Q/A with Joe Levandoski, Project Engineer Employee of the Month: November 2017 If you could vacation anywhere on the planet, where would you go? For me a perfect vacation would be a hunting trip in the Rocky Mountains. What is something... Read More

Q/A with Frank Laino, Project Engineer Employee of the Month: October 2017 If you could vacation anywhere on the planet, where would you go? Australia. What is something about you that would surprise people? I like to cook. I am cooking ... Read More

Q/A with Melissa Hale, Assistant Proposal Coordinator Employee of the Month: September 2017 If you could vacation anywhere on the planet, where would you go? I would go to Maldives! The place looks so amazing. It’s actually sinking so I... Read More

­­­The Value of the BECx Design Review Process.

As with most things in the construction industry, it is always easier (and less expensive) to fix something on paper than to wait and have to remediate issues in the field. This is even more evident when dealing with Building Envelope systems, due to the nature of how the systems are untimely procured, developed and installed by the contractors involved. 

The name of the game when it comes to the development and realization of envelope components from the designer’s perspective is “defensible design”.  This is defined as - all details shown on the Contract Documents can be built to meet the design aesthetic set forth, but may be resolved in a variety of ways by the subcontractor performing the work. Given that the majority of systems being designed in an envelope are based on a performance specification, the ultimate final responsibility of the work is on the contractor performing the work.

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Q/A with Sofia Mendes, Jr. HR Generalist Employee of the Month: August 2017 If you could vacation anywhere on the planet, where would you go? I would love to visit Norway, I’m a sucker for scenery. What is something about you that would... Read More

Q/A with Joseph Kennedy, Field Engineer II Employee of the Month: August 2017 If you could vacation anywhere on the planet, where would you go? Scotland/Ireland. My wife would love to go there. I’ve been to northern Scotland (Aberdeen) for... Read More

Q/A with Tucker Hubbell, Field Engineer II Employee of the Month: July 2017 If you could vacation anywhere on the planet, where would you go? I would vacation in New Zealand. It is so far away from everything else geographically, I want ... Read More

One of the tasks of retro-commissioning involves the process of restoring a building’s original design performance.Retro-commissioning is also finding ways to save energy which equals saving dollars. Many buildings I have encountered on university campuses and hospitals can be 100 years old. Over the life of a building, the process and use of the building has changed, and additions and modifications have been made to existing systems. What was once important to a building years ago may not be relevant today.

A project I encountered was a three-story University building, built in 1915, with classrooms, offices, and a Lecture Hall. During my initial walk through of the facility it was observed that the HVAC system for the Lecture Hall was operating seven days a week.

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Written By: Dan Forino, PE, CCP, LEED AP BD+C, WELL AP, Regional Director

On August 21^st, 2017 areas across the United States will experience varying degrees of a total solar eclipse with a path that will both completely and partially cover the sun. With a path of totality ranging from Lincoln City, Oregon and arcing over the United States ending in Charleston, SC. Most of the United States will experience at least a 60% coverage, with close to 2.5 hours of partial coverage depending on location.

With the increased frequency of renewable power photovoltaic arrays across the country, what can we expect? Do we all need to run out for bread and milk in preparation, as is tradition during any Northeast snow fall?

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Q/A with Frank DiSalvo, Senior Project Engineer Employee of the Month: May 2017 If you could vacation anywhere on the planet, where would you go? Anywhere??? Well that depends on what “space” I’m in… adventure & spirit travels... Read More