LEED, or

Leadership in

Energy and Design,

is a green building

certification

program that

recognizes best-in-

class building

strategies and

practices.

In This Issue

Smith College project

earns Gold LEED rating

Employee Spotlight:

Lynne Badgett

Team effort yields early

completion at

Stonebrook Village

Western Gives Back:

Summer Success

The Smith College project in Northampton boasts environmentally progressive features.

Smith College project earns Gold LEED rating

With the completion of its Smith College project in Northampton this spring, Western delivered envi-

ronmentally efficient and progressive features in a uniquely innovative combination.

Finished in April, the nearly two-year Smith College project included construction of five apartment buildings

(eighty bedrooms in total). Each building is two stories tall and houses apartments that boast several ameni-

ties, many of them inspired by green approaches.

From energy recovery ventilators to high efficiency HVAC systems, the project’s emphasis on green efficien-

cy enabled one of the buildings to meet Passive House standards in terms of air sealing.

Whenever Western Builders’ staff embarks upon a project, it always prepares for the many challenges that

may arise. By making contingencies for all aspects of construction, Western’s Lynne Badgett and her team

successfully completed the project in time for the units to be used by Smith’s summer program and students

for the 2016 Fall Semester.

“The windows were our biggest challenge. They were a West Coast Canadian product, which was very differ-

ent from any locally available product,” Badgett explained. “In the living rooms, they were made up of very

large floor-to- ceiling panels that had to be mulled in the field.”

Moreover, construction in New England offers innate challenges with the change of seasons. The Western

team began pouring foundations at the beginning of winter in 2014, then continued through the holidays and

early months of 2015. But since the moisture content in the slab was too high for the flooring adhesive, the

team had to grind the slabs and implement a moisture mitigation system prior to installing the flooring.

“Each member of the team responded well to the challenges,” Badgett said, and the result is a group of

apartments that add to the character of the Smith campus while conserving energy.

The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards) project earned a gold status. West-

ern continues to take pride in its commitment to green construction, remaining a regional leader in Passive

House approaches.

Western Builders Newsletter FALL 2016

Architects: Olson Kundig - Seattle, WA Coldham & Hartman - Amherst , MA and Berkshire Design - Northampton, MA

Employee Spotlight: Lynne Badgett,

Long before industry leaders throughout the nation embraced a climate of environmental consciousness, Western Builders’ Lynne Badgett understood that energy efficiency standards would soon transform construction. Now, as countless businesses scramble to identify strongly accredited individuals in green construction, Western continues to reap the rewards of Badgett’s foresight. Certi fied in Passive House construction, an exten sive series of energy efficiency standards, Badgett most recently applied her skill set to Western’s Smith College project. Moving forward, she will bring Passive House techniques to Western’s HAP Housing apartment project in Northampton over the next year. “It has been important for me to be on the leading edge of the green movement,” said Badgett, Western’s Manager of Pre-Construction Services. “The energy you consume not only impacts your own utility bills, but it also affects the planet. We want to minimize that impact as much as possible.” Badgett’s certification in Passive House construction has translated well to her position at Western. The goal for every project, she said, isn’t simply to deliver sustainability but also to reduce the ecological footprint. During both the Smith College project and the upcoming HAP Housing endeavor (a 70-unit apartment building), her team’s constant focus is on saving green by thinking green. “There are many things you can do to help improve efficiency,” added Badgett, who grew up in Texas before majoring in mechanical and petroleum engineering at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks. “Trying to be net-zero is always a goal for green projects.” Badgett’s skills will be on full display at the HAP Housing site, where demolition and abatement work were completed in October. The new construc-tion will include the installation of triple glazed win-dows, rigid insulation, and energy recovery ventila-tors, as well as several other features that will max-imize efficiency. The HAP Housing project construction, in partner-ship with LDa Cambridge and Peter Frothingham, Northampton, is expected to take approximately 16 months.

Outside of work, Badgett enjoys riding her bike and

going for walks and hikes. She is also a big fan of

painting and do-it-yourself projects.

Serving those who Served It was a busy year from start to finish for Western Builders, which completed its massive renovation of the former Chapin School in Chicopee this spring. Seamlessly converted into a 43-unit apartment complex, the building will serve formerly homeless veterans as-sisted by the Soldier On nonprofit or-ganization. The project represented the very first partnership between Sol-dier On and private companies —(O’Connell Development Group and Appleton Corporation). The $10.1 million project will help countless veterans and their families secure housing in a historic setting that now features modern amenities. The school had previously been va-cant for several years. Very similar to Western’s conversions of the former Linwood Mill and Holyoke Catholic High School, the team expertly re-stored the property into its original state of grandeur making it, once again, an invaluable community ven-ue. Soldier On assists homeless veterans with medical treatment, employment access and several other opportuni-ties. For the Western staff, it is im-measurably rewarding to play a role in helping veterans begin the next chap-ters of their lives.

The Chapin School project was completed this spring.

“It has been important for me to be on the leading edge of the green movement.” - Lynne Badgett, Pas-sive House Certified Builder

Dietz & Company Architects, Inc. - Springfield, MA

Located in Windsor Locks, CT, Stonebrook Village features 112 apartment units designed to accommodate three classifications – independent living, assisted living, and memory care residences. The four-story structure boasts roughly 106,000 square feet of living and community space with ample parking and other amenities.

Strategically designed by Viren Gori, of Gori & Associates in Minneapolis, MN, the facility maximizes the latest construction methods that guarantee sustainability and efficient operation. Looking back on the project, the Western staff recognizes that it required a full team effort from start to finish.

Stonebrook Village was completed well ahead of schedule in September.

Team Effort Yields Early Completion at Stonebrook Village Following a year of tireless work from Western Builders and its partners from Optimus Senior Living, LLC, seniors were able to move into a brand new residential facility well ahead of schedule. Seniors were thrilled to move into their new apartments in September, which wouldn’t have been possible without the dedication of sev-eral individuals. The Western team was led by project manager Mike Flanders, superintendent Mike Guy, and assistant superintendent Dan Cadorette. In a strong partnership, they worked closely with the Optimus staff (owners Fred Mielke, Mike McCarthy, and Bob Kelly, as well as project representative, Christian Boysen) to complete the project within a one-year contractual deadline. Original estimates projected the work to take between 14-16 months, but every member of the team logged extra hours to meet the deadline. “Understanding the timeframes for each phase of construction, we worked extended shifts and weekends in order to meet this dead-line,” said Flanders, who praised members of the project team for doing whatever it took to get the job done. The result is an impressive facility offering seniors an innovative living community built with both safety and lifestyle in mind. The facility includes a full service kitchen, three dining venues, a beauty salon, movie theater, fitness area, and chapel, among others. The project wasn’t without its challenges. With a low water flow in Windsor Locks, the team had to furnish and install a 15,000-gallon water storage tank with a fire pump to satisfy the fire marshal’s water pressure requirements. Additionally, the rear yard has a large drainage swale that limited operation space for construction vehicles on site. But the project team worked cohesively to identify each challenge and determine solutions. “Everyone worked hard and was willing to put in the extra time,” Cadorette said. “Mike Guy and I switched off every other weekend, and Western worked seven days a week since March.” For Cadorette and the other members of his team, meeting the construction deadline was just one reason for their continued dedication over the past year. An equally important rea-son, team members said, was finishing the project early and enabling residents to move into Stonebrook Village as soon as possible. Several of those residents suffer from Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, and they will receive the highest level of care in a safe, community-focused setting. For other residents who are moving into an assisted living facility for the first time, the building will provide a unique blend of comfort, security and independ-ence. “It was a great project. I couldn’t have worked with a better team,” Cadorette added. “Mike Guy is a top notch superintendent, and he provided me with knowledge and guidance every step of the way.”

The completed Stonebrook Village site.

Contact Us Give us a call or come to

our home office to see how

Western Builders can work

for you.

Western Builders

73 Pleasant Street

P.O. Box 587

Granby, MA 01033

Phone (413) 467-9171 Fax (413) 467-9559 Visit us on the web at :

www.westernbuilders.com

Western Gives Back: Summer Success For interns like Alyssa Darling, the experience of working at Western not only makes them members of a team but a family.

Each summer, Western strives to provide its interns with engaging and rewarding experiences that build the foundation for future success. Darling, an elementary education major at Westfield State University, was thrilled with the amount she learned over the summer while working at Western. Though her degree isn’t in construction, she can apply many of her experiences to education, she said. For Western, internships shouldn’t be viewed entirely in a context of how young people can help companies. When welcoming a member to the family, the Western staff commits to assisting them in all facets of development and serving as an ongoing source of support for our future leaders. To that end, Western sponsored Darling’s WSU summer basketball team, providing the three-year point guard and her teammates with a great place to hone their skills in the offseason. As part of its sponsorship, Western paid league fees and purchased uniforms for every member of the team. “Without Western, we wouldn’t have been able to play in that league,” said Darling, who is entering her senior season at WSU. “The internship was a great experience. It gave me an outlook on a different career and opened my eyes to what it’s like to work in that field.” Western employees were impressed with Darling’s dedication and eagerness to work. Office manager and internship coordinator, Loretta Fograshy, worked daily with Darling on an array of projects. “She is an absolute delight, and we enjoyed having her tremendously. She did a fabulous job, and we wish her the best of luck moving forward,” Fograshy said. “We always enjoy reaching out and helping where we can. It’s great to get involved with sponsorships and assist our interns.”

Western Builders, Inc.

73 Pleasant Street

Granby, MA 01033