FITCHBURG, MA–Fitchburg State University will launch a new Master of Science in Construction Management program next year, building the state’s capacity in a critical professional field, the university announced on its website.
The fully online program will be offered through the university’s Engineering Technology Department and the School of Graduate, Online and Continuing Education. The Massachusetts Board of Higher Education approved the new program this fall.
This new graduate program will expand opportunities and streamline pathways in a critical workforce area for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, according to Fitchburg State President Richard S. Lapidus.
“Our program will provide professionals with the comprehensive academic and technical skills necessary for them to meet the needs of regional, national, and global industries,” President Lapidus continued. “This innovative program builds upon the strong foundation of our Engineering Technology Department, which has evolved for more than a century to respond to changing workforce needs.”
The online program will prepare students to manage complex construction projects and enhance their decision-making processes; provide pathways to students to advance into the field of construction management from related disciplines and/or prior construction experience; provide employers with a well-educated and skilled workforce, capable of performing valuable construction management services and ready to serve in managerial and leadership positions; and contribute to scholarly activity in the discipline. Students, who may complete the program in as few as three semesters, will graduate ready to meet the workforce needs of the construction industry.
Dr. Nirajan Mani, the Engineering Technology Department Chair and the founding program chair for the M.S. in Construction Management program, noted that Fitchburg State is the first state university in Massachusetts to offer such a graduate degree.
“We are uniquely prepared to provide this program in national and international markets,” Mani said. “We are also planning to offer an accelerated 4+1 pathway from B.S. to M.S. in the Construction Management program. In addition, the Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) through portfolio option allows students the opportunity to have their industry experience evaluated as educational experiences and credited toward a graduate degree.”
The Associated General Contractors of Massachusetts, Inc. (AGC MA), a statewide trade association representing almost 200 construction managers, general contractors, subcontractors and affiliated service providers, endorsed Fitchburg State’s proposal to the Board of Higher Education.
AGC MA Chief Executive Officer John Ferrante described his organization’s long history of collaboration with Fitchburg State and said the program will support students as well as the state’s commercial construction industry.
“There are fewer than 10 universities in New England offering construction management programs for an industry that puts in place over $10 billion of work annually,” wrote Ferrante. “Currently, there is a disparity between the demand for project management professionals in our industry and the availability of talent. We consistently hear that some of the most successful construction management firms are turning down opportunities to bid because they do not have the management capacity to take on additional work.”
Ferrante said AGC-MA’s member companies have a backlog of work through 2025 which, coupled with the anticipated retirement of many industry professionals, will only exacerbate this issue. “Many of our member firms hire individuals without any construction experience or education because of the need for management professionals,” he continued.
The construction management master’s program developed by Fitchburg State will provide the only such public credential in the state, helping rising professionals advance in their careers.
WALTHAM, Mass. – MassDevelopment has issued a $17,820,000 tax-exempt bond on behalf of 2Life Leland LLC, an affiliate of 2Life Communities, which will use bond proceeds to demolish a vacant former rest home at 21 Newton St. in downtown Waltham and build a three-story, 68-unit affordable rental housing facility for seniors in its place.
Built in 1891, the existing building operated as The Leland Home before its closing in 2020. The new building, which will be known as Leland House, will include 66 one-bedroom apartments and two two-bedroom apartments. The property will also include two one-bedroom apartments for overnight staff. Brookline Bank purchased the bond, which helped 2Life Communities achieve a lower cost of capital.
Leland House will be constructed to Passive House building standards, including 100% electric HVAC and hot water systems and solar photo voltaic panels to promote economic, environmental, and health benefits for residents. Universal design elements – especially in bathrooms and kitchens – will enable new residents to age in community at Leland House regardless of physical ability. The ground floor will house an active Village Center, which will feature a collection of flexible spaces for fitness and wellness activities, arts and culture programs, and community events.
“All seniors deserve housing that is affordable, safe, and allows them to age healthily in their communities,” said Secretary of Housing and Livable Communities Ed Augustus. “I recently had the opportunity to attend the groundbreaking for the new Leland House in Waltham, a project that epitomizes the type of transformative development that is possible when state, local, and private partners come together to address our housing shortage.”
“This property has been a place dedicated to the care and comfort of seniors across three centuries of Waltham’s history,” said MassDevelopment President and CEO Dan Rivera. “Now, as Massachusetts faces a housing shortage, we’re excited to help 2Life Communities build a new senior living community that keeps this legacy alive while also incorporating modern design standards that make for a healthier and more sustainable living experience.”
In addition to the tax-exempt bond, MassDevelopment assisted the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities with the approval of federal low-income housing tax credits that will provide approximately $17.5 million in equity for the project.
“We couldn’t be happier to have been able to help provide this much-needed, affordable housing for seniors in our community,” said Brookline Bank President and CEO Darryl Fess.
“On behalf of Ward 5 City Councilor Joseph P. LaCava, the Waltham City Council, Council on Aging and Senior Center staff, former Leland Home board and staff, and the Waltham Community Preservation Committee, I would like to thank MassDevelopment and 2Life Communities for their investment in new affordable housing in Waltham,” said Waltham Mayor Jeannette A. McCarthy. “These 68 rental units, adjacent to the Waltham Senior Center, will provide much needed affordable senior housing. Thank you to all who played a role.”
“We are grateful for our continued collaboration with MassDevelopment, and all of our partners, to help us bring more affordable apartments to older adults living in Waltham,” said 2Life Communities Vice President and Acting CEO Lizbeth Heyer. “2Life believes that every older adult deserves the opportunity to live a full life of connection and purpose in a dynamic, supportive community.”
2Life Communities Inc. is a nonprofit provider of senior supportive housing in the Greater Boston area. Founded in 1965, 2Life has developed 10 distinct properties and nearly 1,446 apartments, all of which are owned and managed by the organization. Properties located in Newton include Golda Meir House, Golda Expansion, and Coleman House. Properties located in Brighton include Ulin House, Leventhal House, Kurlat House, Weinberg House, and the soon-to-be-completed JJ Carroll House. Other properties include Shillman House in Framingham, Brown Family House in Brookline, and Shirley Meadows in Shirley.
MassDevelopment has previously supported 2Life Communities. In 2023, the agency issued a $129 million tax-exempt bond to help 2Life Communities build Opus Newton, a 174-apartment senior living community in Newton targeted to middle-income adults aged 62 or older. In 2021, the agency issued a $4 million tax-exempt bond to help 2Life Communities build a 13,000-square-foot addition to its program center facility located at 28 Wallingford Road in Boston.
MassDevelopment, the state’s development finance agency and land bank, works with businesses, nonprofits, banks, and communities to stimulate economic growth across the Commonwealth. During FY2022, MassDevelopment financed or managed 356 projects generating investment of more than $1.69 billion in the Massachusetts economy. These projects are estimated to create or support 11,080 jobs and build or preserve 1,778 housing units.
BOSTON– Bergmeyer, Boston-based design collaborative with offices in Columbus, and Los Angeles, announced its leadership and practice promotions as 2023 comes to a close.
Highlighting the diversity of the organization’s talents and expertise, the firm continues to expand its creative services to meet the needs of its deepening client base.
“The team at Bergmeyer is comprised of exceptionally talented individuals with remarkably unique creative and technical abilities,” said Rachel Zsembery, President at Bergmeyer. “Our people are the heartbeat of our Design Collaborative and fuel Bergmeyer’s continued success and evolution through embracing proactive partnerships and an empowering approach to design.”
At the leadership level, Bergmeyer elevated two team members into its Associate tier, as well as two Senior Associates, one Associate Principal, and one Principal. These forward-thinking individuals are recognized for their impact on others inside and outside the firm.
Associate:
Joe Vecchione, AIA | Associate, Senior Architect Quinn Levine, AIA | Associate, Senior Architect
Senior Associate:
Jason Cohen LEED AP | Senior Associate, Design Practice Leader JJ Nelson | Senior Associate, Director of Brand Communications
Associate Principal:
Rachel Lanzafame, AIA, LEED AP BD+C | Associate Principal
Principal:
TJ DiFeo, LEED AP | Principal
In addition to significant leadership advancements, Bergmeyer announced Design Practice Leader promotions for team members who demonstrate significant expertise in their dedicated areas of practice. These candidates practice with purpose and creativity, innovating the firm’s approach to projects, practices, and collaborations.
Design Practice Leaders:
Dan L’Esperance, AIA | Associate, Design Practice Leader Anna Butterfield, IIDA, NCIDQ | Associate, Design Practice Leader
Bergmeyer also recognized advancements at the Senior Practitioner level. These candidates exemplify a level of professional expertise worthy of special recognition, regularly demonstrating expertise in their work and collaborative approach with teams and clients.
Senior Practitioners:
Steven Barron, IIDA, Senior Interior Designer Lettie Ramos, Senior Designer Maria Montas, Senior Designer.