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Announcing a New Green Team
 The construction consulting firm of Merritt & Harris, Inc. and the environmental consulting firm of Sustainable Design Consulting have announced the formation of a truly full-service “green” venture. The teaming of the firms offers the greatest possible combination of experts to provide building and system analyses and Energy Star and LEED® Green Building Rating System™ filing services. With Merritt & Harris, Inc.’s experience with building systems and Sustainable Design Consulting’s proven expertise in shepherding projects through the filing process, clients can count on receiving the highest quality user-oriented energy consulting and efficient knowledgeable certification filing. From beginning to end, seamless expertise provides the recommendations to improve a building’s energy usage and gain the highest energy rating a facility can earn. For building owners and investors this translates into obtaining the tools and information needed to save money through more efficient energy usage with the possibility of obtaining valuable Energy Star and/or LEED® certification.
Merritt & Harris, Inc. (M&H) has been providing consulting services to real estate lenders, investors, managers, sports authorities, owners, and the construction community since 1937. As experts in the analysis of the design, development, and construction processes, the firm’s highly skilled professionals are ideally suited to provide services in a variety of building energy auditing and commissioning categories. Over the past fifteen years, Merritt & Harris, Inc. has provided construction reviews and monitoring services, cost analyses, commissioning, and property condition assessments on more than $50 billion worth of real estate.
As a firm, M&Hmaintains an in-house staff of architects; civil, structural, mechanical, and electrical engineers; LEED APs; construction experts; and cost analysts. M&H has offices in New York City, Los Angeles, and South Florida.
Sustainable Design Consulting (SDC), founded in 2002 by Sandra Leibowitz Earley, is dedicated to sustainable design, including recognized expertise in green building technology, strategies, training, process management and the LEED® Green Building Rating System™. With over 16 years of advanced experience, Sandra has provided sustainable design consulting services for nearly 200 projects, has authored and co-authored a number of sustainable design articles and books, and has presented nationally on sustainable design topics. SDC is a 100% woman-owned business and has been certified as a Minority Business Enterprise (woman-owned). SDC has offices in Richmond, VA and Washington, DC.
Joseph Marciano, P.E., LEED AP, Senior Associate and one of M&H’s licensed mechanical engineers, leads its energy and commissioning team efforts. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Cornell University and a Diploma in Construction Management from NYU. Since 1982,
Mr. Marciano has been involved in energy conservation and environmental initiatives, and has hands-on systems knowledge as well as significant cost consulting experience for owners, contractors, and designers. He joined M&H in 1996 and has been involved in the analyzing and evaluating of more than $5 billion worth of property during that time, including the complex evaluation of New York’s World Trade Center in 2000 and a variety of large buildings of various types.
SDC’s leader on the joint M&H and SDC team is Steven Piguet, AIA, LEED AP,Senior Associate and Director of SDC’s Northeast Region. He has over 25 years experience in the planning, design, construction, and operation of facilities. As a founding board member of the U. S. Green Building Council (USGBC), a member of the LEED Steering Committee (2001-2002), and the USGBC Board Governance Committee, Steve has demonstrated a long-term commitment to sustainable design principles. He holds a BA in Economics from the University of Virginia, a Masters of Architecture from Virginia Tech and an executive MBA from the Darden School of Graduate Business, University of Virginia. Mr. Piguet co-authored the U. S. Department of State sponsored Green Guidelines for Embassies and Consulates, and has had an ongoing role in managing the process of continual refreshment of the USGBC Bylaws. He has been a presenter at numerous seminars on green buildings and climate change.
Team Leader Joe Marciano and his expert staff are available to discuss energy audit needs or to explain the process of filing for one of the various LEED® or Energy Star designations. at 212.697.3188. There is no obligation for the initial telephone consultation. |
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| | | | | | | January 2010 | |
| | | | | | | Twenty-five Years and Still Kicking
Each year Merritt & Harris, Inc. honors employees who have been with the firm 25, 20, 15, 10, or 5 years. Presentations of gifts of appreciation were made at the company’s holiday parties by Tom Richard, then the President & CEO. Additionally, a celebratory luncheon was held on December 22nd at the Giardino D’Oro Restaurant in New York for the 25-, 20-, and 10-year employees.
Merritt & Harris, Inc. prides itself as having the finest and most experienced employees in the construction consulting industry. The company's success and its reputation for excellence are directly attributable to its outstanding associates.
This year Merritt & Harris, Inc. honored Chris Abella, Jack Kagan, Manny Kratsios, Denise Romano, and Bob Weiland for 25 years of service. Their expertise has helped lead, teach, and inspire their co-workers. Mike Dwyer, also a dedicated leader who has helped shape the company, was honored for 20 years of service. Other inspirational employees are Rita O’Grady, who has been with Merritt & Harris, Inc. for 10 years, and Jennifer Reed and Virginia Pires who have put in 5 solid years. The loyalty and dedication of these individuals has contributed to the positive atmosphere in the firm’s offices.
Ms. Abella, whose official title is Financial Assistant, works side by side with the controller in the New York headquarters. She oversees accounts payables/receivables, handles the financial statements, and deals with clients on past due invoices. Her coworkers know her as the friendly outgoing employee who organizes company holiday parties, retains the pictures from past events, and brings delicious baked food to share with the office.
As the Accounts Receivable and Billable Clerk, Ms. Romano’s responsibilities include handling incoming contracts, making daily bank deposits, recording project and billing information, and producing outgoing invoices and monthly statements. Ms. Romano enjoys the family-oriented atmosphere of the office and says that it is the people at Merritt & Harris, Inc. that encourage her to continue with the company.
Mr. Kratsios established the policies to be followed by the project managers in all M&H offices as the Chief Operating Officer from December 2007 to December 2009. This is in addition to monitoring and overseeing the projects that he and the New York staff was involved with directly. Starting January 1, 2010, Manny assumed the position of President & CEO. Due to his leadership position, Manny has the opportunity to work on some of Merritt & Harris’s highest-end projects, including resort hotels and sports facilities. Dealing with so many different types of people and projects has been satisfying to Mr. Kratsios, he says.
Mr. Kagan is a principal of the firm and leader of the Mechanical & Electrical Engineering Group. Mr. Kagan’s job description includes evaluating plans and specs and reviewing the life-safety, plumbing, and mechanical and electrical systems for both the construction monitoring and property condition assessment divisions of the consulting firm. It is the office atmosphere, variety of jobs, and the travel opportunities that keep things interesting for Mr. Kagan.
Mr. Weiland was promoted to Principal of Merritt & Harris, Inc. in 1996 and was the group leader of the company’s Property Condition Assessment (PCA) Group. As the Group Leader of Merritt & Harris’s PCA Group, Bob had many responsibilities. He and the other individuals in the group evaluated existing buildings, working directly with purchasers and/or mortgage lenders. They examined buildings with an emphasis on repairs, improvements, maintenance, and the costs related to rectifying problems. Starting in 2010, Bob stepped down as the PCA Group leader, but continues to work as the firm’s Litigation Support consultant. Bob has a trusting relationship with his clients. He encourages and practices professional, honest relationships with them, which, often leads them to become repeat clients.
In 1997, Mr. Dwyer was promoted to Manager of the Cost & Review Group and in December of 1997, Mr. Dwyer was named a Principal of the firm. In 2007 he was designated as the Principal-In-Charge of Merritt & Harris Inc.’s South Florida Branch office. His duties include supervising the review of plans and specifications, budgets, replacement costs, and insurable values by the New York-based Cost & Review Group. Mike is known as the New York Times crossword puzzle whiz in the office. He e-mails everyone to let them know how long it took him to finish Sunday’s puzzle.
Mrs. O'Grady joined the consulting firm in 1999 as a Project Review Technician and was promoted in 2004 to Senior Review Coordinator. Her job responsibilities include the review of plans, specifications, documents, and certifications for both new construction projects and renovations.
Jen Reed is the Administrative Assistant for our Los Angeles Branch, while Virginia (Ginny) Pires is the Administrative Assistant for our South Florida Branch. Ms. Pires says she enjoys her job, not only because it requires using her skills in producing an excellent product, but because of her location in a branch office where she performs a wide-range of duties. Being a part of the Merritt & Harris family is what Ginny finds most rewarding about her job. Over the past 5 years, she says it is very apparent to her that Merritt & Harris employees care about the welfare of each other and encourage and help each other to succeed. Ms. Pires says she feels appreciated for her contributions; it makes her not want to disappoint the Merritt & Harris family. She says she strives to do her best, not because she feels like she is made to do it, but because she wants to do it, realizing that her work will reflect on everyone at Merritt & Harris, Inc.
The brilliance and resilience of these employees have been very much appreciated. Their dedication and hard work has helped Merritt & Harris, Inc. continue to lead the firm and attain its top-tier position as construction consultants for lenders, bondholders, and government agencies. |
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| | | | | | | January 2010 | |
| | | | | | | University Housing Employs the Private Sector
Taylor Place, a mixed-use student housing building in downtown Phoenix, represents a public-private partnership which is .jpg) becoming a fast growing trend in the university housing industry. Universities have reached out to the private sector to create efficient, functional, and affordable housing. The result of the collaboration between the private sector and the university is a fantastic opportunity for students to live and learn in an urban setting with a campus lifestyle feel. It also allows the university to keep its costs as minimal as possible.
The trend for these public-private partnerships in student housing has become a fiscal necessity for many universities. In this time of economic uncertainties, universities face budget cuts and smaller endowments and need some way to compensate for these losses. The outsourci.jpg) ng of the work to private housing companies accomplishes this goal. The expertise and knowledge of the student housing companies and their understanding of the construction process enable projects to be completed in half the time that it would normally take the university to accomplish the construction internally. These companies are also attuned to the wants of the student population and the university requirements. By pleasing the students with comfortable and affordable housing, the resulting projects assist the university in retaining students and recruiting future students.
Taylor Place, which opened in the Fall of 2008, has become Arizona State University's.jpg) premier residential community. The building houses 1,250 students in two 13-story towers. The first floor of the complex includes a dining facility, retail stores open to the public, an outdoor patio garden, a UPS store, and housing offices. Other amenities include an on-site fitness center, a laundry facility, small meeting rooms, vending areas, atrium lounges, and screened porch areas. Merritt & Harris, Inc. provided consulting, cost and document reviews, and construction monitoring services on Taylor Place for AMBAC Assurance Corp.
The new student housing industry is evolving toward sustainable and more technologically efficient complexes that reduce costs and utilize underdeveloped spaces in urban areas. Taylor Place is a thriving urban response that meets student housing needs. |
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| | | | | | | January 2010 | |
| | | | | | | Research Facility Creates a New Height -Boston-web.jpg) The Center for Life Science which stands in Boston’s Longwood Medical Area is the country’s largest multi-tenant biomedical research facility at 18 stories and 770,000 sq. ft. of space. The area is known as one of the nation’s hottest centers for research activity and Lyme Properties, the developer, had its eye on this section of Boston for almost 15 years before building the Center. The Center for Life Science is surrounded by Harvard Medical School, Merck’s new R&D facility, Children’s Hospital Research Center, and the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center East Campus.
The site is surrounded by buildings on every side. The architect, Tsoi/Kobus & Associates, wanted the research facility to blend with the area's urban character and the typical research building model did not settle well with this vision. High-rise buildings are very unusual for research facilities because building code s limit the use of high-hazard materials above 65 feet. The building was also to be leased to multiple tenants, making it extremely challenging to design the interior. The architect had to take into consideration the number of exhaust fans, back-up emergency electric, pH neutralization systems, dedicated shaft space, and many other requirements without knowing exactly how many tenants would reside in the building and on each floor. However, the final design made the Center for Life Science a successful high-tech, state-of-the-art research facility incorporating numerous energy-efficient and environmentally advanced features. The building qualified for a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certification, quite an achievement considering the numerous challenges.  The Center for Life Science is the area’s first privately developed, for lease, biomedical research center and is now 95% leased. The tenants consist of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Children’s Hospital Boston, the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, the Immune Disease Institute, and the Kowa Company. Ground for the building was broken in July of 2006 and Merritt & Harris, Inc. provided consulting, cost and document reviews, and construction monitoring services on the Center for Life Science for Anglo Irish Bank Corp. and KeyBank.
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