Last week, our Young Designers Core (YDC) led by Ngaire Stuart Gongora and Sarah Solomon organized an informative virtual panel discussion about best practices for Construction Administration. The YDC is an organization that promotes the growth of emerging professionals with development opportunities supplemental to their project work in the firm.
The session was moderated by Sean Reilly, Contracts and Legal Relations Manager, and Leon Auvil, a Senior Associate who mentors staff in technical design and methodologies. The panel of speakers included a team member from multiple projects currently under construction. Each panelist presented a project overview and incorporated a specific topic or issue that arose during Construction Administration and how the topic or issue was addressed. Presenters had their cameras on, the chat function was running for questions and comments, and 60 members of the firm attended.
Projects presented varied in size and stage of completion. Stand alone, new buildings included the Chelsea Soldiers’ Home, a net-zero community living center for veterans and the Bonney Science Center at Bates College. Jimmy Baer discussed the CA process for the Soldiers’, from site clearing to the current status where all the footings and 80% of columns are in place. He also talked about the impact of COVID-19 on site management, a universal subject for all projects presented, and his own COVID related procedures for site visits. Liz Cooney highlighted the extensive use of mock-ups to develop and refine details for the Bonney Science Center, which is 50% complete and will be topping off next week.
Mock-up for Bonney Science Center, Bates College
Four extensive additions to existing buildings were also presented. Discussion centered around a common, obvious challenge of additions: the juncture where the new meets the existing. The most extensive planning and documentation of existing conditions rarely captures the physical reality where new and old come together. This important interface requires multiple trades to come together to tackle seemingly opposing factors – expansion joints coupled with the need for integrated continuity of systems and finishes.
Between each project presentation, Sean and Leon shared their expertise and defined best practices for all aspects of Construction Administration from site visits, documentation, communications to final punchlists.
This event is a continuation of a series on Construction Administration and is part of the knowledge sharing core value of the YDC. These educational opportunities made possible by the YDC are invaluable resources to support developing staff, promote licensure and grow firm leadership.
Institute for Integrated Science and Society, Boston College
Presenters:
Chelsea Soldiers’ Home Community Living Center | Jimmy Baer
Bonney Science Center, Bates College | Liz Cooney
Integrated Science Center, Skidmore College | Nik Pappastratis
Institute for Integrated Science and Society (IISS), Boston College | Diana Tsang
Williams College Science Center | Ron Blanchard
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center | Christian Blomquist
Best Practices | Leon Auvil
Current CA Modifications | Sean Reilly
Cape Cod Community College’s Frank and Maureen Wilkens Science and Engineering Center is a net-positive energy building designed to transform the heart of campus.
The project approaches sustainability through a holistic and global approach, implementing a range of moves including passive solar shading overhangs, air-source heat pumps, high performance materials with low embodied carbon and the expansion of the range of thermal comfort and lighting power density. Combined with on-site photovoltaics, the project achieves net-positive energy use.
The project’s thermally modified wood rainscreen façade is a study of the modern expression of vernacular Cape Cod architecture while reducing embodied carbon. Early lifecycle assessments identified the immense carbon savings of wood over fiber cement. The design team did not stop there, furthering reductions by peeling back unnecessary finishes like carpet and ceilings. Together, these decisions enabled a 19% reduction in embodied carbon.
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