Publisher’s Message: February 2022

Botera’s new cannabis dispensary in Franklin / Photos courtesy of Surette Media Group

When the state of Connecticut passed a bill to legalize the sale of recreational marijuana, making it the 19th state in the U.S. to do so, it further confirmed that the cannabis construction boom in New England is not slowing down.

Anastasia Barnes

Rick Nathans, co-founder of SpecGrade LED, was recently interviewed by HP’s editor, Emily Langner. SpecGrade LED is a nationally-recognized grow light manufacturer that uses advanced LED technology to produce one of the most efficient grow lights on the market today. Read more about how this energy-efficient technology is contributing to the success of the cannabis industry on page 11.

I recently met Julian Phillips at a committee meeting for the National Organization of Minority Architects Boston chapter (BosNOMA). Julian, a designer at Bruner/Cott Architects, is the current secretary for BosNOMA. In his article on page 16, he talks about how historic places transformed into contemporary spaces can “serve as key markers for the stories of their past.” What a cool idea!

Edward “Tony” Ransom has written a piece on BosNOMA’s DEI Challenge for this issue. Tony, who I also met at the BosNOMA committee meeting, is the deputy director for energy and sustainability at Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM) and serves as vice president of NOMA Northeast region. Read his article on page 34.

March is Women’s History Month, a perfect time to celebrate women in the construction industry! The deadline for content and ad reservations for HP’s fourth annual Women In Construction supplement is Feb. 18. We look forward to reading all of the submissions! We’ll also be promoting all industry events happening during WiC week (March 6-12). Check our online calendar and weekly newsletter for listings.

The next issue is dedicated to Educational Facilities, with a closer look at the higher ed sector. We’ll be featuring the Society for College and University Planning North Atlantic Chapter, its members, and the regional conference in March (page 7). The theme for this year’s conference is “Together Again: Reimagining the Future.”

Enjoy the read!

Anastasia Barnes

Read HP’s February 2022 issue now!