As Construction leaders across the country adapt to a rapidly-changing business environment, many cities/metros like Boston and Cambridge are implementing temporary work stoppages to combat (and slow) the spread of the coronavirus.
Recently, Gaston Principal Bill Weber spoke with Reporter Kim Slowey of ConstructionDive.com to share some of the effective management and project shutdown practices Gaston is using during the coronavirus pandemic.
For the third consecutive year, The Gaston Team took an active role in Women In Construction Week activities across Boston and Cambridge. Spearheaded once again by Human Resources Director Nina Radzim, Women and Men from Gaston joined clients, project partners and industry groups at multiple events from March 1st – 7th.
This year, we kicked off the week with an office breakfast to recognize the important role of Women In Construction – and at our office in particular! In the photo below – Cidalia, Christine, Megan, Lindsay, Selene, Nina, Kim, and Karen pause to mark the occasion.
As the week continued, we visited with our friends at Siena Construction in Cambridge for a panel discussion on Workplace Diversity and Inclusion. Nina was joined by Gaston Principals Bill Weber and Mike Weber.
The highlight of the week was The Inspire Awards hosted by The Associated General Contractors (AGC) of Massachusetts and their Boston Women In Construction (BWiC) Subgroup. The Annual event was started two years ago to spotlight the important contribution of Women in the Boston Construction Market. This year, Marianne Monte of Shawmut Design & Construction joined Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito to honor the award winners in front of a packed room of our 250 guests. Notably – Gaston’s own Megan Dempsey (Field Apprentice) was nominated for Rising Star and Nina Radzim was nominated for Emerging Leader – Great Job Ladies!
We look forward to supporting Women In Construction Week and The AGC of Massachusetts Inspire Awards again in 2021.
On Thursday December 12th, Gaston Principal Mike Weber and Project Executive Brian Jasinski joined AGC Director of Membership and Industry Advancement Emily Sheedy for the year’s final Technical Series. The event was titled “The Electrical Process” and was held inside Beatty Hall at Wentworth Institute.
Mike Weber and Brian Jasinski review components of a utility riser diagram
Topics discussed included :
Key items to look for from a General Contractor’s perspective.
Examination of the various types of emergency power.
Review of the process for buying/releasing lighting and equipment.
Review of a Fire Alarm system and NFPA 72 Code requirements.
On Friday November 22nd, members of the Gaston Electrical Team joined our client Gilbane, Fenway Sports Group, Mayor Walsh, and other dignitaries for the MGM Music Hall Groundbreaking Event at Fenway Park.
Gaston Electricians pose at the groundbreaking for The MGM Music Hall at Fenway Park
Per coverage of the event via Boston Magazine – With an estimated capacity of 5,000, the MGM Music Hall will be among the most spacious venues in Boston—roughly double the size of the House of Blues, which is located across the street on Lansdowne. It’s one of a handful of new and soon-to-open venues slated to come online in the next few years, which are shaping up to be a new golden age of live music in Boston.
The DAIQ-Designed venue will occupy approximately 91,500 square feet across four levels and feature a state-of-the-art sound system, multiple concession and lounge areas, flexible floor plan to accommodate a variety of uses and performance types.
The Groundbreaking was a huge success and the Gaston Team is already working hard to meet the 2021 opening date. Check out the video below for a recap of the event!
Recently, Mike Weber spoke with Steve Adams of Banker & Tradesman for the publications’s popular In Person feature. The full interview is posted below.
Recently, The Gaston Electrical Team was selected by John Moriarty and Associates to lead electrical, structured cabling, and security work for the core & shell portion of Parcel EF at Cambridge Crossing. Parcel EF, when complete, will rise to 9 floors and feature 504,000 SF of space – including 6,000 SF of retail at the ground level.
This large-scale assignment is located adjacent to our current project at Parcel JK – as 430,000 SF, 9 story building which will be the new North American Headquarters of Philips. Gaston is overseeing the core and shell electrical along with the fit-up for Philips – both JMA assignments.
Additionally, work is underway at Parcel W better known as “The Shed“. This 18,000 SF building is situated on the opposite side of Parcel JK along the parkland/greenspace along the center of the development. Gaston Team members are also busy at this location as part of the Shawmut Team.
Gaston Electrical employee “Summer Open House” recap – At Gaston Electrical, our Team means everything to us – and taking time to celebrate another successful year as a group is always a highlight of the year – not to mention a great way to kick off the Summer Season. In years past, we have hosted the Summer Open House at our Norwood Headquarters. This year, we decided to change things up and host the event inside one of our recently-completed project sites. So on Thursday, June 27th, the entire Gaston team gathered at the new Night Shift Brewery at Lovejoy Wharf in Boston’s North Station area.
The afternoon included craft beer, raffle prizes, t-shirts, great food, and a chance for our office and field teams to chat and have a few laughs. Bill and Mike Weber took a few moments to welcome everyone and to thank them for their hard work. Needless to say, a great time was had by all.
As mentioned, this year was special because our skilled employees were part of the Cafco Construction Team on this exciting build. With a large brewery location/headquarters in Everett, Night Shift is fast-becoming one of the premier craft brewers in New England. This new restaurant/bar/brewery location adjacent to the Boston Garden and bustling Hub On Causeway signifies their growing popularity and expansion goals.
We’re proud to have played a small role in their growth – and would like to spotlight Eli Smith – Project Manager, Andy Guinane – Project Foreman, and the rest of the Gaston Team who helped make this project a success.
Next time you are in the North Station area, be sure to stop in for a pint or two. Maybe we’ll even see you at next year’s Gaston Electrical Employee Summer Open House!
Recently, The Gaston Electrical Team was selected by Cafco Construction to oversee Electrical Construction services for the massive new Davio’s Restaurant at 50 Liberty / Fan Pier in Boston’s booming Seaport. This high-profile project comes on the heels to two other successful projects with Cafco over the past year. Trillium Brewery in Fort Point was an instant destination location and the newly-opened Night Shift Brewery at Lovejoy Wharf is sure to create a buzz with its North Station waterfront location.
EaterBoston.com shared an exciting overview of the new location – with details on the size, menu, and ownership. Read the full story here.
Davio’s Boston Seaport adds to a flurry of other construction activity in Boston’s Seaport with previous project work including Wework on Sleeper Street, Envoy Hotel Roofdeck along Fort Point Channel, and Aptiv at 100 Northern Ave.
Gaston teams have also been busy on the eastern end of the Seaport at The Innovation and Design Building (with projects for Ginkgo Bioworks and Continuum), and on the new Boston Sword & Tuna facility.
Greetings from the Gaston Electrical Service Division. As 2018 comes to a close, many property owners and managers are gearing up for 2019 projects and improvement programs – including preventative maintenance for building systems. While we stand ready to provide all electrical and technology infrastructure solutions (along with 24-hour emergency service), we prefer to work with our customers in identifying potential issues before an emergency arises.
Preventative Maintenance of critical building equipment can help identify and rectify issues before they escalate into major problems for property management and tenants. These actions will ensure that electrical systems are performing at optimal levels – significantly reducing costly downtime. To help with your proactive planning, we have compiled a helpful checklist of considerations for improved electrical building maintenance.
Infrared Scanning
Annual Infrared scanning of energized electrical systems
Switchgear, busway, panelboards, disconnect switches, generator equipment, and UPS systems should all be scanned
Switchgear, Transformers, Panelboards, and UPS systems
A cleaning and visual inspection of all components
Transformer testing – including oil sampling for primary transformers
Breaker testing
100% UPS load and battery testing and maintenance
Bus Duct Testing
Visual inspections
Infrared scanning
Torquing of all bus duct connections
Megger testing of all bussing
Contact resistance testing
Life Safety
Verify functionality of all emergency lighting systems
Manually test all batteries
Visually test all emergency lighting
Fire alarm testing per NFPA-72
Visual inspections of fire alarm
Waterflow, tamper, battery tests
Complete fire alarm systems testing
Generator Testing:
Testing per NFPA 110
30-minute testing including ATS testing
Load bank testing
Fuel sampling and testing by ISO-certified laboratory
Scheduled maintenance by factory-authorized representative
Infrared scanning of all connections (annually)
Modernization and retrofitting (as necessary)
Power quality metering
Identify loads on switchgear, panelboards, emergency systems, etc.
Monitoring and logging system performance
Identifying specific problems within the electrical system
Click here to email John Buckley / Gaston Electrical Service Division Manager or call 781.255.8881
On Monday, October 1st Gaston Principals Bill and Mike Weber joined other leading Electrical Contractors on stage to be recognized at the 2018 NECA National Project Excellence Award Ceremony – part of the 2018 NECA Annual Convention in Philadelphia.
Gaston Electrical
Per the NECA website:
The NECA Project Excellence Awards were created in 2017 to acknowledge the most highly skilled electrical contractors in the country. Companies are recognized for their commitment, professionalism and ingenuity in delivering an electrical project across 11 different market sectors.
“After our successful launch last year, it’s exciting to showcase another group of projects that are worthy of NECA’s 2018 Project Excellence Awards,” NECA CEO John M. Grau said. “They represent the best of our industry.”
The award ceremony showcases the exceptional work performed by member-contractors throughout the country, and was created to recognize companies for their outstanding commitment, professionalism, and ingenuity in delivering electrical projects across 11 different market sectors.
“Only projects completed in 2017 were considered. Judges took into account aesthetics, application, difficulty, innovation and originality,” said Mir Mustafa, NECA Executive Director of Business Development.
“The contractors responsible for this year’s remarkable projects demonstrated impressive skill and an undeniable passion for excellence,” Mustafa said. “NECA is proud to honor them and their work.”
Gaston Electrical
Gaston was recognized in the “Commercial / Institutional Under $1 Million Category ” for work that was completed at The Revere Hotel Boston. Th Revere Hotel Boston is a premier Hotel in Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood. With the recently completed upgrades to the lobby, bar/restaurant, an function spaces, the hotel has solidified its place as a top destination for travelers, business professionals, and theater-goers – as it is just stps from Boston’s busy Theatre District.
Gaston Electrical
The Gaston Electrical Revere Hotel Project included Paul Higgins (Project Manager), Matt Gosselin (Project Foreman), and Adam Berecz (Project Foreman. The client was Cafco COnstruction managers and Pyramid Hotel Group. The multi-phase project included full electrical services upgrades/renovation for hotel lobby, lounge, and function space including all lighting and associated controls.
