IN THIS ISSUE » Industry Insight: Sustainable Design and Construction » What’s New? » Project Highlights » New Beginnings: Groundbreakings & Ribbon Cuttings » Our Team: Built on Excellence » Owner’s Corner
FALL/WINTER 2023
FINDING A BETTER WAY.
CHA Consulting, Inc.
Fall/Winter 2023
Industry Insight
Sustainable Design and Construction – The Time is Now By Amanda Sawyer, AIA, LEED Green Associate, Project Manager Sustainable design and construction is a hot topic for everyone in the industry playing a role in the built environment. From owners, architects and engineers to building occupants and the public, the understanding of the importance of building sustainability is no longer a theory or unrealized vision, but rather an operational reality. Creating a truly sustainable built environment involves every phase of planning, design and construction and demands that every stakeholder harness their individual piece of a project, set goals and work in collaboration to make meaningful changes to create more sustainable buildings. According to the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the built environment creates a staggering 40% of the world’s emissions. To date, reducing emissions has largely focused on efforts once a building is built. For example, net zero energy buildings, which produce as much energy as they consume, are more common. Other sustainable building performance indicators include LEED, passive designs, smart buildings, and resilient design. The industry is now poised to move to the next level, where we address the issue of sustainability before the building is built. As Owner’s Project Mangers, we believe we are in a unique position to impact building practices and set the stage for sustainability at the beginning of the process. We are often involved with a project at the earliest stages, before design, engineering, structural, and materials decisions are made, giving us the ability to initiate conversations about important sustainability options that will reduce our carbon footprint. Two of the most important elements we can address are embodied carbon and materials health. Embodied carbon, also known as embodied greenhouse gas, represents the carbon emissions released during the lifecycle of building materials, including extraction, manufacturing, production, transportation, construction, and the disposal of the materials. Embodied carbon defines the carbon
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footprint of constructing a building. Making decisions that reduce embodied carbon has an immediate impact on the sustainability of the built environment. Actions and strategies of addressing embodied carbon involve choices to use lowcarbon or carbon-neutral materials such as recycled steel and glass, reclaimed wood, fly ash bricks, and low-carbon concrete. These materials have a lower environmental impact and reduce embodied carbon immediately. We can also consider ways to build less by extending the life of existing buildings and materials and building lighter and smarter. Materials health is another impactful element in addressing sustainability. Materials health involves assessing materials in terms of their entire life cycle in an effort to reduce negative impacts on human health and the environment. Discussions around materials health should include material selection of non-toxic materials; the use of local materials to reduce transportation; prioritization of recycled, reused and reclaimed materials; maintenance and durability; materials that reduce construction waste; and materials that carry certifications indicating rigorous evaluation for reduced environmental impact. As we continue to navigate sustainability in the built environment, we know that new technologies and developments will inform the decisions we make and options available. We are committed to monitoring trends, embracing new technologies, and collaborating with our partners to improve our world as we continue to work together to create solutions that reduce environmental impacts. Amanda Sawyer, AIA, LEED Green Associate, is a Project Manager with CHA’s Owner’s Project Management Team with more than two decades of experience delivering large and small architectural and construction projects. Through her work across a variety of building sectors, she has developed a comprehensive understanding of current green building principles and sustainable practices.
The Owner’s Edge | Page 3
What’s New? When Disaster Strikes, He Goes To Work
SCAN FOR VIDEO ON URBAN SEARCH AND RESCUE
There are many who volunteer their time and skills to help others without fanfare or accolades. While many of you know Tom Gatzunis as one of CHA’s exceptional project managers, you may not know of his extraordinary volunteer work with the Massachusetts Urban Search and Rescue Team. Working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), highly trained volunteers, including firefighters, technical rescue technicians, medical professionals and doctors, engineers, and civilians with specialty skills, train to respond to disasters around the country. Tom brings his extensive engineering experience with structures and planning to the team. As a former Town Engineer and Building Commissioner, his knowledge of structures is an essential skill when damaged buildings are involved. This volunteer effort requires extensive and ongoing training. Tom has participated in 500+ hours of training and continues to train eight hours every month. According to Tom, “It is very satisfying to serve my neighbors in this way. Seeing the relief on someone’s face when we make a difference, makes it all worthwhile.” From weather events including hurricanes, floods and tornados to emergencies like explosions, Tom and the MATF1 team are trained and ready to mobilize. Thanks, Tom. We deeply appreciate your dedication to our communities.
New Talent Joins CHA’s OPM Group CHA continues to add new talent to our team. Please join us in welcoming these new hires: Derin Johnson (On-Site Representative), Casey Hochheimer (Assistant Project Manager), and Prajakta Patil (Assistant Project Manager).
FINDING A BETTER WAY.
CHA Consulting, Inc.
Meet us at MMA and MLA Conferences in 2024 We are looking forward to meeting up with many of you at the Massachusetts Municipal Association (MMA) Conference in Boston on January 19 and 20, 2024. CHA will be there exhibiting, highlighting some of our recently completed projects, and launching renu360. We will also be attending the 2024 Massachusetts Library Association (MLA) Annual Conference in May in Framingham. CHA’s Tom Gatzunis and Alicia Monks will be part of a panel discussion, “Getting to Yes - How to Develop a Construction Project Your Community Supports.” We hope to see you there too.
#63
ENR TOP 100 PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FIRM
CHA Climbs ENR Top 100 Professional Services List With the growth of our PMCM project portfolio, CHA jumped 26 spots to #63 on the annual Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 100 Professional Services Firms list. With teams based in Boston and New York City as well as a large on-site presence, our dedicated professional staff continues to drive excellence and quality centered on ontime, on-budget delivery of complex projects.
Finding a Better Way Creating solutions. Helping people. Improving our world. In September, CHA announced a strategic brand refresh and the launch of a new website at chasolutions.com. Building on our impressive portfolio of innovative work, the refreshed brand articulates the evolution of CHA’s voice and purpose and is marked with a new logo featuring a continuous flowing line element connecting the name and signaling continuity, guidance and directionality when working with the CHA team on a project. Our new website highlights our capabilities in a clean, easy-to-navigate format illustrating our end-to-end solutions. Explore our new website at chasolutions.com.
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The Owner’s Edge | Page 5
Project Highlights Martha’s Vineyard Camp Meeting Association Tabernacle | Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts With sincere appreciation for the historic significance of the Camp Meeting Association Tabernacle, CHA is providing OPM services for roof replacement, new construction, restoration, and repairs to the renowned, open-air Tabernacle building on Martha’s Vineyard. Built in 1878 of cast iron, it stands today as an example of impressive 19th century architecture and as one of the few wrought iron structures of its type still standing. The Tabernacle is well known to residents and visitors alike as a cherished hub for religious, cultural and community events. The Tabernacle was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978, given recognition by the National Trust for Historic Preservation
FINDING A BETTER WAY.
in 2000, and named a National Historic Landmark by the Department of Interior in 2005. Given its meaningful place in history, careful consideration is given to each detail of its restoration. The project involves replacing the Tabernacle’s aging roofing system and constructing a 12,000 SF addition for a backstage/green room, public restrooms, and storage. The CHA project team has guided the project through various state and local approvals, including the State Plumbing Appeals Board and the Automatic Sprinkler Appeals Board. Construction of the new roof began this fall and is expected to be completed in May 2024.
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Belmont Middle And High School | Belmont, Massachusetts For nearly five years, the Belmont School Project Team was looking forward to the first day of school in 2023. When students walked through the doors on September 6th, it was indeed magical. In 2019, construction began on the $297 million project consisting of an extensive, phased, and occupied renovation and the construction of an addition to include added facilities and incorporate grades seven and eight. The 445,100 SF project, with funding in collaboration with the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA), was designed and constructed Net-Zero Ready and to U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) LEED Ratings System LEED v4 BD+C: Schools certification specifications. The design includes 283 geothermal wells and a roof-top photovoltaic system with over 75,000 panels. The new school features improved ADA accessibility, improved health and safety standards, video production space, makerspaces for robotics and engineering, and science labs. Belmont is a shining example of the built environment students should be learning in to prepare them for a technological world.
until they could occupy new areas of the school. Once the 9-12 area of the school was finalized, high school students moved in in time for the start of the 2021-2022 school year. With students occupying the new high school, demolition of the existing high school took place and then moved directly to the construction of the seventh and eighth-grade section of the school. All efforts were made to minimize disruption to school operations and to maintain safety and security for students, faculty, and staff. Phasing involved many moving pieces in addition to new construction, including the utilization of temporary walls, partitions, and stairs, as well as temporary student drop-off areas and traffic patterns. In fact, all school operations needed to be considered and reevaluated as the project progressed. The Belmont community has made a commitment to invest in the education of its children, and the building team involved has been committed to seeing it through, weathering the complexities and challenges, and coming out at the end with a beautiful space to teach the leaders of tomorrow.
This project involved intricate phasing with the additional complexity of students occupying spaces adjacent to construction. The phasing set out to do new construction first, with 9-12 students remaining in the existing structure
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The Owner’s Edge | Page 7
Holyoke Veterans’ Home (formerly Soldiers’ Home) | Holyoke, Massachusetts The CHA team is providing OPM services for the design and construction of a new long-term veterans’ care facility in Holyoke, MA. This facility is the replacement of an existing long-term care facility for U.S. military veterans through a phased construction project at the Holyoke Veterans’ Home. The site of the new construction is on a hilltop, immediately adjacent to the existing buildings, which will remain in operation throughout earlier phases of construction. The existing building will eventually be abated for hazardous materials and demolished after the new facility is brought online. A separate 12,900 SF two-story building and ancillary service facility have been demolished to make way for the new building construction. The new $483 million, 350,000+ SF state-of-the-art facility is expected to include: •
A long-term care (LTC) facility with 184 to 234 beds
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An adult day healthcare (ADHC) facility to serve veterans who are living in the community and need help with activities of daily living. Services provided in the facility will include social activities, peer support, companionship, and recreation.
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A Memorial Garden & Open Space Network in remembrance of the many lives of veterans lost during the COVID-19 pandemic. This will be one of the centerpieces of the new campus and serve as an integral part of campuswide pedestrian and open space networks encouraging ambulatory residents to seek more outdoor physical activity.
The new facility is being designed and constructed according to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Small House Model Design Guide published in January 2017. The new building will incorporate robust energy conservation, water conservation, operational resilience, and indoor air quality features, including the potential for net-zero energy and geothermal systems. An early enabling package is underway where temporary utilities and a temporary chiller are being installed to allow for the demolition of the existing chiller building. This impressive facility is expected to be completed in 2027 with demolition of the existing facilities and completion of site restoration in early 2029.
FINDING A BETTER WAY.
CHA Consulting, Inc.
New Beginnings
BROCKTON PUBLIC SAFETY COMPLEX GROUNDBREAKING
Brockton Public Safety Complex Groundbreaking
Tisbury School Celebrates Topping Off
The City of Brockton celebrated the groundbreaking of its new Public Safety Complex to great fanfare in July 2023. This facility is a long-awaited dream for the city. The sleek and technology-driven building will replace the city’s outdated police station and historic fire station, serving as a beacon of safety and security for the community.
Students and staff of Tisbury Elementary School celebrated a “Topping Off” of their new school on September 26, 2023. Tisbury School is the oldest elementary school building in Martha’s Vineyard. As is customary at topping off ceremonies, a fir tree was set atop the structure while flags hung from the final beam placed on the steel structure that will become the new gym.
At an expansive 226,265 SF and spanning four stories, the public safety complex will house the operations of both the Brockton Police Department and the Brockton Fire Department. It will also feature a joint emergency dispatch center, administrative and support offices for the Brockton Emergency Management Agency, and offices and an equipment room for the Brockton Information Technology Center. To accommodate the needs of the police department, the complex will include a parking garage that can hold up to 300 vehicles. Public lobby space will be available on each floor, providing easy access to services and information for the community. CHA is serving as OPM for the City of Brockton and together with the city and its residents, is eagerly anticipating its completion in 2025.
CHA is serving as OPM for the renovation and expansion of the existing K-8 Tisbury School. In response to community input, the team will preserve, renovate, and add to the landmark 1929 brick building in the town center to meet school and community needs. The construction project will modernize the structure and expand the building from 20,000 SF to 76,000 SF, with a new gymnasium and a preschool. The new Tisbury School is expected to welcome students in September 2024.
Chilmark Fire Station and Tri-Town EMS Headquarters Ribbon Cutting The Town of Chilmark marked the opening of its new fire station with a ribbon cutting and open house on July 12, 2023. The event featured speakers praising the new facilities and tours for the public. CHA provided OPM services for the new 5,000 SF fire station and 6,000 SF Tri-Town EMS headquarters serving the communities of Chilmark, West Tisbury, and Aquinnah. The town’s historic nature was considered when designing the aesthetic features of the buildings with an EMS building to house a training room for both facilities, sleeping quarters, a day room for EMS staff, and a dispatch command center. The new fire station includes four apparatus bays, administrative offices, and functional space for first responders. The project included extensive site work to reconfigure an existing parking lot of the firehouse lot and a new overflow parking lot on the EMS site for town hall parking. An elevated boardwalk now connects the new overflow lot to the town hall site.
Scan the QR code above for a video of the groundbreaking.
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The Owner’s Edge | Page 9
Our Team: Built on Excellence The building projects we manage are often at the heart of our communities. From libraries and schools to public safety complexes, these buildings are essential to our everyday life. In each issue of this newsletter, we are thrilled to highlight several of the exceptional members of our project and construction management team who are delivering for the owners we represent. Many have been part of our team for years, while others have joined us more recently. Whether you are a current client or considering a relationship with us in the future, we invite you to learn more about our talented team.
Mike McNulty Project Manager
Alyssa Chatani, CCM Project Manager
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Mike McNulty is a seasoned project manager with more than 20 years of experience in construction management, project management and Owner’s Project Management under a variety of delivery methods. His experience includes management of all phases of a project from preconstruction through construction close-out for public and private clients across Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Mike has managed a broad range of complex building projects including commercial properties, healthcare facilities and laboratories, libraries, schools, and a mix of higher education projects including sports venues, residence halls, and historic renovations. Mike is a Massachusetts Certified Public Purchasing Official (MCPPO) for School Project Designers and Owner’s Project Managers.
Alyssa Chatani is an up-and-coming project manager on a wide variety of CHA projects ranging from elementary schools to public safety facilities. She has more than seven years of experience in the construction industry and has been responsible for assisting project teams through design and construction to final close-out of projects, on site and in the office. Alyssa has served in several key positions in the construction management field, including project engineering and project management, and she is particularly skilled at change management during construction, along with budget tracking and project controls. Alyssa believes strongly in professional development and continuous learning. In 2022, she earned her MBA at Suffolk University, and she recently earned her Certified Construction Manager (CCM) credential. She is now also serving as an adjunct instructor at Northeastern University in Boston.
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“IF YOU HAVE COMMON GOALS, COMMON SOLUTIONS AND COME TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY, YOU CAN ACHIEVE ANYTHING.”
Owner’s Corner Featured Owner: Bill Lovallo, Belmont Middle and High School Building Committee Chair Building schools is a family business for Bill Lovallo, who chaired the building committee for the newly completed Belmont School project. He spent ten years volunteering to see this school completed, and in September, Bill and his daughter (now a senior) helped cut the ribbon to open Belmont Middle and High School. Years before, the two shared the same moment at the Wellington Middle School ribbon cutting, another project Bill helped shepherd to completion as a building committee volunteer. Bill gladly shared his top lessons learned on this project for other owners to benefit from: 1.
Be patient with everyone, including the public who wants to give input and is vested in the final outcome
2. Keep communicating and then communicate more. Communication is never complete. It’s important to remember that people hear things differently. 3. Treat people the way you want to be treated and set the tone early. 4. Keep focused on the schedule. The schedule is critical, so you should never let milestones slip. Keep your focus on the schedule at all times. While every school project is challenging, this project was thrown a true curveball – the COVID-19 global pandemic.
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The building committee was forced to change the way it worked, and as surprised as they were by the pandemic, they were even more surprised at how quickly they changed the way they operated. They embraced new communication channels and found they could be more efficient by holding virtual meetings. The acceleration and acceptance of new tools led to different engagement, which was a welcome contribution to the project. Based on his experience with the Belmont project, Bill’s top owner-to-owner advice is to develop a strong relationship with the team working on the project. If you have common goals, common solutions and come together as a community, you can achieve anything. It won’t always be easy, especially when managing public projects, but with impactful community engagement and great communication among all the partners, you can work through the challenges. Bill’s final advice to other owners and school building committees, in particular, is to think beyond building a school and instead commit to building an environment to learn and be creative. The interesting result of the Belmont School project is that it doesn’t feel like a school; it is a space for individuality, creativity, and the future. According to Bill, he is most proud of the end result because, “We did it right. Belmont is a success and shows taxpayers we are good stewards of their money – and future town projects will be built on this success.”
The Owner’s Edge | Page 11
FALL/WINTER 2023
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