Case Studies July 2021

There’s a hub for the senior set taking shape in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Though development at the Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community has slowed since COVID-19’s onset, come August, four new townhomes are expected to be ready for occupancy. Constructed along the lines of a well-received townhouse quad completed in 2018, the units are already spoken for. […]

Like most students, Andrew Hartnett couldn’t wait to graduate high school. He imagined that whatever awaited him in the “real world” would be more interesting than going to Brentwood High School every day. Little did he know, he’d find his way back there 15 years later, this time by choice. “Clamoring to come back” when […]

When restoring something historic, the goal is to get as close to the original as possible. Sometimes, though, the only way to revitalize the past is by using modern technology. In Bob Wyatt’s experience, this has meant relying on a 3D printer to make casts when original parts aren’t available. He did this a few […]

Although an industry heavyweight in Canada, Magil Construction needed a tech upgrade a decade or so ago. The same held true for the industry itself. To be sure, Magil was capably managing construction of notable projects in Canada and elsewhere, but here it was, the mid- and late-2010s, and Magil had yet to replace its […]

When Rick Fox saw kids using a bike park recently, he couldn’t help but feel proud. As they raced around the colorful tracks, the kids showed Fox the impact of his work with their laughter and smiles. The director of facilities management for Timberland Partners likes knowing the features he adds to apartment complexes are […]

It was shaping up as a Spring Break like any other at Duke University in March 2020. With most students gone for the week, the facilities staff was preparing to spruce up the popular Wilson Recreation Center, readying it for the end of the semester. As Chris Policastro recalls, the plan was for a detailed […]

Mike Clemmer likes to joke the most pressure he’s felt has been choosing which way to go when the rope drops at Magic Kingdom. But in truth, Clemmer, a Disney World fanatic, faced a much greater challenge last spring, when the COVID-19 pandemic shut down one of Nissan North America’s manufacturing plants months before the […]

Paul Buckner isn’t a student, but he’s gone back to school. As the director of construction and energy management at Bryan Independent School District, Buckner is doing what he loves—reducing energy use and costs. He’s also discovering what goes into constructing school buildings, which is new for him. In learning more about construction, Buckner has […]

It’s not unusual for anyone entering a bank to be thinking green—cash, that is. But Olivia Karavatakis wants them thinking green in another context. As vice president of facilities management, she’s considering how the bank can operate sustainably. From energy-efficient HVAC and lighting to more rain-absorbent landscaping that prevents flooding, Karavatakis sees many ways the […]

The demand for fast food remains high even with the worst of COVID-19 seemingly over. That should keep Chad Halley busy as he helps three popular outlets meet demand while factoring what might be changing consumer habits. More drive-thru lanes or restaurants with only drive-thru lanes? More investment in the technology and machinery strictly for […]