Integrity
News publication of New England Construction
Features: Bayside YMCA | Balise Motor Sales | Weekapaug Inn | White City Shopping Center
Welcome to Integrity A news publication of New England Construction
FASTEST GROWING COMPANY New England Construction was awarded a First Place Award as a Fastest Growing Company by Providence Business News. The merit was based upon three year growth at more than 168% in the annual revenue category of $25 - $75 million. This was NEC’s second year being recognized as a “Fastest Growing Company”. Our growth is attributable to strong leadership, a laser focused growth strategy and most importantly a team who continues to perform at an exceptional level. Our mission is founded upon the values of supporting our clients and industry partners with integrity, commitment, excellence in all endeavors. Our team members are professional specialists in their respective disciplines and they ARE New England Construction. Without their talent, experience, commitment to quality, safety and professionalism, we would not have the collective expertise to serve our clients and add value to their construction programs.”
>> David A. Sluter, PE, Founder and CEO of New England Construction.
EXPANDING OUR PRESENCE
New England Construction continues to focus on enhancing the quality of services we offer our customers by improving our internal work processes and procedures and increasing the level of productivity of the entire organization. We continue to focus on every aspect of the business, addressing every area of friction with the goal of improving workflow, reporting and the quality of services we provide to each other and to our customers. Our objectives are defined with the overall purpose of building a platform for sustainable growth, providing opportunities to our employees and controlling the ever present risks in our business. Great companies use growth as the engine for their internal and external development.
New England Construction is pleased to announce the opening of a Regional Office located at Burlington Mall Road in Burlington, Massachusetts. Some of the clients we are serving in the Boston market include Flywheel Sports® at The Prudential in Boston; White City Shopping Center Shrewsbury, MA; Brooklyn Boulders Somerville, MA; IRA-Group One Toyota in Danvers, MA; as well as on-going projects at The Village at Colony Place Plymouth, MA; Bonnell Ford Winchester, MA; Norfolk Power Carver, MA; and Tower Plaza Melrose, MA, to name a few. “As we continue to expand our geographic presence in Greater Boston and Northern New England, we felt that it was vital to invest in a physical location to further solidify our existing relationships with key clients, as well as cultivate new relationships with a potential client base, architects, engineers and developers in the Massachusetts marketplace,”
>> John D. Pignataro, President & COO of England Construction.
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Renovation
Photography by Aaron Usher Photography
A New Home for the East Bay RI Community Bayside YMCA
After years of planning and fundraising, Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee dedicated the new Bayside YMCA Hall Family Center and Collis Aquatics Center – 50 years after his late father and former Governor John Chafee had dedicated the original facility. The dedication of the newly renovated facility was a culmination of events and fiscal challenges over the past three years that had stalled the construction project. Originally, the YMCA of Greater Providence and Bayside’s Capital Campaign Committee began a campaign to raise approximately $10 million. As the official fundraising began, the recession slowed their efforts. Not deterred by the sluggish fundraising, the Committee and members continued their efforts and despite the fiscal challenge, fund-raisers managed to meet their goal and construction commenced. The YMCA of Greater Providence officials recognized
the increasing need to expand the Barrington, Rhode Island facility. The existing building was congested by a growing membership, accessibility issues for members with disabilities was a significant issue and the facility was simply not adequate to meet the growing demand for programs and services. In June 2012, New England Construction was engaged as Construction Manager to facilitate the renovation and addition as designed by Vision 3 Architects of Providence, Rhode Island. The project encompassed the renovation of more than 35,980 sf of existing space and construction of the new 24,340 sf Hall Family Center & Collis Aquatics Center addition. The completion of the Hall Family Center & Collis Aquatics Center is part of a two-phase plan to upgrade and improve the Bayside Family YMCA; a facility that was orig-
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inally constructed more than 50 years ago. The new Collis Aquatics Center houses a six-lane in-ground lap pool, as well as a shallow two-lane family-friendly swimming pool. The family-friendly swimming pool offers a Family Splash Zone-- a fun space for children and adults to exercise and play. A specialized hydraulic chair offers those with physical challenges the ability to enter and exit the pool safely. The Aquatics Center features a bright and spacious new locker and shower area for men, women, families and those who require special assistance. The new lockers were manufactured from recycled materials and are rust-resistant. A new favorite for members in the locker room area are the swimsuit water extractors or “spinners” that help to dry wet swimming suits. Throughout construction, Bayside YMCA remained operational (with support services provided from other local YMCA locations) to continue to serve its membership. “Weekly look ahead planning meetings with Bayside’s staff were focused on avoiding potential impacts on the membership. Constant communication with members and a steadfast dedication to safety were critical as every area of the existing facility was affected,” notes Anthony D’Antuono, New England Construction’s Superintendent. “The growing membership and dedicated staff at Bayside were always positive and very supportive during every phase of this project.” The new Hall Family Center houses a children’s area and a babysitting room that is sectioned into four play areas for children ages six months to ten years old. A new lounge area overlooking the pool features desktop computers, Wi-Fi accessibility, vending machines and a microwave. Additionally,
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the gym, fitness and wellness center were upgraded with life safety improvements to comply with current building codes. A new member-friendly reception, lobby area and front desk have been expanded and renovated for better circulation and utilization. Several upgrades and enhancements to the existing facility to ensure adequate accessibility for members with disabilities were critical, including the addition of a new elevator. Additionally, major upgrades to the existing site design were executed to improve traffic flow and increase the allotment of spaces for parking.
Automotive
Driving the Success of Automotive Construction Programs Supporting Balise Motor Sales’ Campus Expansion and Renovation The Balise Motor Sales Group continues to work with New England Construction in support of their expansion and renovation program encompassing more than 87,000 sf at four dealerships located in Warwick and West Warwick, Rhode Island. New England Construction recently broke ground on the fourth project in the program--the new ground-up 25,669 sf state-of-the-art Balise Subaru dealership in West Warwick, RI. The NEC team provided extensive pre-construction services providing guidance and expertise with the design entitlement process, as well as manufacturer compliance protocols. The new facility, designed by Vision 3 Architects, will incorporate a spacious, user-friendly showroom and customer lounge area featuring a kids play area, Wi-Fi access and aquarium display. The new 11,500 sf indoor service drive will incorporate 16 service bays and 3 wash bays. As with all of their projects, Balise continues to be dedicated to incorporating sustainable elements into all of their new facilities, including environmentally friendly landscaping and storm water management system, as well as all new LED interior and exterior lighting. The new facility is scheduled to be opened in late Summer 2014. Photo by Brian Kershaw Photography
Photography by Brian Kershaw Photography
Photo by NE Construction
The new state-of-the-art Balise Chevrolet features more than 24,000 sf of space to support an expanded inventory and service program. The facility encompasses a spacious, customer-friendly showroom and reception area. The customer service area offers a comfortable lounge with flat screen televisions and free Wi-Fi access. The new indoor service drive and registration area features 15 service bays. The Balise Volkswagen renovation encompassed more than 16,000 sf at the existing West Warwick, RI facility. An addition to the service area and drive was completed to serve additional customers. The newly updated showroom features a bright décor and a comfortable new waiting area. The new 21,500 sf Balise Nissan opened to accolades from customers, employees and the community. The new facility, designed by Curtis Architectural Group, features a comfortable and spacious customer-friendly showroom and reception area. The new 7,200 sf indoor service drive incorporates 15 service bays and EV (Electric Vehicle) charging stations in support of some of the newest Nissan Electric Cars. The service registration area now features a comfortable lounge with flat screen televisions and free Wi-Fi access.
“Four new dealership projects in 24 months. NEC has assisted us throughout the decision making process with regard to master planning, design, equipment selection/layout, site logistics, budgeting and the construction process. Whether NEC was paired with our designer; as was the case for our Nissan and Chevrolet stores, or led the effort in a design build capacity; as was the case for our Volkswagen and Subaru stores, they understood our needs and desires, and have continued to deliver cost effective, high quality facilities. The expertise of their entire team coupled with their commitment to quality, safety and customer satisfaction is exactly the reason why we continue to choose New England Construction.”
>> James Balise, President | Balise Motor Sales
Rendering by Vision 3 Architects
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SHOPPING CENTER
REVITALIZATION White City Shopping Center
by Charter Realty & Development of Lexington, MA to provide construction management services for their revitalization of the 15-acre White City Retail Shopping Center located on Lake Quinsigamond in Shrewsbury, MA. This major revitalization and facade improvement program included a total infrastructure, landscaping, lighting and reconfiguration of traffic patterns, as well as modification of the drainage system and road repaving. “Our team had a clear understanding of the importance of Charter Realty and Development’s long-term commitment to make White City a center for commence and community and their belief that a shopping center is more than a collection of stores, but a center where people gather,” notes Matt Sluter, Vice President. “Charter’s commitment to promoting the natural resources surrounding the Shopping Center was
Photography by Frank Giuliani
New England Construction was engaged
Retail
further evident in the implementation of a SWPP (Storm Water Pollution Prevention) plan.” A new traffic light and islands have been added at the intersection between plazas to improve traffic flow. The team has worked closely with the Massachusetts DOT coordinating reconfiguration of traffic plans affecting the state highway. Careful planning, consistent communication with tenants,clear site signage for pedestrians/visitors, and a
commitment to safety were critical to this project as the Shopping Center remained opened to patrons throughout construction. The new exterior aesthetic features include clapboard facade, dimensional trim and arches, all new halo-lit business signage and columns with stone veneer. The new ADA compliant exposed aggregate concrete sidewalks are lit by new canopy lighting, enhanced by new sidewalk planters, and feature an out-
door Musak system incorporated within the canopy structure. New England Construction also completed the construction of the new core and shell, associated MEP preparation work and significant electrical services preparation for the new Planet Fitness and Party City. As part of the revitalization, tenant fit-out work was also executed for several retailers including, I-Party, Elements Spa, I-Craze and India Cafe.
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Historic Renovation
Weekapaug Inn Project Receives “Rhody Award“ for Historic Preservation
The Rhode Island Historical Preservation & Heritage Commission and Preserve Rhode Island has bestowed a 2013 Rhody Award to Lang Wheeler for the historic renovation of the Weekapaug Inn in Westerly, RI. The Rhody Awards are chosen from nominations by the public and honor individuals, organizations and projects for their contributions to the preservation of Rhode Island’s historic places. New England Construction served as Construction Manager, along with the team of designers including Arris Design Studio, Inc. of Baltimore, MD, Schmitt Walker of Charleston, SC and Taylor Interior Design of Providence, RI. The team worked diligently along with Lang Wheeler and Charles Royce restoring the Inn to incorporate many updated features, while preserving the character and historic charm of the original structure. After much of the original Inn (constructed in 1899) and coastline was decimated in the Hurricane of 1938, the Buffum family rebuilt the Inn in a new location, which opened in 1939. The Inn was open for 108 years until it closed in 2007 for renovations. In April 2010, Charles Royce and Langdon Wheeler, principals of Weekapaug Inn & Cottages LLC, purchased the Inn from James and Dee Dee Buffum, fourth-generation operators of the property. The Inn is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and adhered to many
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strict standards to maintain this prestigious classification. Inspectors from the RI Historic Preservation and Heritage Commission marked and recorded original construction and furnishings. The exact footprint of the original 1939 structure, as well as the entire exterior have been faithfully restored, as have many of the rooms and much of the original interior architecture. The exterior of the Inn still boasts a classic, shingle-style exterior coupled with red-cedar shingled walls with dark trim and wide porches. The Inn offers sweeping views of Block Island Sound, Quonochontaug Pond and lush gardens from its 27 guest rooms and four two-bedroom signature suites. Each of the impeccably appointed guest rooms features a unique color palette and a fresh use of existing Inn furnishings, while incorporating luxurious amenities including private bathrooms with radiant heated marble floors, heated towel racks and deep soaking tubs. The four signature suites include a spacious sitting area, full kitchen, dining room, two-bedrooms, a study with a fireplace, as well as a private elevator and entrance. The two main dining areas incorporate hardwood maple floors from the original Inn and the main reception area features hand-painted murals of the natural landscape of Quonochontaug Pond, wild life and the like. The Inn now has a private waste water treatment facility to properly
“New England Construction was chosen as Construction Manager for the historic restoration of the Weekapaug Inn because of their depth of experience, quality of work and commitment to their clients. It was the right choice.”
>> Edward B. Wetherill | Owner’s Representative
handle sanitary sewer requirements in this environmentally sensitive environment. The new three-lane, 25-yard lap pool is heated from the geothermal wells on site and is adjacent to the Fenway Cottage: which houses the fitness center, exercise room and three guest rooms on the second floor . While performing work on the foundation, several boulders were unearthed and were subsequently utilized to construct a new amphitheater adjacent to the outdoor fireplace. “When you have an opportunity to be a part of a project of this magnitude, there is a great sense of responsibility to protect and preserve the history of the building, while
taking every opportunity to incorporate modern systems and amenities expected in a high quality seaside resort,” notes John D. Pignataro, New England Construction’s President & COO. “Bringing this Inn back to life required a great vision, a creative design team and the best subcontractors, suppliers and vendors this region has to offer. It truly was a privilege and a pleasure to be part of a team who transformed this spectacular Inn; preserving and returning a century-old treasure and tradition to the village of Weekapaug and the Rhode Island shore.”
Photography by Chip Riegel Photography
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Recreation
MAKING INDOOR CYCLING EPIC Flywheel Sports® Boston
What started as Flywheel’s simple idea of “making indoor cycling epic” has culminated with the construction of a new Flywheel Sports® location in The Prudential Center in Boston, Massachusetts. The new location has been added to the list of 24 other studios located throughout the U.S. and Europe. New England Construction was engaged to provide construction services to fit-out the vacant space at The Prudential Center in Boston. The new space features a state-of-the-art sound system for the playlists created by the in-house DJ, personalized tablet based performance logs and stadium-style seating. The spin gym features Flywheel designed and custom-made bikes tailored to offer added comfort and encourage maximum performance. The large flat-screen monitors at the front of the studio display class leaders. Comprehensive performance data is stored and made available to riders on their “My Performance Page” via the Flywheel website, so they can set goals and track their progress. The New England Construction team worked closely with Boston Properties at The Prudential to ensure consistent communication regarding required shutdowns, delivery schedules and base building system integration. Proper care was taken to ensure the safety of patrons and to minimize noise disruption to the nearby tenants, including the ISIS child care facility who offer ‘Mommy and Me’ classes focusing on meditation and yoga. Quality construction within the confines of the 2,800 square foot space was a challenge given the extremely tight space constraints, logistics and aggressive schedule demands. Due to lack of “lay down” area for trades, material delivery and handling was vigilantly coordinated.
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Commercial Construction
Recreation
SOARING HIGH AT BROOKLYN BOULDERS A Unique Hybrid Rock Climbing & Innovation Facility Imagine climbing a 140-foot long, 22-foot tall bouldering wall... then scaling a 50-foot tall rock climbing wall that reaches the ceiling culminating in an amazing view of the Boston skyline. This is just a taste of what the new Brooklyn Boulders Somerville, Massachusetts brings to this once stagnant 38,000-plus square foot space near Union Square. In early 2013, New England Construction was engaged as Construction Manager to bring this project to fruition for Brooklyn Boulders’. The original Brooklyn Boulders, located in Brooklyn, New York, opened in 2009. This unique rock-climbing, bouldering and fitness facility was designed by the Brooklyn Boulders team in conjunction with Arrowstreet of Somerville, MA as Architect and Vertical Solutions wall design and builders of Salt Lake City, UT. The completed design culminated in a creation of an environment that boasts distinctive craftsmanship featuring the art and graffiti from the community including the Artisan’s Asylum, Inc. of Somerville, MA. According to John D. Pignataro, President & COO of New England Construction, “Our team has been inspired by the craftsman, the artists’ vision and the talent that resides within the local community. This was truly a collaborative effort that has culminated in an exceptional experience and a first-class construction project.” Additionally, some of the amenities of the new facility include meeting space atop the 22-foot tall bouldering wall, a glass enclosed lounge with fireplace, 40-indoor bike parking spaces, state-of the-art cardio and fitness areas and locker rooms. The modular spaces will feature “pop-up” shops for local artists, food vendors and the like.
“New England Construction has executed this project diligently and professionally. It has been a refreshing pleasure to have such a strong partner in this project.”
>> Chris Ryan, Chief Development Officer | Brooklyn Boulders
Photography by Ed Wonsek Photography
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Technology
Investing for our Clients, Industry Partners and Subcontractors: NEC Technology Plan 2014
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In keeping with our ongoing desire to improve the quality of the product and services we provide to our clients, we have long recognized the benefits of improved information flow between the corporate office, the field and our subcontractors. Can you imagine a day where all of our employees and all of our subcontractors have up-to-date accurate project documentation at their fingertips, on every jobsite? Can you imagine a day where we collaborate, in real time, with the entire project team including architects and owners? That day is fast approaching and we’re investing in the necessary hardware and software to make it happen. At the end of 2013, New England Construction implemented a pilot program which takes advantage of tablet (mobile) computing, as well as a software service called PlanGrid®. Although limited in its scale, the pilot program has proven to be extremely effective for our project managers, our project engineers and our superintendents. In the short time the program has been in place, the benefits realized to date have been tremendous. PlanGrid® is a “cloud based” software service that allows users to access up-to-date project documentation either at their desktop computer or via a mobile iOS device. Users benefit from:
Our pilot program has validated that the combination of mobile computing and industry specific software greatly improves information flow, document management and communication between the office and the field, leading to improved levels of quality and productivity. Over the course of the next several months, we will begin to roll out the program to additional staff members and projects. Employees participating in the roll-out include our project managers, superintendents and project engineers.
• Everyone working from the same set of plans. • When/if changes are made, drawings are automati cally updated • “Revision control” will allow you to see both the cur rent drawings, as well as superseded drawings. • Quick and convenient access to all plans, sketches, and remarks. • Notification tools alerting team members of issues needing their attention. • Rolling/final punch list feature allows the user to produce and assign punch items, tag specific locations, add thorough descriptions and photos aiding in the proper identification and correction of punch list items.
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Multi-Unit Residential
Renderings courtesy of Barton Partners
Close to Work. A World Away. Mallory Ridge Luxury Multi-Unit Development
NEW ENGLAND CONSTRUCTION is serving as Construction Manager for this 110,000 sf, 78-unit Class-A garden style housing community located in Bloomfield, CT. These new luxury apartments will offer unique floor plan options and will feature the newest and best in high-quality finishes and amenities. Future tenants will also enjoy optional garages and in-unit laundry facilities. The development features four separate buildings with a club house, fitness center with in-ground pool, community picnic and sundeck areas with wooded views of the beautiful landscape. Mallory Ridge is scheduled to open in the summer of 2014. Check out the Mallory Ridge website at www.ApartmentsInBloomfieldCT.com
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SAFETY MILESTONE REACHED 65,000 accident free man hours.
“I have had the opportunity to join forces with New England Construction on several construction and real estate development programs involving multi-unit housing developments. The depth and strength of New England Construction’s expertise and resources offered a level of comfort that allowed us to focus on other development opportunities. Their experience working with State and Federal agencies on both public and private developments has been critical to supporting program requirements throughout development, pre-construction and execution of construction services.
>> Martin J. Kenny, Principal at Lexington Partners, LLC
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Commercial/Industrial
putnam plastics
Offering Comprehensive Extrusion Technologies for the Medical Industry
Putnam Plastics Corporation, a leader in advanced extrusion for minimally invasive medical devices, engaged New England Construction to serve as Construction Manager for their new state-of-the-art manufacturing and office space in Dayville, CT. This project, designed by Thomas Hill & Associates and Vision 3 Architects, encompassed more than 92,000 sf of space. The new 62,400 sf addition features two levels of open office space, executive offices, conference rooms, and
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a new hydraulic elevator. Renovations within the existing building include a fitness center with locker rooms and a new employee cafeteria. A major solar panel installation, as well as heat recovery of thermal energy was integrated into the new facility. Various site improvements included surface parking for 200 cars, a new storm water management system, landscaped planting, beds and lawn area. The 30,000 sf of manufacturing space incorporates high-reflective concrete flooring in the production, quality
Integrity | Commitment | Excellence
control and shipping/receiving areas. The new state-of-the-art 6,000 sf ISO class 8 clean room now supports the increasing demand for extrusion and finishing of components that require greater regulatory controls. Putnam Plastics expanded operations now include a dedicated space for the company’s three key growth initiatives: clean manufacturing, product finishing and technology development.
Photography by Gregg Shuppe
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293 Bourne Avenue Rumford, RI 02916 401-434-0112 20 Burlington Mall Road Suite 105 Burlington, MA 01803 781-229-2800 www.neconstruction.com