Archive

22 Feb 2019
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TFM’s Nick Golon presents at the ASCE 2019 Multi-Region Leadership Conference

February 22, 2019 | 0 Comments | , , ,

TFMoran’s Nick Golon, PE attended the American Society of Civil Engineers 2019 Multi-Region Leadership Conference for Regions 1, 2, 4 & 5 held in Orlando, FL as part of the NH Section delegation.  The conference included the Workshop for Section and Branch Leaders (WSBL), the Eastern Region Younger Member Council (ERYMC), and the Workshop for Student Chapter Leaders (WSCL).  Participation in the Workshop for Section and Branch Leaders strengthens and expands the programs and activities of Sections and Branches through the interchange of ideas, information and experiences, while it exposes incoming officers to the tools needed to be effective leaders.

Nick not only attended the conference but was also a presenter, leading breakout sessions on “Creating a Successful Website and Use of Social Media”.  With Nick’s role as Treasurer of the NH Section he focused on what he knows best and centered the presentation on the concept of designing a website to fit your budget and best serve your membership.  The sessions he led were well-attended and highlighted by incredible crowd participation making for an informative and fun experience for all.

20 Feb 2019
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Celebrating Engineers Week, 2019

February 20, 2019 | 0 Comments | ,

This week is National Engineers Week 2019. National Engineers Week is celebrated annually on the week that encompasses George Washington’s birthday, February 22nd, and calls attention to engineers’ contributions to our society. Many companies throughout the United States celebrate this week by attending conferences or going to schools to raise awareness about the importance of engineering and what engineers do.

TFMoran currently has 33 engineers on staff, including civil, structural, and traffic engineers. The company will be celebrating Engineers Week by featuring some recent projects in the local papers, including the Union Leader and the Portsmouth Herald. TFMoran would also like to thank its incredible team of engineers for all of the hard work that they do and the incredible tasks they accomplish.

The NSPE-NH and ASCE-NH hosted a banquet in celebration of Engineers Week on February 19, 2019 at the Grappone Conference Center. The banquet featured a social hour, followed by remarks from New Hampshire Governor, Chris Sununu.

Thank you to engineers around the world for the hard work that you do, and Happy Engineers Week!

For a bit of interesting history on the founding fathers of engineering, click on this link.

19 Feb 2019
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Union Leader’s Engineers Week Edition Featured TFMoran, Market and Main

February 19, 2019 | 0 Comments | , ,

TFMoran’s work on the former Macy’s redevelopment was featured in the Union Leader in the February 18, 2019, Engineers Week edition. TFMoran has designed the site of the large mixed-use development which includes a Trader Joe’s, The Friendly Toast, and many other business and restaurants. Phase One is scheduled to be completed by the end of March. Construction on this new development began almost two years ago, in March of 2017. TFMoran has done work on many aspects of the project, including landscape architecture, structural engineering, civil engineering, permitting, land surveying, and traffic engineering. To read the full article click the link to open the PDF here or read the text below.

 

Market and Main phase one to open in Bedford

Almost ready: Trader Joe’s and The Friendly Toast set to open in March.

The first phase of the “Market and Main” project is taking shape at the former Macy’s site in Bedford, where TFMoran designed this large, mixed-use development for Encore Retail, headquartered in Dallas.

Nicholas Barber, president of Encore Retail, explained, “The name ‘Market and Main’ comes from our new roadways Main Street, which — unlike many other local towns — Bedford does not already have; and Market Street, heading towards the Whole Foods plaza. So, Market and Main is a logical name for the complex, representing the place in town where everyone wants to meet.

“The property is strategically positioned along South River Road at the high-traffic intersection of N.H. Route 101, I-293, and the Everett Turnpike. And its proximity and direct access to the Whole Foods plaza make it a regional destination,” Barber added.

The site contains over 350,000 square feet of retail, restaurant, office, hospitality and entertainment space, designed as a walkable lifestyle center, with an interior village green, pergolas and other pedestrian- friendly fixtures, wide sidewalks and pocket parks throughout.

Construction at the site began in March 2017 by Hutter Construction of New Ipswich. The first phase includes Trader Joe’s and The Friendly Toast, and is opening in March, to be followed soon by a deluxe cinema, a variety of high-end restaurants and retail shops, and an office building and hotel shortly thereafter.

The complex includes seven new buildings and two new parking garages. TFMoran is responsible for the structural engineering of the garages, as well as civil/site and traffic engineering, permitting, land surveying and landscape architectural services for the entire development.

The architecture is designed by Prellwitz Chilinski Associates of Cambridge, Mass. Their approach reflects both past and present; incorporating brick, granite, cast stone, masonry, painted wood, and metal in a palette of modern materials and historical colors throughout the complex.

Market and Main is being built just south of the Goffe Mill Plaza, which includes a Whole Foods Market, additional restaurants and retail space, a bank, and 75 apartment units. Th e proximity of these two sites enabled TFMoran to design dense and efficient layouts by leveraging traffic, parking, and drainage benefits of mixed-use development and providing safe pedestrian connections between major uses.

TFMoran has designed several large mixed-use developments in recent years that integrate residential, institutional, industrial and cultural components in a pedestrian-oriented model, as opposed to the traditional vehicle-oriented shopping center or office park format.

According to TFMoran President Robert Duval, “Placing this variety of uses within walking distance reduces vehicle traffic, parking lots, stormwater runoff, improves air quality, and permits denser development of the existing core areas of our communities.”

Added Duval, “Since mixed-use developments use infrastructure more efficiently, increase municipal tax revenue, and add employment opportunities while reducing the negative impacts of development, we expect that they will become an increasingly important factor in the revitalization of cities and towns in New Hampshire and throughout New England.”

TFMoran, Inc. is one of the largest full-service engineering firms in New Hampshire, with offices in Bedford and Portsmouth. The firm’s services include: civil, structural, traffic and transportation engineering, land surveying, landscape architecture, environmental permitting, stormwater monitoring, and construction support services.

 

 

12 Feb 2019
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TFMoran’s Work on Concord Theatre Project Recognized in High Profile

February 12, 2019 | 0 Comments | , , ,

TFMoran was featured in the February 2019 edition of High-Profile monthly for our work on the historic Concord Theatre. The building was built in the mid 1800s and was in need of structural repairs and updating. TFMoran provided structural and civil engineering for the project, working alongside Dennis Mires P.A. The Architects and Milestone Engineering and Construction. The construction is underway and is expected to be completed by mid-2019, although no official date has been released. To read the article click the PDF link or read the text below.

TFMoran Works on Theatre Renovation

Concord, NH – Construction is well underway on the renovation of the historic Concord Theatre. TFMoran structural and civil engineers worked closely with Dennis Mires P.A. The Architects, and Milestone Engineering and Construction to provide civil and structural engineering for the project. Originally a bakery started in the mid-1800s, the Concord Theatre building was converted to a movie theatre which ran from the 1930s to the mid-1990s. The property also housed various small businesses more recently. However, the main movie theatre has been vacant for many years. The renovation project will create a flexible event venue for the Capitol Center for the Arts and a box office. The project includes significant structural upgrades and repairs to the building framing. Outdated floor, roof, and wall framing will be reinforced or replaced. Additionally, an interior balcony and new cantilevered marquee will be added. A small addition will be added on the building’s south side for a new stair and elevator. The attractive addition will be built in conjunction with functional and aesthetic improvements to the building’s site. New pavement, plantings, seating, and a loading area are planned. The project is expected to be completed mid-2019.

04 Feb 2019
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BOB Awards Recognize TFMoran for the 7th Consecutive Year

February 4, 2019 | 0 Comments | , ,

TFMoran is proud to announce that New Hampshire Business Review has recognized TFMoran for a 2019 Best Of Business (BOB) Award, resulting from a survey taken by their readers. More than 4,400 ballots were cast in over 90 business-to-business categories to recognize the best companies in New Hampshire. The New Hampshire Business Review has now recognized TFMoran for “Best Engineering Firm” for 7 consecutive years. TFMoran is honored to receive this award once again, and we look forward to attending the celebration.

This year’s “Rockin’ 50s Party” will be held at the Grappone Conference Center in Concord, NH on Thursday, March 14th from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM.  The event is open to all, and tickets can be bought on-line here.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to vote for TFMoran, and Congratulations to All Award Winners!

04 Feb 2019
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“Pre-Super Bowl TGIF” Celebration at TFMoran’s Bedford Office

February 4, 2019 | 0 Comments | , ,

The Bedford office celebrated with a “Pre-Super Bowl LIII TGIF” gathering on February 1, 2019. Members of the Bedford office wore their favorite NE Patriots themed attire to work, from sweatshirts, to sox, to earrings, and met in the lobby at the end of the day to enjoy appetizers and beverages. The delicious appetizers (including chicken wings) were catered by TGI Fridays. Everyone had a great time, discussing plans for the Super Bowl and reminiscing on memories of past Patriot’s Super Bowls. This was the 9th time that the Patriots have been to the Super Bowl in the past 20 years, and would marked Tom Brady’s 6th Super Bowl victory!

Monday morning talk around the water cooler was how the game was a defensive battle but the Patriots managed to pull away in the 4th quarter after a terrific catch by Gronk, a touchdown from Sony Michel, and a field goal by Gostkowski to seal the game.

Congratulations to the Patriots on another Super Bowl victory!

01 Feb 2019
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TFMoran Basketball Team Celebrates A Win

February 1, 2019 | 0 Comments | , ,

TFMoran showed support for local athletics by once again sponsoring a recreational basketball team in Bedford. TFMoran’s Tom Lamb’s son plays for the team. The team of 3rd and 4th grade boys won their game against the LAER Beauchemin Realty team, 16-12 today. An article about the game was published in the Bedford Bulletin, highlighting the key points of the game. LBR made a strong comeback after being down 10, but TFMoran was able to pull away and seal the victory. To read the full article, read the text below:

At one point late in the second half, LBR tied the score at 12-12, erasing a 10-point halftime hole. However, TFMoran pulled away down the stretch to win. Camden Santos was huge off the backboards and played solid defense for LBR, while teammate Jackson Jodoin scored and hurt TFMoran by forcing turnovers. Pierce Connolly, Drew Benjamin, Owen Sprague, Myles Lamb, and Jack Bergeron led a balanced attack for the winners.

30 Jan 2019
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Looking Back on TFMoran’s 50th Year Celebration

January 30, 2019 | 0 Comments | , , ,

As we start a new year, we’re taking a moment to look back on 2018 – a year of celebration for TFMoran. Last year marked our 50th year of service, and we found ourselves “Celebrating 50 Years” throughout the entire year. To commemorate this milestone, we designed a Gold Anniversary logo that  was used on all company collateral including polo shirts, pens, notebooks, and even brandy snifters.

Throughout the year, TFMoran hosted special events with staff  and guests to celebrate our 50-year-milestone, including two summer barbecues held at our Bedford office. Great food and great fun were key elements as we shared our success with those who have made our 50 years in business possible. The barbecues featured steak tips, hamburgers, chicken, summer salads, topped off with anniversary cake and ice cream, of course!

In addition to the commemorative gifts and barbecues, TFMoran held a 50th Anniversary celebration luncheon at the Bedford Village Inn just before Thanksgiving. TFMoran’s principals gave thanks to the more than 60 dedicated staff in each department: Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering, Land Surveying, Traffic Engineering, Landscape Architects and Stormwater Management Group.

The year-long celebration concluded with an office family Christmas party, decorated in theme with blue and gold ornaments, a beautiful live tree, and festive poinsettias.

Now that 2019 is underway, TFMoran has retired the 50th Anniversary logo and has introduced a slightly revised logo to start off our 51st year. Here’s to continued success and another 50 years!


 

 

 

 

To read more about TFMoran’s 50-year history and role in many of the region’s most significant projects, link to these stories in New England Real Estate Journal June 2018 or High-Profile September 2018.

30 Jan 2019
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Lunch N Learn at the Bedford Office

January 30, 2019 | 0 Comments | , ,

Members of the TFMoran Bedford office attended a Lunch N Learn on January 29, 2019. The Lunch N Learn was held in the first floor conference room and was taught by Jason Lenzen from Genest Paving Stones and Walls, who discussed proper maintenance of permeable interlocking concrete pavement. Jason brought Panera Bread sandwiches and salads, which were enjoyed by all in attendance. The list of attendees included Maureen Kelly, Jeremy Belanger, Mike Krzeminski, Jen Porter, Jason Hill, and our marketing intern, John DiFrancesco. The room was filled with chatter as the attendees asked questions about proper maintenance and use of the permeable pavement, and its ability to withstand salt and snow-plows during the winter months. Thanks to Jason Lenzen for a great Lunch N Learn.

25 Jan 2019
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TFMoran President featured in the NEREJ 2019 Forecast Spotlight

January 25, 2019 | 0 Comments | , ,

New England Real Estate Journal asked TFMoran President, Bob Duval for his 2019 Engineering Forecast regarding commercial properties. Bob’s article discusses the changes in regulations regarding environmental risks and the importance of identifying potential permitting issues early. “Although setting a realistic time-frame that includes upfront studies of all these potential impacts may seem excessive at first, the alternative – in terms of costly surprises, backtracking, or redesign of the project at later stages can be devastating to the project schedules and budgets,” Mr. Duval writes. The full article will be included in the NEREJ January 25-31, 2019 Forecast Spotlight edition. To read the article open the PDF here or read the text below.

Trends in regulatory controls require a more comprehensive “due diligence” approach

By Robert Duval, TFMoran

In the year ahead, we are likely to see continued compression in project delivery schedules, spurring developers and designers to hunt for new ways to streamline the design and permitting process.  Meanwhile, the regulatory maze is becoming increasingly difficult and constantly changing.  As a result, the permitting process often represents the major obstacle to project delivery dates, even for relatively simple projects.

Despite all the powerful new technologies available to today’s design professionals, “working faster” can only accomplish so much.  At every scale, environmental regulation has grown more complex.  To be successful, a permitting strategy must be based on one simple principle: do your homework and do it early.  Here are a few of the areas where recent trends in regulatory controls require a more comprehensive “due diligence” approach…

Projects that include any impacts to wetlands or wetland buffers can expect closer scrutiny from regulators at all levels.  Even very small wetlands may be determined to have important natural functions that are difficult to replace – for example a vernal pool.  Large upland buffers around vernal pools and even “ordinary” wetlands are becoming more common as governments at all levels – federal, state, and local – seek to increase protection of water supplies, natural flood buffers, and natural habitats near waterways.  It is not unusual today for such buffer areas to occupy more land area than the wetlands they protect.

The expanding reach of these regulations has had major consequences on project design, especially stormwater runoff, since larger and larger portions of sites are becoming subject to these enhanced setbacks and design controls.  Even when physical separation from natural resource areas can be achieved, development controls do not end at the buffer’s edge –restrictions on impervious cover; enhancement of stormwater treatment systems; controls on volume in addition to rate of stormwater runoff; sampling and testing of runoff chemistry, and other constraints on site design have also become more common.  No longer is it sufficient to just follow the rules – the trend is now pointing towards achieving a specific end result – and proving it.

With increased attention and resources allocated to newly emerging trace contaminants like PFOA/PFAS, new concerns are being raised across wide areas previously assumed to be free of chemical pollution risks.  Public outcry is pushing regulators into taking quick action on these emerging contaminants, in some cases ahead of a solid understanding of actual health risks.  In any event, each newly identified compound will add more uncertainty and extra steps to the permitting process in affected areas.

Rare and endangered species – including plants as well as animals – also will have substantial effects on development.  Even in densely settled areas not typically thought of as home to endangered wildlife communities, protected organisms can be found.  Each species adds its own particular set of requirements to a project, from restricted time frames for certain activities, to protective radii around individual habitats for species of concern.  As recently demonstrated by the listing of the Northern Long-eared Bat and certain migratory birds, such concerns can attach to extremely wide areas.

Increased emphasis on protection of historic structures (potentially, any resource over fifty years old) and archaeological sites is emerging as a major factor during the permitting process, adding Architectural Historians and Archaeologists as important early partners on the project team.  Properly evaluating and documenting any such resources takes time that must be accounted for in a well-planned project schedule.

Knowing that these challenges must be faced, early action is an essential element of project planning.  Although setting a realistic time frame that includes upfront studies of all these potential impacts may seem excessive at first, the alternative – in terms of costly surprises, backtracking, or redesign of the project at later stages can be devastating to project schedules and budgets.  Avoiding these unpleasant outcomes means going back to basics…

Redevelopment of existing disturbed sites, where the foregoing issues are often well understood or at least less contentious, tend to generate less public attention and concern, since urban environments with existing infrastructure are generally less impactful than new greenfield sites.  Careful site selection is critical, and where possible, redevelopment should be the first choice.

While developing urban sites can often include contaminated soil risks, don’t overlook the fact that even undeveloped sites can also contain unknown, newly-emerging contaminants – all must be effectively identified and managed.

To get projects off to a good start and keep them moving, will require more intensive study and preparation than even just a few years ago… despite the new challenges, it is still possible to accelerate project delivery time frames, by early identification of problematic conditions and finding effective solutions at the earliest possible stage – preferably while the project program is still flexible and can be adapted to accommodate the challenges.  With good homework and creative solutions in hand, many, if not all, of these challenges can be overcome.