studio G, and Gilbane.

The new school will support 21st-century learning and Universal Design for Learning (UDL), two important components of Groton Dunstable Regional School District’s educational program. The 2-story design organizes grade-level learning neighborhoods into two academic wings with shared project areas, dedicated special education rooms, and support spaces. In addition, the cafeteria and

gymnasium are located off the entry lobby for easy public access and feature a shared stage for performances in either area. Other shared learning spaces include a media center, outdoor learning lab, STEM lab

Organizations and Events

Organizations and Events

PWC CT Welcomes New Board

PWC CT Welcomes New Board

Hartford, CT – The Professional Women in Construction Connecticut Chapter (PWC CT) recently welcomed its new board of directors for the 2021-2022 program year.

Hartford, CT – The Professional Women in Construction Connecticut Chapter (PWC CT) recently welcomed its new board of directors for the 2021-2022 program year.

said Steve Michener, associate and senior project manager from Studio G Architects. “We look forward to continuing great teamwork with Gilbane and Leftfield to deliver the new Florence Roche Elementary School for the community of Groton.”

Patricia Bilotto returns as chapter president. She is the manager of marketing and business development for van Zelm Engineers. She has nearly 30 years of experience in marketing, communications, and business development in the AEC industry, and presently serves on the program, membership, and awards committees.

Patricia Bilotto returns as chapter president. She is the manager of marketing and business development for van Zelm Engineers. She has nearly 30 years of experience in marketing, communications, and business development in the AEC industry, and presently serves on the program, membership, and awards committees.

Since the start of construction in May of 2022, the project has maintained its schedule with over 34,000 safe and incident free trade hours. In achieving this milestone, the team took a collaborative approach in expediting the steel shop drawing review and approval periods to support the start of steel erection three weeks earlier than planned. This allowed the approximately 2,500 pieces, or 700 tons, of structural steel frame to be erected ahead of the New England winter months.

The 2021-2022 PWC CT board (l-r): Choity Khan, Kyma Ganzer, and Jennifer

Carolyn Kurth, CPA, CFE, of CohnReznick, will return as treasurer. She serves on the scholarship committee.

Carolyn Kurth, CPA, CFE, of CohnReznick, will return as treasurer. She serves on the scholarship committee.

her recipient

with an outdoor patio for student projects, and music and art classrooms.

“This satisfying moment is a reminder of the intense diligent early work with our consultants EDG and RW Sullivan,”

Laurann Asklof, principal of Shipman & Goodwin, LLP, will serve on the board as vice president. She has approximately 30 years of experience in the area of construction law and litigation. She will continue to participate in the chapter’s programs, mentorship, and scholarship committees.

Laurann Asklof, principal of Shipman & Goodwin, LLP, will serve on the board as vice president. She has approximately 30 years of experience in the area of construction law and litigation. She will continue to participate in the chapter’s programs, mentorship, and scholarship committees.

“We’re thrilled to successfully reach this very important construction milestone with the Town of Groton,” said Mike O’Brien, senior vice president and business unit leader for Gilbane in Massachusetts. “Topping off ceremonies are especially important, as they are a real celebration of our trade partners and I’d like to specifically commend the hard work that got us to this point by the men and women from Locals 429, 39, 4, 336, and 7.”

Dawn Meeker, director at Marcum, LLP, is returning for a second year as chapter secretary. She now serves as the membership chair and will continue as a volunteer on the awards committee.

Dawn Meeker, director at Marcum, LLP, is returning for a second year as chapter secretary. She now serves as the membership chair and will continue as a volunteer on the awards committee.

Kim Colapietro, partner of EDI Landscape, LLC, returns for her third year on the board. She serves as the awards committee chair.

Kim Colapietro, partner of EDI Landscape, LLC, returns for her third year on the board. She serves as the awards committee chair.

board on

year.

Kyma Ganzer, project manager at

Florence Roche Elementary School is slated for completion by 2024.

Kyma Ganzer, project manager at

Student representatives from Florence Roche Elementary School alongside members of the Gilbane, Leftfield, and Studio G Architects teams

The 2021-2022 PWC CT board (l-r): Choity Khan, Kyma Ganzer, and Jennifer

on Companies, year. committee

On Capital Projects, Bold Vision Inspires Support

By Jay Connolly

Whether for higher ed, private secondary schools, or cultural nonprofits such as museums and theaters, it is nearly impossible to overstate the importance of your institution’s physical structure. In the education sphere, most leaders understand that, even more so than your school’s academic reputation, website, sports teams, marketing materials, or tour guides, the critical “X-factor” in admissions decisions is the “vibe” potential students get while walking through your facilities. Students and parents are picturing life on campus as they stroll through, so presenting enticing facilities is not just a maintenance issue; it is an admissions issue.

Many schools attempt to address facilities needs via capital campaigns. The first step often involves hiring a fundraising consultant to gauge how much money your institution is capable of raising, and we do not purport to

be experts in the realm of nonprofit fundraising. That said, we have worked on enough campus buildings over our 140-year history to know that one big key to success in capital campaigns emphasizing building and infrastructure additions or upgrades happens in the pre-construction planning and design phase. Specifically, to attract significant giving from alumni and other donors, it is imperative to budget for a “wow” factor in the planning and design phase.

Even if your most pressing need is a campus-wide plumbing or electrical upgrade, it is generally understood that

it is easier to collect donations with the promise of facilities that your supporters are truly excited about – say, a new theater, gym amenities, or a cutting-edge makerspace – than to solicit support for more mundane infrastructure and maintenance needs. With this in mind, smart educational leaders will connect with a planning, design, and construction management firm early in the process to strategize around a package that can accomplish all key goals by focusing on a signature project that will motivate donors while also building in room to take on those less-alluring (but perhaps

even more necessary) behind-the-scenes campus upgrades. Doing so can set your educational institution up for capital project fundraising success.

The same holds true for nonprofit cultural institutions such as museums and theaters. Your donor base is not entirely different from those students surveying a campus; like most of us, they want to be associated with a healthy, vibrant organization, and beyond the infrastructure needs one might want or need to address, blueprints of bold plans act as a signal to your supporters that you are engaged in a continual march of progress – one which they can propel forward. Planning for physical plant improvements is thus a time to dream big, and maybe even to embrace some degree of Oscar Wilde’s sentiment that “nothing succeeds like excess.”

Of course, while the value of beautiful new facilities is undeniable, educational and nonprofit organizations must also keep a close eye on the budget. Fortunately, not all grand plans need to break the bank, and value engineering opportunities can often be identified when consulting with a firm that tackles planning, design, and construction with a unified and holistic approach.

Jay Connolly is president of Connolly Brothers, Inc.

Boston College has called on Connolly Brothers for a wide range of campus upgrades over many years, including most recently a new laboratory addition for Higgins Hall and an overhaul of communal areas in Lyons Hall. / Photo courtesy of Boston College

CHA Completes $94M School Renovation with Focus on Sustainability

Lincoln, MA – CHA Consulting, Inc. (CHA) announced that the renovation of the Lincoln K-8 Public School in Lincoln, which opened in the fall of 2022, is the Commonwealth’s most sustainable school renovation project.

CHA provided owners project management (OPM) services for the renovation of the 127,528sf school and construction of a 37,500sf addition. The school renovation was designed to generate as much electricity as it consumes. It is the first in the Commonwealth to achieve this level of sustainability in a public school renovation project.

The design for the renovated school retained the modernist theme of the original school while achieving netzero class B standards for sustainability in a school renovation. CHA’s project management team worked closely with the Town of Lincoln stakeholders to find solutions with the lowest possible energy use intensity (EUI) while remaining within budget.

The $94 million renovation and addition provide many unique learning spaces. The “L” shaped building has new shared spaces, including a central entrance, dining commons, kitchen, flexible learning commons, media center (library), and centralized administration. The educational areas provide flexibility

to support future educational models and practices, and representatives of CHA say the interior spaces offer dramatically increased flexibility in student groupings for the collaborative, creative, dynamic work the 21st century learning demands.

CHA project manager, Amanda Sawyer, praised the community for their commitment to sustainability: “This school is a treasure. It will serve the community, students, and our planet by thoughtful use of resources and the willingness to embrace sustainability and green building solutions. This school community is a great example for the next generation.”

Matloff Lab

Learning commons

Lincoln K-8 Public School

Designing Equitable Experiences for Students with Special Needs

By Jan Taylor

Students with special needs want what we all want: to be seen, to be appreciated, and to participate with others in the richness of everyday life. Helping students achieve these experiences in school settings is more attainable today, thanks to more empathic approaches to the design of learning, social, and recreation spaces.

Dialogue Dispels Disparities

Success in designing for students with special needs begins with study and lots of dialogue. Cotting School in Lexington, Mass. serves the needs of students with a broad spectrum of learning and communication abilities, physical challenges, and complex medical conditions. The initial stages of planning a 25,000sf campus center addition began with the design team observing how students used the current school and moved throughout the day.

We saw how many of the school’s hallways and common areas became

quickly congested for students requiring wheelchairs and other mobility equipment. In talking with the students and staff, we realized how the opportunity to reduce the congestion in the new campus center would create a safer and more equitable experience for all students, regardless of mobility needs. This connectedness at all levels of ability, is what the design team sought to reinforce.

Among the findings of a CDC research project studying Gen Z mental health was the importance of students feeling connected to their school community. The study found that fostering this connection with accessible, inclusive activities contributes to each student’s sense of belonging and well-being.

The campus center addition at Cotting School features a 2-story adaptive climbing wall, allowing students to engage with peers in a safe and stimulating activity. Decorated with a custom abstract pattern that recalls forest, mountains, and sky, the adaptive climbing wall includes various routes allowing students with different physical challenges, including those in wheelchairs, to participate.

A replicable takeaway from working with specialized learning environments is the value of continual feedback and refinement. Because the Cotting faculty and staff were so engaged in the

design process, we followed an iterative process of development and feedback that ultimately introduced a vibrant new campus center and an inclusive student experience.

Everyday Equity

The most important lesson from working on behalf of students with special needs is the opportunity for designers and our clients to envision new ways to promote

Two-story adaptive climbing wall at Cotting School inclusive learning and achieve a more ambitious level of social connectedness. Each step toward making our school environments – of every type and mission – more responsive to all learning styles will positively impact students. When school communities help students feel seen, valued, and included, everyone’s well-being and optimism rise.

Jan Taylor, AIA is president of Bostonbased design firm ARC.

Photo courtesy Eckman Construction

Eckman Underway on School Projects in New Hampshire

Northfield, NH – Eckman Construction announced it is underway on education projects in Northfield, Lebanon, and Manchester.

Eckman is providing construction management services for Spaulding Academy & Family Services as it expands the Northfield campus. The project consists of 15,300sf of occupied additions and renovations to the Primary School building which, once completed, will feature a new commercial kitchen and dining area, as well as new classrooms, innovation teaching space, offices, and treatment rooms. Architectural design was provided by Banwell Architects.

Eckman is also providing construction management services for two Lebanon School District projects. The team is currently overseeing the expansion of Mount Lebanon Elementary School in West Lebanon. The occupied addition and renovation project will roughly double the size of the existing multi-purpose room, expand the current warming kitchen into a full-service cooking kitchen, and improve the nurses area. The project will also upgrade the building’s electrical service and add additional parking.

In May, the team will be breaking ground on new additions and renovations to the Hanover Street School and

Lebanon High School. The occupied expansion project will feature a new secure building entrance, student lobby, and band performance/practice space for the high school facilities. The elementary school will feature a new secure entrance, classroom addition, a new kitchen, and a new cafeteria. Fire separation improvements will also be completed throughout the combined school facility. Marinace Architects is providing architectural design for both projects.

Eckman is also providing full designbuild services for the construction of The Commons, a new dining facility at the Derryfield School in Manchester. The

12,000sf, 2-story open-space addition will connect to the recently completed Athletic & Wellness Center, which Eckman completed in 2019.

The Commons will feature a dining area with over 300 seats, an open servery with food stations, a pizza oven, a full-service commercial kitchen, and an auxiliary dish room. Exposed heavy timber trusses will allow the structure to clear span the entire dining space and provide a vaulted ceiling. Additional dormer windows and a copula will allow natural light to reach deep into The Commons. The design team includes Banwell Architects and TFMoran.

Spaulding Academy & Family Services Primary School building expansion

Mount Lebanon Elementary School expansion

The Derryfield School Dining Commons addition

Choosing Equipment for STEM Labs: 4 Tips

latest 3D printer or CNC machine to a lab isn’t enough. Teachers benefit greatly from equipment that comes with supporting curriculum, like worksheets and project activities, so the technology is easy for them to integrate into their class work.

By Mark Lyons

Outfitting STEM labs with the right equipment is critical to the success of new labs within a school. Too many times, we’ve seen shiny new equipment in labs not being used. Teachers get frustrated that they need to learn how to use the equipment, and students miss out on gaining valuable skills by using it. As the CTE specialist at AET Labs, I developed a process for helping architects and schools decide on the best equipment for new STEM labs – equipment that teachers and students are excited to use.

Here is an overview of what we recommend looking for when choosing the right equipment. Find equipment that:

• Will have longevity within the school – Ensure the equipment selections are not centered around a specific teacher’s request. Instead, select equipment that will benefit the school’s vision for the long term.

• Comes with curriculum – Adding the

• Provides instructor training – Some equipment manufacturers offer training specifically for instructors to learn how to teach their students to use the technology. Some companies, like AET Labs, offer personalized professional development to help teachers determine the best applications for the equipment and their curriculum.

• Offers credentials to the students

– Some equipment manufacturers have accredited programs that certify instructors to award their students with industry-recognized certifications.

As an example, Festo is a manufacturer that offers curriculum, training, and credentials. Festo Didactic is the academic division of Festo, an industryleading manufacturer of automation technology. Schools use the equipment from Festo Didactic in pre-engineering and robotics and automation programs. Their equipment includes instructor guides, student manuals, assessments, and interactive labs in a cloud-based learning management system. They also

offer industry-relevant certifications for students, accredited by the nationallyrecognized organization, NC3. For local support, our team at AET Labs helps instructors apply the equipment to their curriculum through customized professional development.

We all want to see active, thriving STEM labs within schools where students are inspired and engaged in their learning. Choosing the right equipment is essential to that.

Mark Lyons is vice president of business development at AET Labs.

Festo Pneumatics and Hydraulics Training Systems at Blackstone Valley Tech High School

High-Profile Focus: Schools and Institutions

Three Added to Brennan’s Education Portfolio

Burlington, MA – Brennan Consulting, Inc. announced three new additions to its education portfolio. The WBE consulting firm is providing state-of-theart technology in preconstruction survey services, layout control, foundation and athletic field layout, steel erection surveys, grid and elevation surveys for piles and construction as-builts in both the university and preK-12 submarkets. A spotlight of current work is below:

1929 landmark building and to the 1993 addition, and the replacement of the 1939 addition and modular classrooms. The $82 million, multi-phase project under construction by W.T. Rich enlarges the school to 70,000sf and poses unique challenges due to its island location, aged systems and necessary upgrades for today’s public education. Students and staff were temporarily relocated in January of 2022 and the completed school will open in September of 2024 to 300 students, is intended to serve as a gathering place for town meeting and other large community events, and aims to achieve net-zero.

Tisbury School, Martha’s Vineyard

Breaking ground in December of 2022, the Tisbury School project includes the adaptive reuse and contemporary programming for pre-kindergarten through eighth grade, a new addition, preservation and renovations to both the

Hardy Elementary School, Wellesley

This new 2-story, 80,000sf kindergarten through fifth grade replacement project includes 18 classrooms with flex space, an anticipated enrollment of 365 students

and the district-wide full-immersion Skills Program for students with autism spectrum disorder and other related learning challenges. The $72.5 million project by Shawmut began in February with a formal groundbreaking scheduled for later this spring. The Hardy School has an opening planned for August of 2024 with demolition of the existing school and site work completion set for December 2024. Outdoor classrooms, playgrounds and sports playing fields are included in the programming.

Tyngsborough Middle School, Tyngsborough

To address aging facilities, the Tyngsborough Middle School project is designed as a 112,000sf, grade 6-8 complex totaling $65 million and replaces

an existing 1968 school originally opened as the town’s first dual junior and senior high school. Construction by Fontaine commences this spring, and the new 480-student building will be in operation spring 2025 on the same site that houses the existing 1968 Tyngsborough Middle School being replaced and the Tyngsborough High School. Full project completion is anticipated for 2026 and unprecedented price increases across the region are impacting planning for this Tyngsborough school as well. Senate Docket 2395 bridges the gap for several Massachusetts school construction projects and would earmark $150 million in federal ARPA recovery funds for the School Modernization and Reconstruction Trust Fund.

Hardy Elementary School Rendering courtesy of SMMA

Tyngsborough Middle School / Rendering courtesy of JCJ Architecture

Tisbury School / Rendering courtesy of Tappe

GLCPS Completes STEAM Center

Making Technology Work for You

New Bedford, MA – Global Learning Charter Public School (GLCPS) announced that the new Joan and Irwin Jacobs STEAM Center for Education has been completed, more than two years after construction began.

GLCPS is a tuition-free public charter school serving 500 New Bedford students in Grades 5-12. The 18,132sf, state-ofthe-art STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Music) education center, which stands adjacent to the school’s main campus, officially opened on Feb. 13.

The rehabilitated former convent includes a Think-a-Bit (or innovation lab), a biology lab, a chemistry lab with a fume hood, two math classrooms, an art classroom outfitted with a kiln, a music room with separate practice room, two world language classrooms, a media center, and the College and Career Center, as well as small rooms for students who

need a quiet space to work. Middle school students take art, music and technology classes in the new building. Besides those classes, high school students also take science, math and world language courses there. Additionally, they have access to the College and Career Center. School officials also plan to invite community groups to use the building for classes or meetings.

“What I love about our One School One Campus expansion project is seeing all of the planning for this building, especially all of the teachers’ input, come to fruition. It is a building designed for learning, collaborating, experimenting and creating,” said Dr. Stephen Furtado Sr, executive director of GLCPS.

The building was originally scheduled to open at the beginning of the 2022-23 school year but construction and materials issues delayed the opening. The school will hold a ceremonial ribbon-cutting ceremony in the new building at a later date.

STEM Solutions Completes Science Room

Wakefield, MA – STEM Solutions recently wrapped up work on Boston Public School District’s McCormack Middle School’s new science room for general contractor Paul Rogan Company. The new lab space was designed by Mount Vernon Group Architects.

STEM provided and installed wood casework, pass-through fume hoods, epoxy countertops, painted steel benches, and epoxy sink bases.

“The newly designed space greatly

enhances the learning experience for the students,” said Ed St. Peter, STEM’s managing member. “The equipment and casework we provided is the same that is used in commercial and higher ed lab environments which allows middle school students to become familiar with commercial lab environments.”

STEM Solutions LLC is a nationwide provider and installer of laboratory equipment, casework, and modular lab furniture solutions.

GLCPS Joan and Irwin Jacobs Center for STEAM Education

Foundations for the next generation

Our experience building schools in Massachusetts and beyond has shown us the value of a strong footing — in every sense of the word. That’s why we put students, teachers and the community at the center of each project. With a trusted base to stand on, they can reach for all they dream is possible.

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GLCPS Joan and Irwin Jacobs Center for STEAM Education

Historic Wellesley College Campus Striving for Carbon Neutral Future

By Rebecca

In 2019, Finegold Alexander Architects was engaged by Wellesley College to study energy reduction, accessibility, and infrastructure upgrades at Severance Hall. The goal of the study was the creation of a model for addressing these issues across the campus’ large residential halls. Through Wellesley College’s E2040 program, it has set an ambitious goal: to reduce the college’s greenhouse gas emissions below 2010 levels by 90%.

A key component of achieving these goals is to address emissions from their existing buildings. Severance Hall, built in 1926, is part of Wellesley College’s iconic Tower Court complex. It contains 100 student sleeping rooms housing 162 students. Finegold Alexander studied a range of options to address energy use, accessibility, deferred maintenance, and life safety. Potential synergistic programming and student experience improvements were also assessed.

A previously completed Energy Master Plan determined that a key to reducing Wellesley’s emissions is shifting from steam and high-temperature hot water for space heating on campus to a low-temperature water loop. Determining the implications of this change for the architecture of the campus’ historic and

existing buildings is a crucial step for the college to determine the first costs of the energy changes, as well as the ultimate ROI. Working alongside Salas O’Brien, the engineers who had completed the energy study, Finegold Alexander asked a series of critical questions to determine how to respect the historic nature of the building(s) while also achieving the E2040 goals. How can we think about envelope upgrades without changing the building facades? How can we address potential code triggers when infrastructure work exceeds certain dollar values? Were there synergies to be found by addressing deferred maintenance at the same time as energy infrastructure? How can embodied carbon be measured at the same time as operational carbon in these plans?

The Finegold Alexander team started at the building envelope, exploring various upgrades and energy conservation measures (ECM). Each option was tested through energy modeling and lifecycle costing. The energy conservation measures were also reviewed for their utility in addressing deferred maintenance issues such as water intrusion and occupant comfort issues. Through this comparative process, the design team and college determined that the combination of newly insulated walls at the exterior and interior storm windows allowed for a decrease in radiator size for the new low-temperature water system while also providing greater occupant comfort.

In addition to the envelope and infrastructure improvements, Finegold Alexander worked with residential life stakeholders to determine program opportunities synergistic

with energy goals. This allowed the project to incorporate outward-facing improvements while keeping within strict budget parameters. The final scope of the project includes updates to the living room and other gathering spaces, focusing on infusing new A/V and IT technology and lighting to showcase the college’s historic features. Existing kitchenettes, bathrooms, and common spaces have been renovated for accessibility, and

small gathering areas have been created off the long corridors of this Victorianera residence hall.

With Phase I complete, executed by Elaine Construction, the final phase of construction will be completed this summer.

Rebecca Berry is principal, president, and director of sustainability, and Lara Pfadt is senior associate, architect, and sustainability strategist, at Finegold Alexander.

What Is a Program Evaluation System and Why Do You Need One?

this self-evident, which leads to a new and consistent vocabulary for discussing and evaluating the market for an academic program.

too high? Are competitors’ completions growing or shrinking?

By Robert G. Atkins

A sound Program Evaluation System (PES) marshals the data, software, people, and decision-making processes that enable fast, well-informed, and broadly supported program decisions. A PES brings structure and a common vocabulary to program evaluation. Importantly, it also allows institutions to increase enrollment by investing in the right programs while reducing costs.

For example, we believe a healthy PES includes market data on student demand, employer needs, competitive intensity, and degree level. Most of our clients find

First, all the data should be for the actual market or markets served by the institution, not states, metropolitan areas, or other artificial boundaries.

Student demand should include current indicators, such as Google search volume and enrollment data, and more detailed historical data from IPEDS. Employer needs should include occupation and wage data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, job postings, and career path data from the American Community Survey. Each data source should be understood –including its flaws – by the faculty and administrators involved in the evaluation process. Competitive intensity should not just identify competing schools but reveal whether the market is saturated. For example, is the Google competition index

The PES should reveal the economics of each program, including revenue, cost, and instructional margin (before overheads). It should benchmark costs across programs and include benchmarks for the same programs at other institutions. Interestingly, this data often ends the use of rules of thumb that dictate the closure of small programs. While some small programs lose money, many others are contribution positive – if cut, revenue would fall faster than cost, leaving the school worse off.

The PES must also be easy for experienced users and approachable for relative novices. In addition to raw data (e.g., the number of job postings), each metric should be compared to other programs using percentiles (much like a grade curve), which makes it much easier to interpret the information.

However, a PES is more than data and software. It defines the process, participants, and schedule for program decisions and their implementation. The process is data-informed, fast (two days), transparent, and strengthens campus relationships.

Today, declining enrollment, aggressive competition, and limited funds doom most ill-informed academic program decisions. When program proposals cover different topics using unique, unvetted data, it is challenging for decision-makers to evaluate them. A PES can enable a higher-education institution to gather disparate data to evaluate and enhance its program portfolio. Several of the largest institutions now use a PES to guide their program decisions and spur growth.

Berry and Lara Pfadt

Wellesley College Severance Hall

Robert G. Atkins is CEO and founder of Gray Associates.

Mixed-Use

MassDev’s TDI Local Grants Bolster Small Business Growth

Boston – MassDevelopment has awarded $1,520,000 in grants to 13 organizations for small-business support programs in gateway cities that will fund projects such as storefront improvement efforts, technical assistance, equipment upgrades, district-wide branding and marketing plans, placemaking and public events, and more. The grants were awarded through MassDevelopment’s Transformative Development Initiative (TDI) Local program, which funds locally developed and run small-business support programs tailored to the specific needs of individual communities.

Awarded projects:

The Downtown Attleboro Business Association will use a $100,000 grant for “Open to the Public,” a two-pronged approach that will offer existing businesses in the Attleboro TDI district direct grants for general improvements, marketing, equipment upgrades, and other business needs, and will support event programming aimed at activating public spaces and drawing visitors downtown.

A $125,000 grant will support the Downtown Hyannis Community Development Corporation for the continuation of the existing “Local Business Boost Grant Program” and the establishment of a facade improvement program, both of which aim to meet the direct needs of businesses in the Barnstable TDI district by providing funding for operational and capital needs.

The Bristol County Chamber Foundation, Inc. in Fall River will use a $125,000 grant to support the continued growth of Viva Fall River as an independent organization by funding a consultant to assist with the development of a board of direc-

tors and strategic plan, legal assistance for establishment of a 501(c)3, and ongoing administration and accounting functions.

The Holyoke Chamber of Commerce will use a $106,500 grant to advance small businesses and improve walkability in the Holyoke TDI district by offering technical assistance and grant funding for storefront improvement projects.

Lawrence Partnership will use a $125,000 grant to support the “Essex Broadway Storefront Improvement Program,” which will provide financial assistance – including application assistance, architectural design services, and construction funding – for facade improvement projects in the Lawrence TDI district that will help businesses improve their curb appeal, attract more customers, and connect storefront characteristics into a more appealing district image.

The Lowell Plan, Inc. will use a $125,000 grant to create an “Acre Business Equipment Fund” that will subsidize the cost of equipment upgrades undertaken by businesses in the Lowell TDI district.

Lynn Main Streets, Inc. will use a $125,000 grant to create a fund providing direct support for restaurants in the Lynn TDI district. The fund will be enhanced by the services of a business consultant, provided through the TDI Technical Assistance program, who will work with restaurant owners to develop an action plan identifying strategies for growth and stability.

The Community Economic Development Center of Southeastern Massachusetts, Inc. will use a $125,000 grant to support a program aimed at improving the physical and digital presence of small

The Somerset Reaches 80% Occupancy

Winthrop, MA – The Procopio Companies announced that The Somerset, the firm’s newest mixed-use development in Winthrop, has reached 80% occupancy since its opening in September 2022.

The boutique multifamily development, located at 10 Somerset Avenue, is a 22,000sf, zero lot-line, mixeduse property that brings 29 residential units and 1,119sf of ground-level retail space to downtown Winthrop. It offers studios and one- and two-bedroom units ranging from 500-1300sf.

“The success of The Somerset is a testament to Greater Boston’s continued appetite for multifamily development close to the city,” stated Bryan Vitale, SVP of Strategy & Investments. “The property’s desirability and location in downtown Winthrop demonstrates the continued desire from residents to enjoy the conveniences of city amenities,

with the benefits of a suburban location and lifestyle.”

Procopio developed Somerset in concert with Khalsa Design (architect of record), North Shore Bank (lender), and a syndication (equity source). The Somerset was designed for residents who want to live in one of Boston’s most desirable beach communities with convenient access to both the Atlantic Ocean and Downtown Boston. The building is now professionally managed by Charlesgate.

businesses in the New Bedford TDI district to help them cultivate a broader customer base.

The Berkshire Black Economic Council, Inc. will use $111,000 in funding to develop a grant program to help experienced entrepreneurs fill vacant storefronts in the Pittsfield TDI district. Businesses can use funding for costs related to rent, move-in, marketing, visibility, and upskilling.

Women Encouraging Empowerment, Inc. in Revere will use the $112,500 grant to establish shared commercial space pilots or pop-ups to encourage collaboration between existing brickand-mortar businesses and emerging

entrepreneurs and alleviate the rental burden of any individual business.

Springfield Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc. will use a $125,000 grant for its “Branding, Storytelling & Placemaking Activation Program for Mason Square Small Businesses & Community,” which will provide grants and consulting services to small businesses, organizations, and groups for branding, marketing, and placemaking efforts.

Heart of Taunton, Inc. will use a $100,000 grant to undertake a two-pronged approach aimed at drawing attention, visibility, and traction to businesses in the Taunton TDI district, including providing grants to businesses to alleviate struggles in paying rent, permit fees, and building upgrades such as visibility and lighting, and buying materials to increase district business visibility.

Worcester Common Ground, Inc. will use a $115,000 grant to provide small business owners and engaged property owners within the neighborhood financial assistance for their costs of doing business (such as rent, payroll, inventory, utilities, etc.) and flexible funding for property improvements that can make an immediate, positive visible impact.

Viva Fall River

The Somerset

COMMERCIAL FRAMING & DRYWALL

Photo by Chinburg Properties

BPDA Approves New Affordable Housing in Mattapan, Allston, Dorchester, and Roxbury

Boston – The Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) board of directors recently approved five new development projects representing 1.6 million sq. ft. and supporting approximately 1,493 construction jobs and 1,844 permanent jobs.

Located within the Western Avenue Corridor Study and Rezoning (WACRZ) area, the 176 Lincoln Street project in Allston will build a new mixeduse development comprised of lab, office, residential, restaurant, retail, and cultural space. The project follows the guidance set forth in WACRZ in programming, dimension, and density requirements. Of the 252 residential units on site, approximately 45 will be income-restricted, including ten artist live/work units. Features of the project include almost two acres of green space, close proximity to public transit, and the completion of Telford Street.

Located on the former Boston State Hospital property in Mattapan, the Olmsted Village project will build six new buildings of residential housing. This project is located within the boundaries of Boston’s only Smart Growth Overlay District, which was originally established through the State 40R Smart Growth program to encourage diverse housing developments with various housing and transportation options within Mattapan.

Located in Roxbury, the One Elmwood Street project will construct a 7-story building containing 40 residential units, seven of which will be income-restricted. The units will be designed under the guidelines of the Boston Compact Living Policy, focusing on smaller units, more shared amenities, no parking, and ample bike storage. The building will also include retail and commercial space. This project will improve the public realm by increasing outdoor seating and bike storage, and making nearby intersections and road crossings safer. The project makes significant contributions toward the goals of the Roxbury Strategic Master Plan.

be 55 residential units, nine of which will be income-restricted. The project contributes to the overall walkability and transit-oriented development described in the Allston-Brighton Mobility Study, as it will prioritize bicycle, public, and pedestrian movement, and does not include parking. This project also contributes to goals of increased housing within walking distance of public transit and bike infrastructure.

What is currently a vacant building at 1035 Commonwealth Avenue in Allston will become a new 6-story mixed-use building including residential housing and retail space. There will

The project at 1320 Dorchester Avenue in Dorchester will build a new 6-story mixed-use development comprised of residential and commercial space. The building will contain 70 compact studio units, 11 of which will be incomerestricted. In support of open space, this project will contribute $50,000 to the City’s Fund for Parks to fund efforts to maintain green space at nearby Ronan Park.

Olmsted Village

One Elmwood Street

1035 Commonwealth Avenue

1320 Dorchester Avenue

176 Lincoln Street

Retail and Hospitality

Ebbrell, Haynes Group Complete AlDa Aesthetics’ New Location

Hanover, MA – Ebbrell Architecture + Design announced that it worked with the Haynes Group to complete a recent project for AlDa Aesthetics in Hanover.

Dana Broslovsky, LME, and co-owner of AlDa Aesthetics, and her partner Alyssa D’Arcy determined that after six years of success, they had outgrown their existing space. Broslovsky said, when taking your business to the next level, your space “needs to reflect the work you’re doing and provide an experience that makes clients feel like part of the family.”

Broslovsky and D’Arcy found a new street level location in Hanover that, while larger and containing additional room for growth, needed outfitting. They tasked the Haynes Group with the project, which brought on Ebbrell Architecture + Design, a certified Woman-owned Business Enterprise, to complete the design. Lauren Foley, NCIDQ, LEED GA, interior designer at Ebbrell, and Christine Medeiros, project manager of the Haynes Group, led the design-build project creating an all-female project team.

Foley said the spa’s new 3,000sf space provides contiguous rooms that it lacked in its former location. Now, each

provider has their own personal space to allow for creativity, treatment planning and building relationships. Foley noted, “AlDa’s new location is inviting and luxurious; they now have eight treatment rooms as well as generous reception and retail space.” The retail space includes enough storage to provide fulfillment of online orders, something that wasn’t possible in the former location, and which creates new business opportunities for the practice. Foley said the finish palette is “glossy, glamorous, and sophisticated.”

Foley added that the Ebbrell team worked with Haynes to tailor the project to meet

the client’s budget while making sure it had an elevated feel.

For the lighting, the Ebbrell team worked with Eric Petrichenko at Omnilite Illuminate to select brass fixtures and

ambient lighting to make the space soft and feminine. In addition to the aesthetics, the project – a medical spa – also required attention to technical aspects such as soundproofing, flow, privacy, and infrastructure to manage equipment and healthy airflow. “The clients’ health and safety needs were always top of mind,” said Foley.

When asked what it was like to work on a project that was women run, Medeiros said, “It was a great feeling to work closely with these creative and talented women. We had a cohesive team where everyone felt heard and comfortable expressing themselves. It’s not often an opportunity like this presents itself in construction, I’m glad I was a part of it.” Foley said that working with Alyssa and Dana, the “Al” and “Da” in AlDa Aesthetics, was a wonderful experience. “They are such lovely clients and we really helped bring their vision and dream to life.”

Broslovsky said of the project, “The transition here has created a more cohesive environment for team collaboration and continuing education. And, the space highlights the level of what we have to offer. We have created a destination that allows for an immediate sense of belonging.”

(l-r): Miika Ebbrell, principal, Ebbrell Architecture + Design; Dana Broslovsky; Christine Medeiros; Alyssa D’Arcy; and Lauren Foley

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Life Science

Oxford Announces $125M Purchase and Lease Back of GMP Facility

Marlborough, MA – Oxford Properties Group recently announced the purchase and long-term lease back of 92 Crowley Drive. The asset is a 120,000sf state-ofthe-art biomanufacturing facility under construction and near completion in the Boston life sciences submarket of Marlborough.

As part of a real estate transaction with biomanufacturing company Resilience, Oxford will acquire the building and lease the property back to Resilience for up to 30 years. This deal structure raises proceeds for Resilience while allowing it to conduct its day-to-day business operations with full use of the facility.

The acquisition grows Oxford’s existing North American cGMP portfolio to 1.4 million sq. ft. with an additional development pipeline of over 1 million sq. ft. The transaction highlights Oxford’s deep conviction in biomanufacturing as an integral part of the growth of its global life sciences business. This holistic approach seeks to provide firms the complete breadth of the required and highly technical real estate infrastructure to research, develop then manufacture the life changing therapeutics of tomorrow.

Oxford’s North American cGMP platform and pipeline has now grown to 12 facilities across six markets, with the largest concentration in the Boston region totaling 775,000sf.

Upon final completion this year, 92 Crowley will be Resilience’s flagship facility in the U.S. with state-of-the-art analytical and manufacturing technology.

The facility is designed with best-inclass specifications and multi-modality manufacturing capabilities, featuring dedicated manufacturing suites, with complementary office and warehouse space.

The transaction at 92 Crowley represents the third sale and leaseback

growing strategic partnership. “Our growing relationship with Resilience is a great example of the purpose of Oxford’s life science business. By investing our capital and capabilities to own, manage and build life sciences real estate infrastructure, we can free up capital for our customers to focus on advancing their science and delivering the life changing therapeutics of tomorrow,” said Chad Remis, executive vice president, North America at Oxford.

“Our acquisition of 92 Crowley aligns strongly with our biomanufacturing strategy. Its proximity to our existing cGMP investments in Boston provides significant operational efficiencies,” said Christie Chen, director of investments at Oxford. “Boston continues to be an unparalleled market in terms of talent, capital and research institutions and we will continue to deliver new real estate infrastructure into the region to support its growth and position as the global leader in life science. This conviction is evidenced by three cGMP developments that we are undertaking in the Boston market to serve the growing demand for

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Corporate ARCO Design/Build Announces Leadership Transition

Atlanta – ARCO Design/Build has announced a transition in key leadership as Rick Schultze, co-founder and cochairman of the parent company, retires as CEO and continues to serve as cochairman of the board of directors. Mark Mummert, former president and current co-chairman of the parent company, will also serve in this role alongside Schultze.

This transition marks the beginning of new leadership for the organization, with the promotions of Rob Steigerwald to CEO and Jake Stefan to president. Together the team provides leadership for the parent company that includes 18 divisional offices in cities around the country and 32 total divisions comprising ARCO DB Companies, Inc.

Steigerwald brings over 30 years of experience in the construction industry, previously serving as an executive with Fluor Corporation and Jacobs Solutions.

His leadership at the ARCO Design/ Build Philadelphia office produced exceptional growth and success in the Northeast, resulting in expansion offices in Baltimore, New York, Richmond, and Raleigh-Durham, according to the firm’s representatives.

Jones Architecture Doubles Office Space

“We’re honored to continue to build upon the legacy of leadership that Rick Schultze and Mark Mummert provided to ARCO Design/Build, our associates, and our valued clients,” said Steigerwald. “Our entire team remains passionately committed to understanding the business of our customers and delivering solutions that solve their problems and better

position them for growth.”

With over 25 years of experience in the industry, Stefan brings a wealth of knowledge and extensive relationships to his new role. He most recently led the ARCO Design/Build Build-To-Suit division guiding the delivery of national design-build solutions for clients across various industries, including cold storage, food processing, manufacturing, life sciences, distribution centers, and speculative development.

“Our growth and success today are possible thanks to the early work that was put into building the culture of the company around sound core values and hiring the best and brightest in the industry,” said Stefan. “I am excited and energized around continuing my contributions to the company in ways that advance our organization forward as the builder of choice for end users, real estate developers, and brokers looking to build successful projects.”

Petersen Engineering Expands to Boston

Boston – Petersen Engineering announced it has established a new Boston office, located at 101 Summer Street between South Station and Downtown Crossing, to complement the firm’s headquarters in Portsmouth, N.H.

employees and clients.”

Salem, MA – Jones Architecture announced it is doubling its office space to accommodate growth, a return to more consistent in-person office work, and better serve its clients. Located in the downtown’s Derby Square, Jones has been in the historic Higginson Block building since 2011.

The 2,500sf expansion adds meeting rooms and breakout spaces across the hall from the current office. The expanded office also provides more flex space to bring on more staff as Jones expands its work both in terms of project type and size.

“It’s an exciting time for the firm,” said Principal Rick Jones, AIA. “We grew over the past two years and are feeling momentum as we regroup more

and more often in the office. Our clients have increasingly wanted to be able to meet remotely and this allows us to serve that need in a high quality way.”

The company specializes in providing sustainable, energy-efficient HVAC, plumbing, fire protection, and electrical engineering design services for commercial, industrial, and residential building projects, many wanting to achieve Passive House Certification. The firm established its new location believing that a Downtown Boston presence would benefit both its clients and employees after an anticipated shift in workplace preferences following the COVID-19 pandemic. This shift led Petersen Engineering leaders to consider how they could offer greater convenience and flexibility to their existing associates and to prospective employees while maximizing valuable in-person time with clients and other key industry leaders. The firm’s representatives say the expansion to Boston is proving to be an unmitigated success.

“The pandemic made it clear that remote work is technically possible for us, and employees’ desire for greater workplace flexibility appears permanent,” said Petersen Engineering founder and principal, James Petersen. “Our Boston office serves as one of several work-location options for our team, and we are pleased that the space is yielding a positive response from both

Petersen Engineering has experienced 500% growth over the last five years in response to demand for expertise in sustainable building design, including Passive House design. As a result, Petersen Engineering has hired several team members who live near Downtown Boston, and the firm’s expansion allows them to adopt a hybrid schedule where they work from the Boston office and from home. Several senior engineers also work from the Boston office once per week, enabling mentorship of co-op students and junior staff. The new office also provides a convenient location for in-person meetings with clients while facilitating the firm’s presence at networking events and business development opportunities.

Firm leadership expected that the company’s Boston location would help with recruiting top talent, and they say this is proving true. The convenience of Petersen Engineering’s Boston office location and the gender parity within the firm appealed to Senior Mechanical Engineer Erica Squillacioti, who joined the company in early 2022. “Petersen Engineering has a great reputation in the AEC industry, especially when it comes sustainable affordable housing projects, and I love that there are so many women in management roles, which is pretty unique in engineering,” said Squillacioti.

Rob Steigerwald

Jake Stefan

Jones Architecture’s existing office space

Rendering of Jones Architecture’s new office space

AGC MA Celebrates Black History Month, Announces New Diversity Initiatives

Wellesley, MA – The Associated General Contractors of Massachusetts (AGC MA) announced its celebration of Black History Month with the screening of an acclaimed documentary and a renewed commitment to expand and build upon the initiatives and accomplishments of its Committee for Diversity and Inclusion.

Presented courtesy of AGC MA’s Committee for Diversity and Inclusion and Turner Construction Company’s Diversity Employee Resource Group, the documentary, Invisible Warriors: African American Women in World War II, profiles a group of diverse “Rosie the Riveters” who recount what life was like during World War II as they became the first Black women to work in war production and in U.S. government offices. They recount battles against racism at home, Nazism abroad, and sexism everywhere.

“Black History Month is an important time to remember the many achievements of Black Americans, including the brave and pioneering women featured in Invisible Warriors,” said John Ferrante, CEO of AGC MA. “But it’s also a moment for reaffirming our commitment

to creating new opportunities for underrepresented populations.”

Last year, AGC MA hired Marion Jones to fill a new role, director of workforce development and inclusion. Since then, Jones has worked with ACG MA’s Committee for Diversity and Inclusion

to launch several programs that create awareness and provide career pathways to people of color, long under-represented in the construction sector. These include a partnership with students at Mattahunt Elementary School in Mattapan, funding micro-grants for adults who are either already working in construction or those who hope to gain experience for education and training opportunities, an annual

Diversity Summit with member firms, and working with partners to coordinate job placements for diverse workers.

“We’re so pleased at AGC MA by the success of these programs, and grateful for the support of our member firms,” said Jones. “We are eager to do more and to continue promoting and facilitating opportunity for those who’ve historically been left out.”

Hoffman Establishes Scholarship Fund

New Haven, CT – Hoffmann Architects + Engineers announced it contributed $25,000 to fund the Hoffmann Diversity Advancement Scholarship, administered through the Connecticut Architecture Foundation (CAF). The fund provides scholarships for students from underrepresented racial or ethnic groups who are seeking degrees in architecture or engineering.

The scholarship is open to applicants who are students entering or enrolled fulltime in an NAAB- accredited architecture program or ABET-accredited civil or structural engineering program, and residents/full-time college or university students located in southern New England (Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island) or the eastern Mid-Atlantic (New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Washington D.C., Virginia, Maryland) regions that form the core of Hoffmann’s practice. Eligible applicants represent a minority racial or ethnic group, as defined by the State of New York.

Unique among CAF awards, the Hoffmann Diversity Advancement Scholarship offers recipients the opportunity for a paid internship in one of the firm’s offices. As a practice specializing in a niche

The fund provides scholarships for students from underrepresented racial or ethnic groups who are seeking degrees in architecture or engineering.

field of the architecture and engineering profession, the design and rehabilitation of the building enclosure, Hoffmann can provide students with practical experience in diagnosis and detailing of exterior envelope systems that they likely would not be exposed to in their architecture or engineering studies.

“I am excited about the opportunities this scholarship will offer, not only to promising students, but also to the design professions,” said Alison Hoffmann, communications manager at Hoffmann and chair of the firm’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee. “With architecture and engineering programs still enrolling a predominantly white student body, there is little room for the kind of innovations that come from bringing together diverse perspectives. This scholarship aims to take steps toward addressing that imbalance.”

The deadline to apply is April 28.

Maugel DeStefano Completes Base Building at Baker Hollow Logistics Center

Windsor, CT – Maugel DeStefano

Architects announced the firm has completed the base building at Condyne Capital Partners’ Baker Hollow Logistics Center in Windsor. Located on a 15+ acre site, 105 Baker Hollow Road is a 165,625sf Class A high-bay facility constructed using tilt-up concrete walls. The design provides flexibility in the interior to accommodate varying tenant demands such as column layout, office square footage, and sortation equipment. Maugel DeStefano began working on the overall design of the facility with longtime clients Condyne Capital and Polar Design Build in late 2021.

Maugel DeStefano is currently designing the tenant fit-out for the Safelite Group, the sole occupant of the building. Safelite will use the facility for the company’s windshield replacement operations and support office. The property features a 5,000sf office, fully racked warehouse space, 32 foot clear height, 38 dock doors, 4 EV charging stations, 100,000-gallon fire storage tank, and 25% of the roof reserved for solar. The Safelite fit-out is scheduled for

completion in April 2023.

The property is situated 12 miles from the Massachusetts border and 45 miles from Rhode Island. High-tech consumption mitigation strategies at

Baker Hollow include the lowering of greenhouse gases, free electric car charging stations, and reduced natural gas and electric energy consumption. Project team members include

Condyne Capital Partners, owner; Polar Design Build, construction; Maugel DeStefano Architects, design; Flood Consulting, structural; and Quieto Consulting Engineers, MEP/FP.

Baker Hollow Logistics Center

Marr Provides Access Equipment at Vineyard Wind Project

Boston – The Marr Companies announced that, in the fall of 2022, its Scaffold Division began work for various contractors on the Vineyard Wind project, an offshore wind farm under construction over 15 nautical miles off the coast of Massachusetts. This multi-year endeavor is the nation’s first utility-scale offshore wind energy project, which will consist of 62 wind turbines that will generate 800 megawatts of electricity annually and power over 400,000 homes. Vineyard Wind is expected to generate clean, renewable, affordable energy across the state and reduce carbon emissions by over 1.6 million tons per year, according to the project website.

Marr’s work started in the Port of Providence for Ocean State Technical Services, preparing mechanical equipment and making ship repairs for the cable pulling operation in Centerville, Mass. Marr built a temporary mobile containment structure comprised of Sectional scaffold and Monarflex tarping to provide weather protection for welding pieces of equipment for the cable pulling operation. Marr also installed three suspended System scaffold work

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platforms over the side of the Ulisse, the cable-laying ship, for maintenance on the cable winches prior to pulling the first of two submarine cables onto shore.

For contractor Prysmian Cable Group

(Milan, Italy), Marr installed Systems scaffolding support platforms and bracing inside a trench spanning approximately 185 ft., which had been dug to bring the cables onshore. The cables weigh 67 lbs./ ft. each and run 38 miles from the site of the offshore wind farm to the beachhead on Cape Cod. The operation required eight vessels in total, including the Ulisse and multiple tugboats. The first cable was pulled onshore in November and the second in January.

For contractor Riggs Distler (Rocky Hill, Conn.), who will assemble the onshore wind farm components, Marr is supplying multiple work platforms, temporary guardrail systems and stair access towers. In addition, Marr has supplied 16 weather-enclosed, cantilevered and counterweighted rolling towers for welding operations along with a large Systems scaffold work platform. The platform will give workers access to the interior components of the upper wind turbines; it will function as a mock-up for work that will need to be completed during the offshore installation of the wind turbines. Along with the staging, Marr is supplying a significant amount

of engineering for various phases of the project.

The onshore assembly of wind farm components is slated to take a minimum of one year to complete while the offshore work is slated to begin later this month. The following turbine installation will begin this summer and continue at least through the middle of 2024.

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Marr built a Systems scaffold work platform with containment for wind turbine assembly and component testing.

Marr installed weather-enclosed containment scaffolds over cast-in-place concrete trenches that house two submarine cables.

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Awards Announced to Support Deep Decarbonization in Affordable Housing

Boston – MassHousing and the Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP) announced the first two awards from the state’s Climate Ready Housing Program.

Treehouse at Easthampton Meadow and Hano Homes in Boston are the first to receive funding from the new $10 million pilot program created to show how owners can achieve deep reductions in energy use and carbon emissions in the refinancing, renovation, and preservation of their affordable housing properties.

The goal of the program is to make two to three awards per year to projects pursuing one of the following approaches:

• Deep Energy Retrofits (DER): Involves extensive building envelope improvements, electrification of building systems, maximization of on-site renewable energy production; and embodied carbon reduction resulting in significant energy savings by at least 50% and carbon emissions reductions.

• Zero Carbon Emissions Over Time (ZOT): This approach assumes a less significant intervention in the upcoming rehabilitation project than is represented in the DER approach but reflects thoughtful planning on the part of the project team to capture the pending rehabilitation as part of a long-term plan to achieve zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Treehouse in Easthampton is a 60-

unit intergenerational community that integrates affordable family housing for households who have adopted children out of the foster system with households ages 55 and older who have agreed to mentor these children. As part of an upcoming refinancing, property owner Beacon Communities plans to achieve significant energy savings through improvements to the building envelope and electrification of the heating and cooling systems, which will reduce energy use by 50%. An innovative reuse of the existing vinyl siding and other building materials will minimize the project’s carbon impact. Climate Ready will support this effort with $750,000 which will help fund the incremental costs of planning and moving forward with

Vicinity Energy Partners with IQHQ

Boston – Vicinity Energy recently announced a long-term partnership with IQHQ, Inc. Vicinity will provide eSteam, its new carbon-free, renewable thermal energy offering to IQHQ to rapidly decarbonize IQHQ’s developments in the Fenway neighborhood district.

Under the agreement, IQHQ’s development at 109 Brookline Avenue will use 100% eSteam for heating, making it one of Boston’s first entirely carbonneutral buildings. The 305,000sf office and laboratory space is part of IQHQ’s FWD district, a growing life science cluster connecting Kenmore Square with the Longwood Medical Academic Area.

IQHQ is also pursuing eSteam at its Fenway Center development, a mixed-use, transit-oriented life science campus located at the western gateway to Boston. Fenway Center will include nearly 1 million sq. ft. of commercial office and lab space built over the Mass Pike, and will become the anchor of IQHQ’s FWD district.

“At IQHQ, we have a commitment to developing class-A life science districts that provide our tenant, visitors, and communities at large with healthy, resilient, and responsible spaces,” said Jenny Whitson, director, sustainability & ESG for IQHQ. “We are excited to partner with Vicinity Energy to decarbonize the steam serving our projects.”

Vicinity’s expansion into Boston’s Fenway neighborhood marks a significant milestone in Vicinity’s Clean Energy Future plans, and paves the way for more building owners and property managers to leverage eSteam for rapid building decarbonization to combat climate change and meet sustainability goals. Vicinity is the first district energy company in the U.S. to commit to fully decarbonizing its operations, offering renewable thermal energy by installing electric boilers, industrial-scale heat pumps, and thermal storage at its central facilities starting in Boston and Cambridge, with its other districts to follow.

“We are proud to partner with IQHQ as our first carbon-free eSteam customer to reduce their buildings’ carbon emissions and enable IQHQ to achieve their ESG goals while complying with the city’s BERDO 2.0 regulations,” said Bill DiCroce, president and chief executive officer of Vicinity Energy. “This eSteam partnership not only signifies our commitment to a clean energy future, but it also demonstrates the commitment from progressive, innovative industry leaders, like IQHQ, who are committed to lower carbon emissions and to combat climate change.”

Vicinity will begin delivering carbonfree eSteam in 2024.

these energy-savings measures.

Hano Homes consists of 20 affordable apartments in 10 historic row houses in Boston’s Allston neighborhood. As part of its upcoming refinancing, property owner Allston Brighton Community

Development Corp. (ABCDC) is planning to pursue Passive House certification. ABCDC’s efforts will include an airtight upgrade of the building’s envelope, electrification of all heating and cooling systems, and installation of rooftop solar panels. These improvements are expected to reduce energy use by 70%. The Climate Ready program is supporting ABCDC with an $800,000 grant and hopes to use this project as a model to show how medium-sized affordable housing projects can achieve significant energy and emissions reductions. This is part of a larger effort by ABCDC to decarbonize its entire affordable housing portfolio by 2040, 10 years before the City of Boston’s goal of achieving net zero emissions in all its existing buildings.

Funding for this program comes from the state’s 2021 economic development bond bill through the state Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). MassHousing and MHP are administering the fund for DHCD, with additional application and programmatic support from Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC Boston).

MHP and MassHousing are launching this year’s funding round in March. For more information about the program, application materials and deadlines, go to www.lisc.org/climatereadyhousing.

Hano Homes

Treehouse at Easthampton Meadow

Training and Recruitment

AGC MA Expands Program for Students in Mattapan

Boston – The Associated General Contractors of Massachusetts (AGC MA) announces the expansion of a program it has developed to highlight work opportunities in the construction sector for traditionally underrepresented communities.

Last year, AGC MA “adopted” the fifth grade classes at Mattahunt Elementary School in Mattapan to increase awareness of professional STEM careers in the construction industry for students. Professionals from AGC MA member firms provided inspiration and information regarding careers in the industry, led engaging activities, and participated in the reading of Celeste Saves the City by Courtney Kelly who was a child in New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina hit the city. The book tells the story of a young African-American girl who, like Kelly, was horrified by the devastation that ensued, and became a civil engineer in

order to ensure that her city would be protected in the future. In a surprise for students, Kelly joined the group to lead a teamwork exercise.

Next, in April, AGC MA’s Committee for Diversity and Inclusion will return

AGC MA staff and AGC MA member firm volunteers celebrate with Mattahunt Elementary School educators, administrators, and students. to Mattahunt Elementary and “adopt” the school’s sixth graders as well. These students will participate in STEM-based commercial construction activities designed specifically for them.

In addition, an administrator at a second school has contacted AGC MA and requested that a similar partnership be established at their school. This new program is now in the works and is expected to begin in October, during Construction Inclusion Week.

“We are so pleased to expand our involvement with the students at Mattahunt Elementary and look forward to working with them for years to come,” said Marion Jones, director of workforce development and industry inclusion at AGC MA. “As we continue to introduce similar programming at other schools, the wide-ranging value of these partnerships – for schools, for individual students, and for our industry as a whole – becomes clearer. We’re grateful to all of the local construction firms that are working with us for their investment in this important initiative.”

Erik Gronneberg, Columbia, shows teachers and students at Mattahunt Elementary School in Mattapan how drones are used in the construction process.

Kacey-Ann Satchell, Consigli Construction, reads “Celeste Saves the City” to fifth graders at Mattahunt Elementary, Mattapan. / Photos courtesy of Focus Forward Media

Cynthia Rodriguez, Turner Construction, with fifth grade students at Mattahunt Elementary, Mattapan

“As we continue to introduce similar programming at other schools, the wide-ranging value of these partnerships – for schools, for individual students, and for our industry as a whole – becomes clearer. We’re grateful to all of the local construction firms that are working with us for their investment in this important initiative.”

–

Marion Jones, director of workforce development and industry inclusion at AGC MA

Griffin Electric Supports Local Communities

Holliston, MA – Employees throughout Wayne J. Griffin Electric, Inc. (Griffin Electric) recently donated hundreds of toys and other gifts on behalf of the Holliston Pantry Shelf and U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program during the holiday season. Griffin Electric also made donations to some of the many food pantries in each of the regions that it works and recently hosted a blood drive to benefit Boston Children’s Hospital.

Around Veterans Day, the New England region held a Personal Care Item Drive in support of veterans and Project New Hope. And as it has for many years, as the holidays approached Griffin team members in New England also purchased presents for some of the local families

that the Holliston Pantry Shelf serves as part of its annual Mitten Project. Each employee was paired with a mitten that corresponded with a child and a specific gift request, which included items such as clothing, footwear, toys, games, and gift cards.

Employees throughout each of the company’s southeast regions in Alabama, Georgia, and North Carolina once again supported Toys for Tots. This holiday season marked the 75th anniversary of the program, which has a mission to “collect new unwrapped toys and

distribute those toys to less fortunate children at Christmas.” The milestone is an important reminder of the significant impact that this cause has had for local families across the country, and Griffin Electric is proud to participate in a program that has supported more than 281 million children, according to representatives of the firm.

Shortly after the New Year, the company partnered with Boston Children’s Hospital and welcomed their new bloodmobile on-site at its Holliston headquarters. Many employees made donations and helped make it a successful blood drive for the hospital. Griffin employees are active participants in every community service project that the company gets involved with.

Operating Engineers Union Donates $100,000 to Fight Alzheimer’s

lions of people are facing Alzheimer’s disease, and this generous gift brings us one step closer to a cure. Thanks to the support from the members of Local 4, the Alzheimer’s Association will be able to provide much-needed care and support services for families, as well as fund critical research.”

Since its formation in 2018, Operating

Engineers Local 4 Charitable Foundation, Inc. has contributed to numerous causes throughout the region. This most recent contribution continues the union’s long history of supporting organizations across New England including decades of helping to advance the work of charitable causes where its membership lives and works.

TFMoran Donates to Scholarship Fund

Bedford, NH – TFMoran recently contributed $10,000 to the New Hampshire Children’s Scholarship Fund, an Education Tax Credit Scholarship.

Medway, MA – The International Union of Operating Engineers Local 4 made a $100,000 donation from its charitable foundation to the Alzheimer’s Association Massachusetts/ New Hampshire Chapter recently to support research, treatment, and advocacy for those affected by Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia. The funds were raised by union members and partners through the union’s annual golf outing.

“We’re immensely proud to help advance the fight against Alzheimer’s

disease,” said Local 4 Business Manager William McLaughlin. “Through life-changing research on treatments, prevention, and more, the Alzheimer’s Association is bringing us closer to winning the fight against a disease that has affected far too many families. This donation allows our members to support the organization’s incredible work.”

“This donation is going to make a real impact,” said Jim Wessler, CEO of the Alzheimer’s Association Massachusetts/New Hampshire Chapter. “Mil-

TFMoran COO Dylan Cruess, President Robert Duval, and Civil Engineering Department Manager Nick Golon presented the check to Kate Baker, executive director of Children’s Scholarship Fund New Hampshire, at the Bedford office on Feb. 7.

This financial assistance is available to New Hampshire children of low- and moderate-income families to attend K-12 schools that best fit their needs. These scholarships can apply to private schools, out-of-district schools, and homeschooling, which makes these

(l-r): Dylan Cruess, Robert Duval, Kate Baker, and Nick Golon

options more financially available. Since the 2016-2017 school year, The Children’s Scholarship Fund of New Hampshire has awarded over $9,117,931 in scholarships to students.

William McLaughlin and the leadership team of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 4 and the Alzheimer’s Association Massachusetts/New Hampshire Chapter celebrate the $100,000 donation.

Trends and Hot Topics

Construction Workforce Shortage Tops Half a Million in 2023, Says ABC

Washington – The construction industry will need to attract an estimated 546,000 additional workers on top of the normal pace of hiring in 2023 to meet the demand for labor, according to a proprietary model developed by Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC).

“The construction industry must recruit hundreds of thousands of qualified, skilled construction professionals each year to build the places where we live, work, play, worship, learn and heal,” said Michael Bellaman, ABC president and CEO. “As the demand for construction services remains high, filling these roles with skilled craft professionals is vital to America’s economy and infrastructure rebuilding initiatives.”

ABC’s proprietary model uses the historical relationship between inflationadjusted construction spending growth, sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Construction Put in Place survey, as well as payroll construction employment, sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, to convert anticipated increases in construction outlays into demand for construction labor at a rate of approximately 3,620 new jobs per

billion dollars of additional construction spending. This increased demand is added to the current level of aboveaverage job openings. Projected industry retirements, shifts to other industries and other forms of anticipated separation are also embodied within computations.

The construction industry averaged

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more than 390,000 job openings per month in 2022, the highest level on record, and the industry unemployment rate of 4.6% in 2022 was the second lowest on record, higher than only the 4.5% unemployment rate observed in 2019. National payroll construction employment was 231,000 higher in December 2022 than in December 2021.

“Despite sharp increases in interest rates over the past year, the shortage of

construction workers will not disappear in the near future. First, while single-family home building activity has moderated, many contractors continue to experience substantial demand from a growing number of mega-projects associated with chip manufacturing plants, clean energy facilities and infrastructure. Second, too few younger workers are entering the skilled trades, meaning this is not only a construction labor shortage but also a skills shortage,” said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu.

“To fill these important roles, ABC is working hard to recruit, educate and upskill the construction workforce through our national network of more than 800 apprenticeship, craft, safety and management education programs – including more than 300 government-registered apprenticeship programs across 20 different construction occupations – to build the people who build America,” said Bellaman. “ABC members invested $1.6 billion in 2021 to educate 1.3 million course attendees to build a construction workforce that is safe, skilled and productive.”

ABC predicts that in 2024, the industry will need to bring in more than 342,000 new workers on top of normal hiring to meet industry demand, and that’s presuming that construction spending growth slows significantly next year.

Cresa Releases Market Insight Reports

Boston – Cresa announced it released its annual Market Insight Reports, which present a perspective on the state of the market, notable trends, and considerations to inform real estate strategies for organizations in Massachusetts and beyond.

Cresa’s dedicated research team collaborates with advisors from each submarket to summarize market shifts in the last year and develop data-driven insights and predictions for the future of real estate and the workplace. Highlighted in the report:

• Downtown Boston: With sluggish demand and surging sublease availabilities, the downtown market is shifting. The good news for occupiers is that rents appear to be softening and high-quality space is on the way.

• Life Sciences: Though the funding environment has cooled since the 2020-2021 frenzy, Greater Boston’s life sciences ecosystem is still strong. Recent market shifts are giving tenants more options and more time during the real estate search.

• Cambridge Office: With life sciences market activity waning ever so slightly,

the Cambridge office market must fend for itself with organic office tenant demand. Low demand and widespread sublease availabilities are redefining this struggling market.

• Suburban Route 495: Flex and industrial spaces continue to dominate the 495 market. Although demand is slow, it still outpaces supply, allowing landlords to push rental appreciation.

• Suburban Route 128: 2023 brings opportunity for suburban space occupiers: The pendulum of leverage is swinging back to their favor and landlords are delivering quality assets.

Awards

CTA Construction Project Recognized

Waltham, MA – CTA Construction Managers announced that The Ben Franklin Classical Charter Public School (BFCCPS) was recently recognized by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Central Massachusetts at its AIA CM Awards Celebration.

The school was designed by Arrowstreet Inc. and built by CTA Construction Managers. Larry Spang, lead architect on the project, said, “We are delighted that AIA CM has recognized the school with this award. We appreciated the team at CTA Construction Managers working as partners with us and the rest of the design team to bring this design to life.”

The new 70,000sf school was a major facility upgrade for BFCCPS students and staff, who previously leased a former Catholic school building in Franklin. Just two miles away from its former site, BFCCPS is one of the oldest and bestperforming charter school systems in Massachusetts.

“We obviously take a lot of pride in what we build,” said Jeff Hazelwood, principal, CTA Construction Managers. “It is wonderfully gratifying when one of our completed projects is recognized

by experts in the field of design and architecture.”

Every year, the AIA celebrates the best in contemporary architecture with the Excellence in Design Award

Jewett Announces Year-end Award Winners

given to the team member who made the largest impact on the company for the award year given.

In 2019, the firm began a new tradition to highlight some of its outstanding team members for all the incredible accomplishments they achieved throughout the year. As a group, they determined that four awards would not only be handed out to the individuals but also memorialized on plaques in their office. These awards are a combination of all the things that

Winning projects highlight the range of outstanding ways well-designed buildings and spaces improve lives and communities.

Fremont, NH – Jewett Construction announced that five members of its team were recognized at the firm’s Shared Success Holiday Celebration, held on Dec. 12, 2022 at Cisco Brewers in Portsmouth. The 4EverSafe Award, which is given to the employee or employees who demonstrates an exemplary implementation of safety in every facet of work, was awarded to superintendent Wayne Hatch and superintendent Wayne Blais.

Assistant project manager Lukas

Pushor received The Lucky to Have You Award, given to the team member who has been on the team for less than one year and has far exceeded the expectations set for their role.

The Core Values Award, which goes to the team member that best embodies the core values of passion, ambition, respect, direct and honest, shared success, and family, was given to project manager Tom Marturano.

Human resources manager Lynn Palmer received the President’s Award,

every associate does well at Jewett Construction: They prioritize safety, embody the Jewett core values, welcome new members of their family, and always strive to be the best at what they do day in and day out.

Jewett Construction is seeking individuals at all skill levels to join its team. Currently, the firm has openings for superintendents, estimators, project managers, architectural job captains, and preconstruction design coordinators.

TFMoran Named ‘Best Engineering Firm’

Bedford, NH – TFMoran announced it has been voted as Best Engineering Firm in New Hampshire Business Review’s Best of Business (BOB) Awards. More than 3,000 NH Business Review readers cast their votes to select this year’s award recipients, including nearly 100 businesses across New Hampshire in a range of business-to-business categories. 2023 marks the 11th consecutive year TFMoran has received this award.

“We are pleased and honored that we have received this prestigious award 11 years in a row,” said Robert Duval, president of TFMoran. “The New Hampshire Business Review readership represents a broad cross-section of New Hampshire’s most influential people, and

this recognition is a testament to the skill, dedication, and can-do attitude of our remarkable staff.”

NH Business Review is scheduled to hold an awards celebration on March 9 at the Grappone Conference Center in Concord to honor the awardees.

Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School Program.

Jewett’s 2022 Shared Success Award Winners (l-r): Wayne Hatch, Lynn Palmer, Lukas Pushor, and Tom Marturano

Tecta America NE Promotes Turnan

Wise Announces New Project Executives

Winchester, MA – Wise Construction announced that it has promoted Alyson Winters Kavanagh and recently hired Neil Slyva to round out its project executive bench.

In the project executive role, Winters Kavanagh and Slyva will oversee multifaceted project teams ensuring operational success as well as develop strong relationships with clients, design partners, and trade partners.

Winters Kavanagh joined Wise Construction in October of 2021 as a senior project manager bringing with her over 20 years of construction management experience in interior build-outs and infrastructure upgrades. She will continue to focus on oversight of project implementation, scheduling, trade coordination, logistics and safety planning, requisition preparation, financial status and budget reports, change management, and quality control.

Winters Kavanagh is currently leading major design-assist, lab/office fit-out projects for Wise, equating to $150 million and 300,000sf. She is a LEED Accredited

Professional, has a Massachusetts Construction Supervisors License, and is OSHA-30 and CPR certified.

Slyva brings over 15 years of construction experience to his Wise projects and has already begun working with some of the firm’s key clients in its Science & Technology sector. He will lead project operations from planning and development through execution and project closeout while fostering a collaborative team approach. He is 30-Hour OSHA and 10-Hour OSHA certified.

North Billerica, MA – Paul Turnan has been promoted to risk & safety manager at Tecta America New England and WeatherGuard to better support the firm and strengthen the focus on safety.

Turnan has been with Tecta America since June of 2012. Some of his duties have included helping to prevent workplace injuries at all locations, advising leadership of safety requirements, submitting reports as required to Tecta Corporate/OSHA and conducting monthly

safety/incident reports.

Turnan will provide a broad range of hands-on support functions for safety and risk, including safety trainings, investigations, reporting, analysis and other tasks that align with the company’s goals and objectives. His primary focus will be proactive mitigation of risk by addressing safety concerns, and he will continue to implement methods that build upon the firm’s safety culture, positive morale and growth.

Metro Walls Welcomes Safety Director

Manchester, NH – Metro Walls recently announced that Ty Sullivan joined its team as safety director. Sullivan will be based out of the Manchester office.

In his role, Sullivan will be responsible for managing and maintaining the firm’s Health & Safety program across all four offices and service areas. In addition to overseeing and coordinating the company’s safety training programs, policies, and procedures, he will be responsible for risk analysis and management, safety reporting, and developing and expanding upon Metro Walls’ safety strategic plan to meet

Sullivan

Sullivan joins Metro Walls with over 10 years of construction safety experience and extensive industry knowledge. Previously, he worked for a large electrical contractor where he held the position of safety director. With this transition, Metro Walls safety director and general superintendent, Colin Lane, will shift into the role of general superintendent full-time where he will be able to provide direct support to the team on jobsites and serve as an additional resource to the safety team to promote safety initiatives and allow for continuous improvement of quality, customer satisfaction, and

Winters Kavanagh Slyva

Weston & Sampson Hires Roccaro

Rocky Hill, CT – Weston & Sampson recently announced that Joe Roccaro joined the firm as a senior project manager. He will be working with clients on water treatment projects, including the design and construction of new facilities and upgrades of existing processes.

Roccaro has over 30 years of public and private experience in the water

ASM Announces New CEO

industry, most recently serving as the water quality supervisor and engineer for a large county water authority on Long Island. He has performed pilot studies and overseen treatment plant construction; designed pump stations, system upgrades, and chemical feed and storage facilities; and performed distribution system and water quality studies.

Arcadis DPS Group Welcomes Oldham

Boston – Arcadis DPS Group announced it recently welcomed Chris Oldham as director of project management.

Reporting to Senior VP of Project Operations Paul DePriest, Oldham will be responsible for all operations and projects while managing the DPS Boston office’s expanding team of project management professionals.

He will ensure Arcadis DPS Group projects are executed according to industry best practices and in compliance with Arcadis DPS Group procedures and guidelines.

Prior to joining Arcadis DPS Group, Oldham spent 30 years with JM Coull where he served as COO and executive vice president. Oldham

Gilmore, Carlen Named Assoc. Principal

New Haven, CT – Newman Architects announced it has named two new associate principals: Laura Gilmore, AIA, LEED GA and Abigail M. Carlen, LEED AP BD+C.

Gilmore joined Newman in 2018, bringing a keen design sensibility, a deep commitment to the work, and demonstrated skill in balancing the aspirations of clients, teams, and communities. She has led the design of several major mixed-use developments in the region, as well as worked closely with consultants, contractors, and teams to execute intricate historic renovation projects. She has developed concepts across Newman’s market sectors that advance the firm’s collective thinking about design, sustainability, process, and technology, and is the leader of Newman’s Design Methods Knowledge Group.

Carlen joined Newman in 2021 as director of marketing and communication, bringing more than two decades of

experience marketing design-oriented architecture firms in New York and Portland, Ore. Since joining the firm, she has made significant improvements in the efficiency of Newman’s marketing processes. She co-leads the Office Culture Knowledge Group, working to bring events and opportunities that enrich staff experience and connect the firm to its larger community. She is a member of the Society for College and University Planning and the Society of Marketing Professional Services and is a LEED Accredited Professional.

Dietz & Company Welcomes Two

Springfield, MA – Dietz & Company Architects, Inc. announced it welcomed two new people to the firm.

James Montana has joined the company in the role of project manager. Prior to joining Dietz & Company, he worked for architectural firms in Massachusetts and Connecticut where he developed a specialization in design for mixed-used commercial and residential projects.

Sasha Moores has joined Dietz & Company in the role of architectural

associate. She comes to the firm having previously worked for another local architecture firm in Amherst. Her specialties lie in community design and cohousing.

Boston – Associated Subcontractors of Massachusetts (ASM) announced that former Massachusetts Senator James Welch has been selected to succeed Michael McDonagh as executive director/CEO. McDonagh spent four years at the helm of the organization. Welch assumed the role of CEO on Feb. 1.

“Jim was raised in a construction family business and looks forward to fully engaging with our industry and the issues that affect subcontractors and our businesses,” said Jeffrey Marr, Jr., president of the ASM board of directors and president of Marr Scaffolding Company. “We look forward to Jim’s friendship and leadership, as we begin this important next chapter at ASM with Jim at the helm.”

Welch spent 10 years as a Massachusetts state senator representing the Hampden District and was a Massachusetts state representative for six years before that. Most recently, Welch launched Welch Government and Public Relations, assisting his clients with government navigation and public relations strategy. He was also the part-time town administrator for the town of Peru, Mass.

“I’m excited to join the great team at the Associated Subcontractors of Massachusetts,” said Welch. “Working to protect and advance the issues that are important to the hardworking women and men who are on the front lines of the construction industry in Massachusetts is a tremendous privilege.”

Luken Joins Construction Firm as CFO

Scarborough, ME – Landry/French Construction recently announced the hiring of Steven Luken as chief financial officer.

Luken is a certified public accountant with 25 years of financial leadership experience. As CFO, he will lead the company’s overall financial operations, including accounting, treasury management, financial planning and analysis, and risk management.

“We’re excited to have someone of Steven’s caliber join the company,” said Kevin French, Landry/French chairman and CEO. “His broad knowledge and expertise will be instrumental as the company continues its growth.”

Carlen

Gilmore

Luken

Roccaro

James Montana and Sasha Moores

Calendar

NAWIC Boston

March 10 at 4:00 PM

WIC Week Empower Hour with CRP

NAWIC members and nonmembers are invited to gather for pizza and drinks at Lily’s Bar in Boston to celebrate the last event of WIC week.

ABC NH/VT

March 16 at 4:30 PM

YPG Irish Pub Party

Join other young professionals in this fun, laid back networking event. Celebrate St. Patrick’s a day early with colleagues and friends at Shaskeen Pub in Manchester, N.H.

ABC MA

March 16 at 5:30 PM

College and Career Fair

This event is open to businesses or organizations that can offer career opportunities for recent high school graduates that are looking for alternatives to college. The two hour career fair will be held at Reading Memorial High School in Reading, Mass.

ULI Boston/New England

March 16 at 12:00 PM

The Kenzi at Bartlett Station

Join this virtual event to hear a discussion on The Kenzi at Bartlett Station in Roxbury,

Mass. The building is a Passive House, 5-story, 50-unit affordable senior housing development, and the project is the next phase of a LEED ND master plan to transform a former MBTA bus yard into a thriving mixed-use, mixed-income community.

BOMA Boston

March 16 at 5:30 PM

BOMA Benefit: An Evening to Support Bridge Over Troubled Waters

Join BOMA Boston at the UMass Club in Boston for this annual benefit to support its charitable partner, Bridge Over Troubled Waters, an organization providing services for homeless, runaway, and at-risk youth. Enjoy a festive cocktail soiree with hors d’oeuvres, exclusive raffle prizes, and an exciting fundraiser.

ASLA Connecticut

March 16 at 8:00 AM

Sustainable Design & Construction: A Materials Showcase

Join ASLA Connecticut and O&G Earth Products Showcase for a fullday continuing education program for landscape architects and designers, architects, engineers, landscape contractors, and green industry peers. A continental breakfast and lunch will be provided.

Next Issue

In our next issue, we’ll be featuring the multi-residential and senior and assisted living sectors. Send us your press or industry insight for these sectors!

SCUP

March 22-24

North Atlantic 2023 Regional Conference

The SUNY System Administration and the State of New York Construction Fund are playing host to this year’s conference at one of SUNY’s premier institutions, the University at Albany. This event is an opportunity for AEC professionals and university planners to come together and explore how SUNY and other institutions across the region are grappling with critical questions around data and demographics.

NAIOP Massachusetts

March 23 at 12:30 PM

Day of Service: Cradles to Crayons

Join NAIOP and industry colleagues at the Cradles to Crayons Giving Factory. Volunteers will sort and inspect the donated items and package them for delivery to the children who need them. Cradles to Crayons currently serves more than 145,000 children per year in Massachusetts at risk of clothing insecurity.

AMFP Boston

March 23 at 5:30 PM

Chapter Launch + Networking Event

This is AMFP Boston’s first event since this young chapter became official. The Association of Medical Facilities Professionals is an inclusive group of AEC professionals and healthcare facilities created to connect and discuss the trends, challenges and solutions in the designing and building of healthcare facilities. Come meet the chapter, have a beer and talk all things medical-related.

NCIA

March 30 at 6:00 PM

Massachusetts Industry Social

Join this National Cannabis Industry Association social, which is about cultivating regional communities of industry professionals so that they can connect and learn from each other. Take advantage of this premier opportunity to harness NCIA’s extensive industry network in a fun, relaxed, cocktail-hour setting.

Send your events and calendar listings to to editor@high-profile.com

APRIL

Smart Building Technology

High-Profile is accepting content and ad reservation for our new Smart Building Technology section. Does your firm offer owners and developers technology that can help automate processes, integrate various building systems, or optimize space? If so, let us highlight your technology and how it’s shaping our industry.

Annual MEP & Building Energy Supplement

Participate in our annual supplement by submitting news of a current project or an article on your MEP expertise, or advertise your product(s) or services related to building energy and/or the mechanical, electrical and plumbing trades.

DEADLINE : March 24

editor@high-profile.com. For advertising queries, email ads@high-profile.com.

Bald Hill Builders is currently underway on a multi-family housing project located at 1599 Columbus Avenue in Boston. Read the full story in our April issue.

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࢚ Shorter transportation times from local shops

࢚ Pride in knowing that you are supporting local workers

IBEW Local 103 and NECA Greater Boston are proud to prioritize diversity and equity as a pillar of our mission. We guarantee workers at all our locations equal and fair wages and benefits and we work hard each day to create opportunity for all.

Contact us today to learn more about our prefabrication services:

ThePowerProfessionals.com

617-436-3710

For almost 100 years, the BTEA has made a positive impact on the construction industry, while maintaining healthy and prosperous relations between labor and management