High-Profile Blog Articles and commentary from high-profile.com

Boston, Ma – Abbot Building Restoration recently completed a comprehensive masonry restoration project at 266 and 274 Summer Street in the heart of Boston’s historic Fort Point Channel waterfront neighborhood. These landmark multi-story brick masonry buildings served as warehouses at the turn of the 20th century.

Now converted to office buildings, they are currently primarily occupied by Vanderweil Engineers, a prominent national engineering consulting firm headquartered in Boston, MA.

The rear walls of both buildings were experiencing significant leakage caused by erosion of the brick joints over the years. In addition, the building was originally constructed with steel shutters over the windows hung on cast iron supporting pins that were anchored at all four corners of every window. These anchors were deteriorating and dislodging from the surface causing safety concerns.

The building owner contracted with an architectural consulting firm (HardawayAssociates, Wellesley, MA) to evaluate the situation and recommend remedial action. To resolve the problems, Abbot was contracted to completely repoint the brick masonry walls, and to remove all of the cast iron pins and replace them with brick.

To comply with the regulations of the Fort Point Channel Landmark Commission, the construction and architectural team provided brick and mortar color samples to replicate the original appearance of the building. The samples were approved by the team and periodically reviewed during construction to maintain standards.

Charlestown, Ma – Construction manager Wise Corporation, of Winchester, joined officials of the MGH Institute of Health Professions (IHP) recently to celebrate the opening of a new 20,000 square foot-addition at the Institute’s facility in Charlestown’s historic Navy Yard.

The addition houses new and expanded physical therapy laboratories, a 104- seat active learning classroom with advanced technology, an open design cafeteria with floor to ceiling glass windows overlooking Boston Harbor and the U.S.S. Constitution, and a collaborative learning classroom that enables students to work together on real or simulated case studies.

A few specifics on the new facility:

• Interactive classrooms with state-of-the-art technology are designed to provide a small group experience where students in nursing, physical therapy and speech language pathology can easily share information. Each station is equipped with a 42-inch video monitor that facilitates information sharing with the group or entire
class.

• Physical therapy labs are equipped with six digital cameras that simultaneously broadcast on several large display screens so students can review their work. This interactive approach helps prepare students to function as members of
interprofessional teams in the clinical setting. Two new physical therapy labs include wireless microphone systems for improved faculty instruction.

Proximity to a fully occupied office space and its location across from the 200-year-old U.S.S. Constitution added challenges for the Wise project team. “We had to integrate this new building into the campus environment by creating walkways, installing underground infrastructure for IT connectivity and construct architectural elements like the wood ceilings, to evoke a consistency with the Institute’s existing naval yard building, architecture, and historic setting,” said Bill Olson, Wise project manager. “Because it was a fast track project, giving us only 16 weeks from start of demolition to the first day of class, we spent a lot of time up front during preconstruction working on constructability issues, logistics and procurement of long lead-time items.”

Wise Construction’s project team completed a number of renovations at the Institute the previous year to assure interactive learning environments throughout the entire facility. These included:

• Speech Language Pathology classrooms were outfitted with video and audi equipment in every treatment room. Faculty can watch students work with actual clients in real time. Sessions are automatically burned onto a DVD, allowing
students immediate access to review and critique their interactions with clients.

• Classrooms and instructional labs were equipped with multimedia presentation resources. Three of the nine classrooms are “smart rooms” with these resources. All remaining classrooms and labs are equipped with mobile multimedia presentation carts to provide flexible learning spaces.

The new educational facility is part of the Institute’s strategic plan for creating an innovative and inviting learning environment. “This new space is unlike any educational space that preceded it at the Institute,” said Institute President Janis P. Bellack, Ph.D. “Not only does it offer the most advanced educational technology to support teaching and learning, it has created aesthetically pleasing surroundings in which to teach.

The MGH IHP is an innovative interprofessional graduate school that prepares skilled healthcare specialists in communication sciences and disorders, medical imaging, physical therapy, and nursing. “We are pleased to be the construction manager for such a pivotal project for the Institute,” said John Wise, president of Wise Construction.

Wise Construction is a highly regarded construction management company specializing in restoration and renovation projects for clients in the healthcare, education, biotechnology and corporate sectors throughout the Greater Boston area. More than 90 percent of the company’s projects are completed in highly sensitive, occupied spaces. Known for its exceptionally high level of client service, Wise excels in complex renovation projects, including challenging laboratory and research areas.

Boston, Ma – Code Consulting services are now being offered by AKF Group! This new specialty group will provide building, fire, life safety, and accessibility code consulting for new construction and existing building projects as well as expert witness services/litigation support.

“Today’s building and construction codes are evolving rapidly and adding significant complexity to the design and construction process”, explained Managing Partner Paul Bello. “We decided this was the perfect opportunity to add code consulting services in recognition of the growing importance of this field, and the added value AKF can provide to our clients. We are especially proud to introduce James Ierardi and Vernon Woodworth, two highly respected professionals who have joined our firm to lead the Code Consulting Group.”

Dr. James A. Ierardi, PhD, PE, has over 14 years of experience in providing fire safety and code consulting services. He is a licensed professional engineer in the State of Massachusetts and holds a Doctor of Philosophy and Masters of Science in Fire Protection Engineering as well as a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. He is certified as a Building Plans Examiner, Fire Plans Examiner, and Accessibility Plans Examiner by the International Code Council and isccertified by the National Fire Protection Association as a Fire Protection Specialist. He is a professional member of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE) and was a contributing author of the SFPE
Engineering Standard for Calculating Fire Exposure to Structures.

Mr. A. Vernon Woodworth, AIA, LEED AP, has over 30 years of experience in architecture, code enforcement, and code consulting in numerous project sectors. He is a licensed architect in the State of Massachusetts and a member of the faculty at the Boston Architectural College. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from New College in Urban Design and a Masters degree from the Harvard Divinity School.

He is a Certified Building Official by the International Code Council, a LEED Accredited Professional by the U.S. Green Building Council, and has served as a member of the drafting committee of the International green Construction Code (IgCC), as well as on two subsequent code amendment hearing panels. Mr. Woodworth is the 2012 President of the Massachusetts Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (MA AIA) and currently serves as Public Policy Commissioner for the Boston Society of Architects (BSA).

Both Ierardi and Woodworth have been extensively published and are Internationally recognized speakers and lecturers at professional symposiums and leading universities.  “Vernon and I have long admired AKF Group’s prestigious reputation and the innovative approach they bring to every assignment”, says Ierardi. “We are delighted to join the firm and to bring our expertise to AKF’s diverse client base. Code issues are central to project delivery at all phases, and AKF code consulting will provide the expertise to successfully negotiate the key approval and permitting processes, serving clients directly or in combination with AKF Group’s specialized engineering disciplines.”

Farmington, Ct – HRP Associates, Inc., a prominent environmental and engineering consulting firm headquartered in Farmington, Ct, has launched a new website. The dynamic new site provides a reliable source of industry and business information for those concerned with environmental health and safety issues. It features an extensive News section, access to in-depth white papers, the ability to register for HRP’s environmental health & safety training courses, and comprehensive information on HRP’s service offerings.

The News section includes notifications of government regulatory changes, industry events, and industry insights. White papers provide comprehensive explanations of regulatory issues and advise readers on compliance methods.

HRP offers a broad selection of EH&S training courses, from OSHA, RCRA, and DOT to air quality and energy management, along with timely webinars on a variety of topics. Visitors can sign up for training on the website. HRP’s training courses are recognized as being among the best in the industry and consistently receive A+ ratings from students.

HRP is a multidiscipline environmental and engineering consulting firm with nearly three decades of experience providing responsive solutions to private and public sector clients. Our services span the globe, as well as the full spectrum of environmental and civil engineering disciplines. Since 1982, HRP has provided flexible and customized service to over 6,000 industrial, government, and private sector clients in nearly every state and twenty
countries.

North Kingstown, RI – Dimeo Construction Company recently completed the construction of a heavy industrial building, known as Bay 4, at the General Dynamics Electric Boat Quonset Point, Rhode Island facility. The building, designed by Ware Malcomb, is approximately 150,000 sf with two freight elevators, four overhead cranes (two with a combined lift capability of 120 tons & two with a combined lift capability of 30 tons), as well as other manufacturing equipment. The building will be used to construct submarine deck modules for the Navy’s Virginia Class Nuclear submarines.

This project included the largest, single crane structural steel pick, in Rhode Island history – weighing 268 tons. A great deal of coordination was required between Dimeo, Electric Boat and the structural steel contractor to successfully achieve this major milestone. “With the aggressive schedule requirements, relocation and removal of existing underground utilities while maintaining service to other buildings, and the constrained site challenges of erecting a large building between two existing buildings with less than one foot clearance, it is a testament to the team effort that this project was such a success.” says Sr. Project Manager, John LaRose, PE, LEED AP. This challenging project was completed on time and under budget.

Boston, MA – Integrated Environmental Solutions (IES), a provider of integrated performance analysis software and consulting services for sustainable building design, today announced that the use of its performance analysis software in a collaborative integrated design approach has helped save Fitchburg State University $1.5 million in construction costs and more than $34,000 in annual operating costs. The design is for the renovation and addition to the University’s science building, which is due to be complete by Spring 2014. University officials were faced with meeting the state’s Silver LEED certification mandate and improving energy efficiency of the Science Building. It required high-performance heating, insulation and windows in order to keep occupants comfortable the primarily cool climate in the region. Other challenges involved determining how to cost-efficiently decrease cooling loads during warmer months, as well as improve ventilation and use daylighting to decrease reliance on artificial light. Boston-based CBT Architects used a selection of IES’ VE-Pro performance analysis software modules to run daylighting, solar, thermal, ventilation and energy simulations throughout the schematic design process. “If we had been doing this project five years ago, without tools like IES, we would have gone in willingly trying to spend money to save energy, and could well have been putting money in that had no payback,” said Alfred Wojciechowski, Principle Architect at CBT Architects. Using IES’ software tools, CBT was able to drive sustainability through performance analysis by acting as a central hub to the engineers, energy consultants and commissioning agents. This integrated workflow resulted in the successful completion of an energy-efficient yet extremely cost-effective structure. “Throughout the renovation and addition to the University’s Science Building, IES guided us and was the ‘primary tool for our simulations,’” Wojciechowski said. “The Fitchburg State University project is groundbreaking. This is the first time we’ve seen an architecture firm lead performance analysis across all phases of the design process, from the initial architectural mock-ups to implementing construction recommendations,” said Liam Buckley, Project Consultant for IES. “Using our energy modelling software, CBT streamlined the workflow, working in unison with the engineers, energy modeller and commissioning agent to set performance targets and drive sustainability in the most integrated and cost-effective way possible. This is a truly unique collaboration and we hope that it encourages others to move forward in the same way.”

Claremont, NH – North Branch Construction of Concord has begun the interior fit-up of the Fresenius Medical Care Center in Conway, NH. Fresenius Medical Care is a renal therapy provider with kidney dialysis treatment clinics world-wide. They are also the largest provider of dialysis products and services in the United States.

The finished clinic will feature state of the art dialysis equipment and comfortable and modern accommodations for twelve patients who have had to travel to Rochester or Portsmouth prior to the clinic’s opening.

CWS Architects of Portland, ME will provide architectural services for the project.

When planning new performing arts facilities, it is important to understand the goals of the arts curricula and how the facilities relate to the overall school design. At Newton North High School, a new award-winning 413,000 square foot public high school in Newton, Massachusetts, performing arts is a vibrant student-centered community that produces nearly a dozen shows annually. When tasked with the design of a new school that would serve more than 1,850 students, school administration and arts leaders sought to create a professional environment where students can engage in artistic collaboration and a disciplined work ethic while exploring a range of roles both on and off stage. The resulting design anchors performing arts on one end of the school’s serpentine-like plan. A separate school entrance and generous
theatre lobby provides community access after regular school hours and a dedicated arrival sequence for performances.

The performing arts facilities consist of a 600-seat multi-purpose theatre with a fly system and orchestra pit, black box theatre, choral and music rooms, and associated support spaces. Adjacencies were developed to allow for optimal circulation, service access and sound isolation. Vestibules, dressing rooms and other support spaces help buffer the theatres; however the band and choral rooms have direct program adjacencies, which presented unusual sound isolation challenges. Next door is a noisy carpentry shop, and directly above are classrooms. At the carpentry shop, the solution was double wall construction, comprising a solid masonry wall, coupled with a separate stud and drywall partition. To protect the classrooms above, the band and chorus rooms were outfitted with resiliently suspended
double drywall ceilings.

Creating an intimate performance environment where students can project and feel a strong connection with their audiences is among the most important design goals. Optimal sightlines and acoustics are provided by the seating design, ceiling clouds and sound diffusing and absorbing finishes at the rear of the auditorium. Like many schools, the main theatre at Newton North was designed to support both theatrical and musical performances, which have different acoustical design requirements. The solution was to create a large interior volume that would enhance music, but with sufficient fixed sound diffusing and absorbing finishes (mostly at the rear of the auditorium) to assure good speech intelligibility.

Theatre equipment, lighting and special HVAC requirements are frequently big budget items that are met with scrutiny in today’s cost conscious environment. What items are necessary to create a successful theatre?

School and community leadership remained committed to creating an acoustically optimal environment. Great care was taken in both the auditorium and the black box theater to achieve very quiet background conditions. The HVAC design required very slow airflow velocities (i.e., large ducts) and the use of internal duct lining, silencers, and appropriate diffusers.

High school orchestra pits are often eliminated due to their expense, and in some instances, safety concerns. The result at most high schools is a so-called “moat” between the front row of audience seats and the stage: a wide, flat-floored expanse intended to accommodate the pit band for musicals. In addition to degrading any sense of intimacy between the audience and the stage, these “moats” prevent an acoustical balance between the pit band and the singers on stage. Fortunately for Newton North, a properly depressed orchestra pit survived the design and budget process, and the results have been outstanding both acoustically and visually.

Even in a project as well designed, outfitted, and funded as Newton North, there are usually acoustical items that one hopes to add in the future. For Newton North, the list includes a properly sized orchestra shell, a permanent entrance vestibule at the black box theater, and increased lighting dimmer capacity in the auditorium, to avoid the need for noisy portable dimmers.

Acoustical Challenges and Solutions

Here’s a sampling of acoustical issues at NNHS that may apply to your auditorium project:

Finding a suitable acoustical “balance” for a multi-use auditorium – Few high schools can afford the luxury of separate theater and music performing spaces. The challenge is to strike an appropriate acoustical balance that supports both types of performances. Sound diffusing and absorbing finishes can help achieve this. If the budget allows, making the majority of sound absorbing finishes retractable (such as velour curtains or reversible panels) will allow the space to be made acoustically “brighter” for music performances.

Keeping HVAC noise quiet – Whether audience members realize it or not, their perception of the acoustical quality of a typical high school auditorium usually depends on how quietly the HVAC system operates. These noise control measures never come cheap, but failure to deliver quiet ambient conditions can acoustically cripple any facility for generations to come.

Sound isolation – Good listening and teaching conditions in both the performing arts facilities and surrounding classrooms depend on keeping out unwanted and distracting sounds. Vestibules and support spaces can provide sound isolation; however sometimes direct program adjacencies cannot be avoided. Double wall construction and resiliently suspended drywall ceilings are solutions that worked at Newton North.

Orchestra pit – Although orchestra pits come with a high price tag, they are often worth the investment for the flexibility they provide in accommodating various types of performances.

The architect of record for Newton North High School was Dore & Whittier Architects, Inc., a New England
based architecture and project management firm.

Brookline, MA -  Students at the Heath School were treated to a memorable interactive experience recently as Nauset Construction conducted a Topping Off ceremony at the school to mark the completion of the steel erection for a new classroom addition. Students signed the steel beam at the start of the operation, and a roar went up from the crowd when Raymond Masak, Owner’s Project Manager for the Town of Brookline, gave the thumbs up signal to the crane operator, who then hoisted the cross beam into place. “The kids just went crazy. It was a huge hit” said Nauset Project Executive Rob Nunez, who is overseeing the construction efforts at the school. “Now they all want to be steel erectors.”

The new addition will be a combination one and-two story wings and will house five new classrooms, a science lab, and a multi-purpose room which will be outfitted with athletic flooring. The renovation will include the replacement and expansion of the existing kitchen and cafeteria dining space. Additionally, the library will be expanded to facilitate the growing student population and added services, while the auditorium will see accessibility upgrades including a new lift to the stage. The building will be comprised of conventional concrete footings and walls with steel-framed construction. The building’s exterior facade will feature an aluminum storefront and brick-and-mortar masonry walls. Interior finishes include vinyl composite tile, stone tile, resinous flooring and carpeting.

The project is being built in phases in order to meet the challenges of working on school grounds while classes are in session. “Working in a highly sensitive area like an open and fully functioning school environment requires strict adherence to the safety procedures that we have developed and honed through our extensive work with both occupied school and medical facilities,” said Nunez. “Maintaining a safe environment for both clients and employees while performing high quality construction are joint priorities.” Progress on the new construction of a 14,000 square foot addition and the renovation within the current facility is progressing well, according to Nunez, and is both on time and within budget.

Maynard, Ma – CTA Construction Co. Inc. has started constructing the steel frame of the new $36.7 million Maynard High School after breaking ground on the project last fall.  The approximately 122,000-square-foot school will serve 410 students in grades 8 to 10.

“With the project on schedule, the faculty and students in Maynard are a major step closer to enjoying a modern facility that will help to facilitate a 21^st century education,” said Jeff Hazelwood Jr., Project Executive for CTA Construction Co. Inc., based in Waltham, MA (www.ctaconstruction.com).

The two-story building with a glass wall entrance and brick-and-slate cladding features a 350-seat performing arts auditorium, a gymnasium with 600 seats on electric telescoping bleachers, a media center, art and music classrooms, and vocational technology classrooms.  The new school will also include a radio and TV station that will be integral to the school program.

The skeleton of the new school will consist of 2,200 pieces of steel weighing 770 tons.  It is being built adjacent to the existing Maynard High School, which is just 60 feet from the new building at its closest point.  Following completion of the new facility, the former high school will be demolished and the site used as playing fields.

The close proximity to the occupied school involves intricate coordination of construction activities in order to minimize disruption to ongoing classes.  CTA is experienced in successfully managing these conditions on numerous school projects.

Construction of the facility is scheduled for completion in fall 2013.  The building was designed by Tappe Associate, Inc., a Boston-based architecture and planning firm.  The project is participating in the Massachusetts Collaborative for High Performance Schools, a program that improves the quality of education by setting standards for the design, construction and operation of new, high-performance schools that are environmentally sustainable, healthy and comfortable.  MA-CHPS is part of a nationwide program, the Collaborative for High Performance Schools, the nation’s first green building rating program developed especially for school learning environments.

CTA Construction Co. Inc. is an award-winning general contractor with a reputation for quality and professionalism built on a portfolio of more than 45 projects valued at $650 million.  CTA Construction is currently the general contractor for several ongoing school projects including Tahanto Regional High School in Boylston, Weston High School’s science wing, the Marshall Simonds Middle School in Burlington, and Tewksbury Memorial High School.

In 2011, CTA won a Green Building Award from the Associated Builders and Contractors Massachusetts Chapter for its work on the East Elementary School in Hingham, which featured many environmentally friendly features including  solar wall heating and recycled rainwater utilization.  In addition, CTA last year won the Public Works Project of the Year from the American Public Works Association and the Eagle Award from the Associated Builders and Contractors Massachusetts Chapter.