6/23/10

North Branch Personnel Earn Healthcare Construction Certificates

(Concord, NH) Five Project Managers and Superintendents from North Branch Construction of Concord, NH recently earned their Healthcare Construction Certificate (HCC) from the American Society for Healthcare Engineering (ASHE) of the American Hospital Association. James Schwartzkopf, Vice President/Project Manager; Joseph Campbell, Project Manager; Chuck Acevedo, Superintendent; Darren Finch, Superintendent; and Tom Hanley, Superintendent participated in the program.

The curriculum for this program includes all aspects of healthcare construction, from Life Safety, Infectious Control, Electrical, MEP and Medical Gas systems, to Quality Control, Patient Safety, and Construction Risk Assessment. The certification involves a two-day training seminar and completion of on-line coursework related to healthcare construction and renovation. Completion of this certification course exemplifies the level of knowledge and expertise that North Branch Construction brings to the construction site and provides their clients.

Established in 1958, North Branch Construction is committed to training and education which provides their clients with “a level of value, quality and service that is unrivaled in the construction industry”.

6/15/10

Plan New Hampshire awards $26,000 in Fellowship and Scholarships

Plan New Hampshireis pleased to announce that it has awarded $26,000 in Fellowships and a Scholarship to students from New Hampshire studying Architecture, Studio Art, Landscape Architecture, and Environmental Studies. These funds are managed by the NH Charitable Trust.

At a reception held on May 30 at the Discovery Center in Concord and co-hosted by AIA-NH, Plan NH announced the following Award recipients: Alfred T.

Granger Fellowship Awards:

• Lou Ann Fornataro of Nashua, a graduate student in Architecture at the Boston Architectural College.

• Jason Diorio of Auburn, also a graduate student in Architecture at the Boston Architectural College

• Brayden Drypolcher of Concord, who is transferring to URI from NHTI to study Landscape Architecture

• Nicholas Levesque of Manchester, studying Illustration at the Manchester Institute of Art

• Christina McMahon of East Kingston, studying Architecture at Norwich University in Vermont.

• Justin Paul Ware of Gilsum, studying Architecture at RPI in Troy NY

• Jessica Snow, of Nashua , studying Studio Art at U Maine Orono

• Sarah Goulakos of Manchester, studying Architecture at Norwich University

The Plan NH Scholarship Award was given to Andrew Cushing of Piermont, an Environmental Studies student at Bowdoin.

For more information about these programs, please visit the Fellowship and Scholarship pages on this website, or contact us at info@plannh.org.

5/27/10

Workforce Housing Council Forum June 25

The NH Workforce Housing Council is hosting a forum in Bedford starting at 12:30 (lunch provided) on June 25.

Program starts at 1 and includes: Elissa Margolin from Housing Action New Hampshire will provide information on this new organization’s activity over the last several months. For those of you who are not familiar with their work, HANH seeks to “substantially increase state and federal investment in the development, preservation and maintenance of housing that is affordable for New Hampshire’s lowest income people, and to expand access to rental subsidies through efficient engagement of a broad alliance in federal and state advocacy.”

Presentation from the Greater Nashua Workforce Housing Coalition and the Workforce Housing Coalition of the Greater Seacoast on their two recent design charrette events. The design charrette process undertaken by both of these organizations is unique in that it brings together professional architects, developers, engineers, professional planners and members of local planning boards. The charrette process is eye-opening for the participants as they seek to find ways to create attractive workforce housing based on actual property sites and taking into account local land use regulations. You will hear from Lisa Fisher Henderson and her team from the Seacoast. Representing Nashua will be Judy Vincent, Director of the Greater Nashua Workforce Housing Coalition and Robert Cruess of T.F. Moran, who was instrumental in their event’s planning.

If interested in attending, please contact George Regan at greagan@nhhfa.org by June 18.

For more information about the Council, visit www.workforcehousingnh.com

5/21/10

Plan NH seeking volunteers for Belmont Charrette June 4 and 5

Plan New Hampshire is pleased to announce that six Granite State communities have been selected for a Plan NH Design Charrette: Belmont, Colebrook, Exeter, Groveton, Jaffrey, and Pittsfield. The first will be held in Belmont on June 4 and 5, and we are looking for volunteers!

Due to scheduling constraints, Plan NH will be conducting the first of this year’s round of Design Charrettes in just two weeks! We will be in Belmont, where our very first charrette took place in 1996.

Project description: Belmont’s town center needs a boost. Short of residents that live within the village and the businesses in the Mill (thanks to Plan NH in 1996) there’s not much going on. But the potential is there! Belmont is looking for solutions to create destination places and activities to give their village an identity again. Infrastructure, streetscape, changing of traffic patterns will be a part of the solutions. Development opportunities among stakeholders like the Lakes Region Community College will be a catalyst to bring in other service industries that will promote social capital. Opening and creating visual gateways to Route 106 will identify that there is a town center in Belmont. There is also a desire to create a riverwalk connection to the village area.

We are seeking volunteers for the following: • Architects (including workforce/student housing and multi-use) • Landscape architects • Urban designers • Traffic engineers • Civil Engineers • Planners • Historic preservation • Real estate – developer, economics • Construction cost estimators In addition, we are seeking “leaders in training” – if you think you would be interested in leading a Plan NH charrette in the future, we welcome your presence and participation here.

Please contact Michael Castagna at 603-540-7106 or michael@castagnaconsultinggroup.com if you wish to play a part.

A preliminary timetable:

Friday, June 4, 2010

11:00 a.m. – 11:30. Arrival 10-15 member Plan NH team led by Michael Castagna. Lunch provided

11:30 – 2:30. Initial project introduction by municipal leaders, Village Walking Tour

2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Afternoon Listening Session

4:30 p.m. – 5:15 p.m. Team meets for initial ideas, work organization

5:30 p.m. – 6:45 p.m. Community supper

7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Evening Listening Session Saturday,

Saturday June 5, 2010

8:00 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. Arrival – Plan NH team (coffee, water, pastries & fruit)

8:30 a.m. –2:30 p.m. Team Work Session - discussion, drawings & plan development from listening sessions – (Public welcome to observe and comment) (working lunch delivered from local vendor

2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Charrette report & presentation

This is Plan NH’s signature program. For volunteers, it is not only a way to “give back”, but is an opportunity to work with other dedicated professionals in the industry. Those who have taken part in past charrettes have felt a great deal of satisfaction and enrichment though participation and contribution. If you are interested in volunteering and contributing your talents to Belmont or to one of the future projects, please let us know. More information about each will be forthcoming. A tentative schedule shows another in July, three in the fall and then the last after the New Year.

5/21/10

BRUSS CONSTRUCTION TO BE HONORED WITH FOURTEENTH ANNUAL NEW HAMPSHIRE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY ETHICS AWARD

Bruss Construction, Inc., of Bradford, N.H., has been selected by a distinguished panel of judges as the recipient of the fourteenth annual New Hampshire Construction Industry Ethics Award. The award honors the “individual, business or organization that, through its words and deeds, best demonstrates a commitment to upholding the highest ethical standards in construction.” The presentation will made May 20th at the New Hampshire/Vermont Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors’ Annual Awards and Recognition Night, to be held at C.R. Sparks in Bedford.

This year marks the first time since the award’s founding in 1997 that a company, rather than an individual, has been honored. The selection committee felt that the ideals the award represents were so pervasive throughout the company that the entire firm should be recognized.

Bruss Construction, founded by president Michael Bruss, has been in business in New Hampshire for more than 26 years, performing both commercial and residential construction. His brother, CEO James Bruss, purchased an interest in the company in 1993, and a third brother, vice president John Bruss, joined the company in 2002. A leader in the green building movement, Bruss Construction has utilized sustainable building practices since the 1980s, long before it became fashionable. From its projects and jobsites to its own offices, there is an intense focus on improving and minimizing its environmental footprint. The company also works hard to spread the message, helping the legal profession understand green development, appraisers grasp green technologies, and high school students see the career opportunities green construction and design offer. In addition, the company helped found the New Hampshire Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council and plays an active role in the NH Preservation Alliance, NH and Northeast Sustainable Energy Associations, and the NH Department of Environmental Services Aspiring Leaders program.

Bruss’ strong support of the construction industry is demonstrated by its active involvement in the NH/VT Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors, NH Chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction and the Home Builders and Remodelers Association of NH. The company’s contributions to the community involve everyone from top management to field staff. Among the numerous local and charitable activities in which Bruss’ staff participate are Toys for Tots, local food pantry and clothing drives, the Bradford Community Center, the Norris Cotton Center’s Prouty Challenge Bike Ride, Habitat for Humanity and the Rock ‘n Race to benefit the Payson Cancer Center at Concord Hospital. Those in the industry express nothing but admiration for Bruss Construction. “They are ethical to a fault,” notes an architect who has worked with them on several projects. “From top to bottom, there’s an overriding concern about doing the right thing. It’s always a pleasure working with them because of their high standards.” Those comments are supported by the fact that, in its 26-year history, Bruss has never failed to complete a project, nor been involved in any judgments, claims or arbitration proceedings.

A supplier who has done business with the company since 1995 says, “They’re always great to work for. There’s a tremendous respect for the expertise of others and they never exploit any information that’s provided; if they ask for help they will not offer the contract to another firm. This promotes a working relationship based on trust.” Bruss’ clients are no less effusive. “They believe you can always do it better,” says one for whom the company built a LEED Platinum-certified project. “They understand what continuous learning is and were willing to do enormous amounts of research to produce a high performance building. Bruss put our needs first.”