contributor
Finding your Heart: the Conversation of Architecture
submitted by Svigals+Partners In June 2016, Barry Svigals retired from the Connecticut-based architecture firm he had founded 33 years earlier, leaving a distinct legacy of expressive sculptural artwork uniquely created for each commission. The question for Svigals + Partners, like many firms facing the departure of a visionary leader, was how to carry on a […]
University of Connecticut Gets More-Efficient, Flexible Chiller Plant
by Jerry Alverson The University of Connecticut’s main campus in Storrs includes some 400 buildings on 450 acres. Chilled water generated at the central utility plant (CUP) is distributed to about 30% of the campus. However, the 1997 chillers were underperforming, even as demand grew. Working closely with UConn’s plant operations staff, BVH designed a […]
Tried and True: Why the Press Release is Not Dead
Reposted from SMPS Boston’s website. by Susan Shelby Depending on whom you ask, some say that the press release is dead. The rise of social media has encouraged some news outlets to ignore traditional press releases in favor of sourcing news, in real time, through various social media platforms. Yet, studies indicate that the majority […]
Making Bold Choices to Attract and Retain Top Talent While Managing Change
by Jenny Drescher and Ellen Feldman Ornato “Improvisation frees us from being perfect, being in control, thinking ahead, and second-guessing. It can feel like jumping into the abyss at first, but once you jump, fear turns into excitement, and your imagination kicks in.” — Linda Naiman Have you ever heard someone complain that company change […]
Creating Viable Options for Senior Communities
by Anne Crooker Woburn, MA – In the recent past, relatively few viable residential options for seniors existed within central cities or densely developed urban areas, but that is slowly changing. Allen & Major Associates, Inc. (A&M) has been active in the creation of several of these communities throughout Mass. and N.H. and has been […]
Design Thinking Prepares Kids for a Complex World
by Polly Carpenter Boston is an old seaport city facing major challenges that include housing shortages, climate change, sea level rise, aging infrastructure, and escalating carbon emissions: challenges that can be addressed using design solutions. The Boston Society of Architects/AIA and the BSA Foundation (the BSA) recognize that the scale of these challenges ensures that […]
Historic Bldg. Renovated for Sr. Living
by David Griffin A 196-year-old, 20,000sf building in Newton, Mass., will soon serve as a home to senior and guest residents. The historic five-story structure, known as Farwell Hall, is now part of a 55,000sf senior living community that was upgraded for Benchmark, a provider of senior living in the Northeast, by Erland Construction […]
Are You Still Paying Attention?
by Rob DiNinni Wait, what was I going to say? Oh, right; it feels like the virtual world is battling for our attention and we’re having trouble concentrating, listening, and reflecting. Staying on task and focused in an age of distractions is vital to the creation and building process. Now focus up. Why is this […]
Freezing Pipes Can Be a Good Thing!
by David Anderson In a region of the country where the words “frozen pipes” are the sounds of terror and panic, it has become the words of stress relief and problem solving for many. Cryo Tech Pipe Freezing was established in 2017 by owner David Anderson who had a passion to create the safest and […]
OSHA’s New Standard for Confined Spaces in Construction
by Jason Rogers The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has published standards governing Confined Spaces in Construction (29 C.F.R. 1926, Subpart AA) (“Confined Spaces Standards”), to provide added protections to employees performing work in confined spaces. Specifically, spaces (a) large enough for a worker to enter with (b) limited or restricted means of entry […]
